Hay crops across southern Alberta are very good for the first time in a few years. Great for area ranchers! Unfortunately, hot dry July conditions are starting to take a bit of a toll on some spring seeded crops. In S AB, we are never more than a few weeks away from a drought!

"As a retired Alberta biologist (and a hunter and angler) I am witnessing the political dismantling of the science-based approach to fish and wildlife management. This should concern all of us whether we hunt, fish or appreciate wildlife in other ways." lethbridgeherald.com/commentary/opi…

We have two poppy plants in our back yard. In June each year, they will produce over 60 blooms. It helps as to always remember!!

Today was my fourth day of skiing this season! Very cool inversion ment skiing above and into the clouds. Makes for a great & unique ski day!!

Alberta’s UCP govt will no longer allow Renewable Energy Projects on Class 1 & 2 land. Sounds great! But AB has no Class 1 land! I am often amazed at how ill informed UCP legislators are. REP’s should not be allowed on Class 2 or 3 land & be expanded to all types of development!

Below is a link to an article I wrote for Grainews on potential Selenium concerns that could develop downstream from the proposed Grassy Mountain coal project including drinking water, livestock watering & irrigated crop production. We should be concerned! grainews.ca/columns/seleni…

Congratulations to Blair Roth Blair Roth on your induction to the Alberta Agricultural Hall of Fame! This honour is very well deserved! Your work both with Alberta Ag & later with private industry has had a huge impact on pulse crop industry across the prairies! Well done!

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Ike Lanier, long time southern Alberta farmer. He was a true gentleman and community leader. He was an innovator and earlier adopted of no-till farming! He was a great fellow. Ike will be missed. mbfunerals.com/obituary/DrIke…

Congratulations to Kevin Auch Kevin Auch on receiving the Orville Yanke Award last week from Farming Smarter at their conference. A very well deserved honour for all your excellent soil conservation efforts! Congratulations!!! lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridg…

Below is Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation Minister’s response to concerns about Selenium contamination of river & irrigation water by proposed coal mining in the Eastern slopes. Clearly he does not have a clue about potential problems & isn’t concerned about irrigation farmers.

❗️BREAKING: corblund, Katie Morrison, and Bill Trafford Challenge @AbDanielleSmith, Brian Jean, @RebeccakSchulz to debate controversial coal policies ❗️ globalnews.ca/video/11081382… #MountainsNotMines #WaterNotCoal #Alberta #Calgary #YYC #Edmonton #YEG #AbLeg #AbPoli #CdnPoli

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If you love America so much, stay there.

The UCP govt is eliminating the 10% holdback on water license transfers that had been put in place to meet water conservation and environmental protection objectives. Announced on a Friday afternoon! Typical!!

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Jim Robertson. The first two Soil Science courses I took 53 yrs ago at the U of A were from Jim. He was an extraordinary professor! His influence changed my career directions! He was a pioneer in the field of Soil Science in Alberta.

Warm, dry and windy. In southern AB and SK at this time of year - wind erosion is always a concern. These pictures were taken this morning near Burstall, just east of the AB SK border!! A good soaking rain would be very welcomed!!

There is a mtg at the Ft MacLeod Community Hall at 5:30 tonight on Coal mining in Southern AB. Selenium is a major concern. Below are links to 2 Grainews articles I wrote about Selenium from a water & agricultural perspective. grainews.ca/columns/seleni… grainews.ca/columns/seleni…

Obama’s Iran nuclear deal was working until Trump pulled out of it. His own staff warned him not to because the alternative was war. Well, now we’re at war with Iran because Trump is weak, stupid and hated Obama more than he cared about preventing Iran from getting a nuke.

Congratulations to Brian Beres Brian Beres on receiving the Distinguished Agronomist award from the Canadian Society of Agronomy!! This is Very Well Deserved!

A high school teacher I know well has been trucking the past 3 wks during the teacher strike- hauling cattle & fertilizer. The money is very good! No rude or vulgar parents cussing him! If ordered back to his overpacked classrooms- I wonder if he will return? Probably not!