Join Us @ an Upcoming Event
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Not to worry check out our Video Library HERE for recordings of past webinars!
Cows and Wetlands
Join Us to learn from Norine Ambrose with Cows and Fish Riparian Management Society for a FREE webinar to learn more about key considerations for keeping your pastures and waterbodies healthy.
Hear more about using timing, livestock behaviour and economical considerations as part of a successful grazing plan as well as the overarching principles of range management. This webinar offers diverse practical examples of what other producers have found effective in managing their grazing and water resources.
Well Grounded: Honouring the Knowledge Keepers
Join us to hear Secwépemc Knowledge Keeper Bonnie Thomas and Professor Emerita Dr. Nancy J. Turner share stories and reflections on collaboration and study of ethnobotany and ethnoecology through traditional ways.
Managing Grazing & Ecosystems
Maintaining wildlife habitat and sustainable grazing go hand in hand, with livestock producers playing a key role in managing both. Join Us and Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) to learn more about the Species Habitat Assessments and Ranching Partnership (SHARP). SHARP is a voluntary, collaborative project designed to work with producers to maintain the unique grazing and ecosystem values on their property in central Alberta. Together with the producer, ACA develops habitat strategies after first completing range and riparian health assessments as well as wildlife surveys to develop habitat enhancements that benefit both wildlife and livestock. As cost-shared enhancements are made, they develop a monitoring plan to assess their progress and effectiveness.
Field Day - Stamps Seeds
Stay tuned for more details on this upcoming field day. Learn more about fall/winter cereals and how they can benefit your operation and soil health. See how wetlands and riparian areas can be preserved in grain land and much more!
Registration link will be available in early May.
Field Day - Save the Date!
Save the date! Join Us to learn more about Rotational grazing with bison, grazing annual polycultures, pasture rejuvenation and much more! More details to come.
Westlock County Field Day
Stay tuned for more details to come on this field day in Westlock County. We have a great FREE field day in the works for producers interested in soil health, composting, intercropping, regenerative agriculture and much more!
Bug, Burps & Carbon
Join Us and Dr. Tim McAllister for a FREE webinar on March 26th @7pm MDT to learn more about the microbiomes that surround us on our farms and ranches. What is a microbiome? How do they contribute to agricultural productivity and resiliency? Do microbiomes play a role in climate change? Register now to learn the answer to these and other questions around agricultural microbiomes.
Indigenous Chefs as Change-Makers in Food Sovereignty
Join Us and Cat Free from Trent University to learn more about Indigenous Chefs and their role in food sovereignty, and for a broader conversation on Indigenous knowledges around food. Cat Free's graduate research is looking at Indigenous Chefs across Ontario who have stepped beyond their trade certification and training, and have moved into food sovereignty for the knowledge and benefit of Indigenous communities, Indigenous individuals, and beyond.
Cat Free is a PhD student in Indigenous Studies at Trent University, researching Indigenous Food Systems. She is a former Red Seal Chef and practiced for 22 years before pursuing her Bachelor's of Social Work and Master's of Social Work. Cat is a member of the Pays Plat First Nation, and lives and studies in Treaty 20, traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations. Cat Free's graduate research is looking at Indigenous Chefs across Ontario who have stepped beyond their trade certification and training, and have moved into food sovereignty for the knowledge and benefit of Indigenous communities, Indigenous individuals, and beyond.
How We Come to Know
Join Us and Anishinaabekwe scholar Dr. Kathy Absolon (Minogiizhigo kwe) to learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and knowledge. Dr. Absolon's academic journey has been a pathway of unlearning, healing, re-learning and finding who she is as an Indigenous woman & what her place is in the academy. Dr. Absolon works at Wilfred Laurier University and is the Director of the Centre for Indigegogy
Dollar, Dollar Hills? Eroded lands & restoration.
Dollar, Dollar, Hills? Join Us and Dr. David Lobb from the University of Manitoba for a FREE webinar to learn more about eroded lands and why you should consider restoring them. Dig into the economics and common sense approaches to restoring eroded land on your operation.
Dr. David Lobb’s research focuses on soil movement from tillage and tillage erosion. His expertise on soil erosion and conservation has been sought out around the world.
Intercropping in Alberta
Join Us, Alberta Pulse Growers and other producers to learn more about Intercropping in Alberta and how it could be an option for your farm. More details to come.
Bison, Bugs & Birds: Linking the recovery of endangered species
Not that long ago the plains and forests of North America teemed with wildlife, including more than 30,000,000 plains bison and hundreds of thousands of their northern relative, the wood bison. By the late 1800s both were extirpated from their ancestral lands. This depopulation of a keystone species had significant implications for the other species that depended upon them for their very survival. This presentation takes the viewer from the time when prehistoric species roamed the continent, through to the present, and discusses modern threats to grassland insects and birds that depend on bison and healthy ecosystems today.
