Alberta Supports Growth In Agri-Food Sector

Sep 20, 2017

The federal and provincial governments are supporting the largest ever private investment in Lethbridge’s history. Premier Rachel Notley was in Lethbridge to participate in the sod-turning for Cavendish Farms’ new $360-million, state-of-the-art frozen potato-processing facility that will see up to 400 construction workers on site at its peak.

This project will create greater opportunities for local producers and increase the province’s value-added food-processing capabilities. The new Cavendish facility is expected to create demand for an additional 9,000 acres of potatoes, which at $3,500-$4,000 an acre is one of the highest-value agricultural crops grown in the province.

The governments Canada and Alberta are contributing $20 million to the City of Lethbridge for municipal infrastructure developments through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund and Alberta’s Capital Plan. As well, through the federal-provincial-territorial Growing Forward 2 initiative, both governments are providing $1.88 million for pre-engineering studies and other purposes.

Economic Development and Trade is also providing more than $1 million through the Community and Regional Economic Support program to support the Lethbridge Agri-food Processing Capacity Development project and the Lethbridge Airport Master Plan.

Source : Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.