Considering Rotational Grazing? Pasture cell design and much more!
Wondering about how to set up a rotational grazing system on your farm or ranch? What things to consider when locating fence lines? What about water sources? More questions than answers? This might be the webinar you’ve been looking for! Learn from other producers with years of experience in rotational grazing.
Indigenous Agriculture: Lost Harvest
Join Us and Sarah Carter to learn more about the history of indigenous agriculture in western Canada. Agriculture on Plains Indian reserves is generally thought to have failed because the Indigenous people lacked either an interest in farming or an aptitude for it. In our webinar Dr. Sarah Carter will reveal that reserve residents were anxious to farm and expended considerable effort on cultivation; government policies, more than anything else, acted to undermine their success.
Producer Panel on Winter Feeding Strategies
Hear from other producers in Alberta on their winter feeding strategies that have saved them time and money. Winter feeding is the biggest expense for most cattle producers, these ideas might save you some dollars!
Pollinators 101
What the BUZZ? Join Us on January 22 @7pm for a FREE webinar to learn more about the pollinators that surround us in Alberta and the Pollinator Corridor Initiative which focuses on improving habitats and nutrition for both wild and managed pollinators.
Soil Health and Amendments
Join Us and Dr. Jeff Schoenau for a FREE webinar on January 15th @7pm MST. Dr. Schoenau will share his expertise on soil health and how it relates to management of soils including manures, Biochar, forages, amendments and other soil and cropping practices like topsoil replacement, polycropping, and seed-down to salt tolerant grasses.
Dr. Jeff Schoenau is a professor of soil fertility and professional agrologist who works in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. He holds the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Soil Nutrient Management Chair in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and is a fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada.
Increasing Soil Organic Carbon
Join Us for a FREE webinar on soil carbon with Jamin Achtymichuk from the University of Alberta on December 4th @ 7pm. Soil organic carbon, which makes up most of the organic matter in soil, is key to keeping our soils fertile and productive. Over the years, a lot of this valuable carbon has been lost from soils as we moved from natural landscapes to crop and pasture lands. Putting carbon back into the soil can help boost its productivity and protect it against weather extremes. Research from the University of Alberta’s Breton Plots shows the impact of different farming practices on soil carbon levels after 40 to 90 years of treatments. Do you know the impact of fallow on soil carbon? Adding forages to your crop rotation? What do you think the longterm impact is of fertilizer and manure application? Learn the answers to these questions and how you can increase the soil carbon levels on your farm or ranch during our soil carbon webinar. Your management practices can make a big difference to soil health over time.
Humalite, soil amendments and crop rotations.
Humic products are widely marketed to growers for their ability to increase nutrient uptake and improve soil health. Is this true for Prairie growers and will you see yield improvements in your fields?
Join Us and Dr. Linda Gorim from the University of Alberta for a FREE webinar on November 27th @7pm.
Dr Gorim's team undertook a 3-year crop rotation to assess the impact of Humalite on wheat and canola yields followed up by an incubation experiment. Join Us to learn about the results of her research on Humic amendments.
Soils 102
Join Us and Dr Ross McKenzie to cultivate your soil and fertilizer knowledge. Learn about soil fertility indicators, testing frequency, fertilizer and how to get the best value for your amendment dollars. With over 50 years of experience Dr. McKenzie is sure to grow your soil and fertilizer IQ.
Grazing Beyond Climate Change
Join Us and Dr. Tim McAllister to learn more about our grasslands ecosystems and grazing.
Large herbivores like buffalo and elk were the keystone species within the development of our grassland ecosystems. Fast forward to 2024, cattle are largely the keystone species to maintaining our grasslands. Proper grazing management with cattle can enhance biodiversity, reduce the severity of fire, promote carbon sequestration and conserve carbon stores in our grassland soils. Above all, saving and the grazing of grasslands preserves this highly threatened ecosystem for a myriad of species including wildlife, birds, insects and soil microorganisms which are the building blocks of complex food webs. To achieve these goals, grazing practices must be aligned with the environmental and climatic challenges facing grasslands. Dr. McAllister will discuss how grazing practices with cattle can sustain grasslands in a manner similar to that of the wild buffalo that directed the evolution of this ecosystem over thousands of years.
Forages & Winter Feeding Field Day
Save the Date!
Join Us on September 11th in Clearwater County to learn more about winter feeding strategies like bale and swath grazing, local forage varieties and options as well as pasture rejuvenation projects.
Grazing Field Day - East Central Alberta
Join Us and our partners for a Grazing Field Day on August 14th in East Central Alberta. Visit with other producers and meet some of our producer partners working on rotational grazing, pasture rejuvenation, and returning annual crop land back into forage production. Learn more from speakers on emerging wildlife challenges, wetland management and water systems.
Peace Country Field Tour
Welcome to Peace Country Field Day! Join us in Woking, Saddle Hills County for a day of learning from other producers and experts about fall rye, preventing wildlife damage to your crops, pest updates for the region, local field variety trials and much more!
Milk River Ridge Water Field Tour
Save the Date!
Join us on June 19th in Southern Alberta for a Water Field Tour with our Partners. Spend time with other producers and learn about water resource management for grazing, wetland restoration projects and more water related resources. Stay tuned for more information and register HERE.
Manage the Damage
Dr. Ryan’s presentation will look at the biology of elk and the many different ways they can cause problems on farms and ranches, including grazing on livestock pasture, damage to hay bales and standing crops and fences, as well as disease transmission risks. He will talk about his research tracking elk with GPS satellite collars, documenting farmer/rancher knowledge, and developing on-farm risk models to understand how best to prevent and control elk (and deer) issues. Ryan advocates for a ‘tool box approach’ –having a toolbox full of good options to allow each producer to manage their own operation in a way that uses the tools most suitable for their particular situation and avoiding options that risk actually making the problem worse. Science results matched with the deep knowledge of the landowners together can help to best focus spending any funding sources where they are most needed on the hotspots of risk.
Watering Ideas for Grazing Success
Join Us and the ALUS Team at Red Deer County, to learn more about the watering systems producers are using for grazing success. Get ideas, tips and tricks for systems using different types water sources and learn more about how to extend grazing days with winter water systems. We’ll also cover funding sources to help you cover the costs with your water projects this year.
When Plants Kill
Wondering about Hairy Vetch? Embracing Brassicas? Considering a polyculture? Drought got you down, to some feed alternatives? Join Us and livestock and Feed Extension Specialists Jenifer Heyden and Chelsey Siemens from the Government of Saskatchewan on April 17th @7pm. Learn more about the plants you select for feed and how they can impact your herd health. Recognize toxic plants and kick them to the curb!
Rekindling the Relationship: The Ecological Buffalo
Join Us to learn more about 'The Ecological Buffalo' as a Keystone Species in North America. Once numbering in the tens of millions, buffalo have played a significant role in structuring the intricate food webs, trophic cascades and inter-species relationships that evolved over thousands of years.
Wes Olson has spent over 35 years working closely with buffalo first as a Parks Canada warden and now as a bison consultant. Wes is a published author and literally 'wrote the book' on buffalo.
Rekindling the Relationship: The Kainai Iinnii Rematriation
The Kainai Iinnii Rematriation Project (KIRP) is an eco-cultural restoration project that centers around the restoration of the land and culture of the Kainai (Blood) First Nation by re-introducing plains bison (Bison bison bison) back native mixed-grass prairie pastures on the North End region of the Blood Reserve. Bison have been absent from these lands for ~155 years and First Nation-led environmental research is being undertaken to study and better understand how re-introducing plains bison can benefit mixed-grass prairie ecosystems. Bison are considered both an ecological and cultural keystone for the Blackfoot/Kainai.
Justin Bruised Head (“Akkamootskoonaki”) works as The Kainai Iinnii Rematriation Project Coordinator at Blood Tribe Land Management. Justin was born and raised in a ranching and rodeo family in Southern Alberta, and is a member of the Blood Tribe First Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Treaty 7. Justin received his Post-Secondary Diploma in Renewable Resource Management in 2017, and Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Ecosystem Management in 2019 from the Lethbridge College. He thoroughly enjoys the outdoors and is an advocate for grassland conservation & restoration on the Blood Reserve.
Rekindling the Relationship - Part One with Glenda Abbott
In this webinar, we will delve into the narratives and teachings surrounding the rekindling of our relationship with the Buffalo.
Grazing Standing Corn
Hear about research and practical considerations for growing corn for grazing, nutrient management along with short and long-term rotation considerations from Dr. Vern Baron (AAFC) and BC rancher Steven Devick will share his experience using this practice.
Does it Cost, or Does it Pay?
Does it Cost or Does it Pay?
Join Us in collaboration with the Central Prairies Living Lab’s Kathy Larson for a webinar to learn more about the value of record keeping and the impact it can have on your operations bottom line.
Bale Grazing - Is this a Practice that will work on your Ranch?
The speakers at this webinar include Darren Bruhjell (AAFC) and our own Alberta AgriSystem Living Lab producer Doug Skeels who will share their experiences from different jurisdictions. Also, hear from BC ranchers who are planning to test this practice.
Soils 101: We have the DIRT on your SOIL
Join Us and Dr Ross McKenzie to cultivate your soil knowledge. Learn about soil health, testing, common soil challenges and how to improve your soil. With over 50 years of experience Dr. McKenzie is sure to grow your soil IQ.
Understanding the Land
Understanding the Land; learning about soil health from Indigenous and Western Science perspectives. Join us in collaboration with Bridge to Land Water Sky and the ê-kanâtahk askiy SAGE for a webinar with Dr. Melissa Arcand and Teresa Porter, SAGE team soil scientists.