Alberta Archives - Newsline by Cole's Ag

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on April 21, 2026, 10:00am

Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers Welcomes Adrienne Herron as General Manager

April 21, 2026 (Okotoks, AB) — The Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers (ABCSG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrienne Herron as its new General Manager, effective May 4, 2026. Herron succeeds Kelly Chambers, who will retire on May 29, 2026, following a successful tenure leading the organization.

“I am very excited to join ABCSG and to work alongside such a dedicated group of members,” said Herron. “I look forward to building strong relationships and supporting the organization in advancing the interests of seed growers while promoting innovation and sustainability across the sector.”

Herron brings extensive experience in agriculture and producer engagement. Raised on a mixed farm in British Columbia’s North Peace region, she holds both a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agricultural Systems and a Master of Agricultural Science from the University of Alberta and is a Professional Agrologist. She previously spent over 13 years with Alberta Agriculture and most recently served as the Knowledge Translation and Transfer Lead with the Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab, where she focused on connecting research with on-farm practices. Herron lives in Red Deer County on a cattle seedstock operation.

ABCSG President Sarah Weigum welcomed Herron to the organization, highlighting the value of her experience and leadership.

“Adrienne’s deep understanding of agriculture, combined with her experience in research collaboration and producer engagement, makes her an excellent fit for ABCSG,” said Weigum. “Her leadership will help strengthen our ability to support seed growers, advocate for the industry, and continue delivering programs and services that enhance the quality and competitiveness of seed production in Alberta and British Columbia.”

Weigum also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing Executive Director Kelly Chambers.

“On behalf of the Board and our members, we extend our sincere thanks to Kelly for her dedication and leadership,” Weigum added. “Her commitment to the organization has helped position ABCSG for continued success, and we wish her all the best in her retirement.”

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The Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers represents seed growers across the region, working to support the production of high-quality seed, advocate on behalf of members, and foster innovation and sustainability within the seed industry.

Contact:

Kelly Chambers
Executive Director
Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers
c. 403.325.0081
kelly@abcseedgrowers.ca
https://abcseedgrowers.ca/

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on March 10, 2026, 9:00am

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week highlights importance of farm and ranch safety across Alberta

March 10, 2026 (Calgary, AB) – Ahead of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW), AgSafe Alberta is encouraging farms and ranches across the province to include farm safety in their plans this spring to avoid injuries and save lives.

CASW is an annual campaign held in March with a focus on sharing information and resources to keep farming operations safe, healthy, sustainable and successful.

The Government of Alberta recently released 2024 agricultural workplace injury, illness and fatality statistics. While these statistics show the number of recorded injuries and fatalities in agriculture is decreasing, the size of the agriculture labour force is also shrinking. The 538 total injuries across the sector in 2024, each of which led to an average of just over 44 days of lost work, highlight the importance of safety plans and training, as well as the value of high-quality farm safety information and resources.

AgSafe Alberta executive director Jody Wacowich is available for media interviews before and during CASW to discuss farm injury and fatality statistics, provide safety advice to farmers and ranchers heading into the spring, and highlight farm safety resources that are available to producers.

What: Canadian Agricultural Safety Week

Who: Jody Wacowich, AgSafe Alberta Executive Director

When: March 15-21, 2026

Theme Days

March 16 – Rail and Road Safety
March 17 – Farm Machinery Safety
March 18 – Emergency Preparedness
March 19 – Women in Ag
March 20 – Livestock Safety

Where: Across Canada

Why: Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is a helpful, annual reminder of the importance of farm and ranch safety, but safety should be a focus year-round. All injuries and illnesses that result from farm work are avoidable, not inevitable, if producers are proactive with their planning and take appropriate measures to mitigate the risks inherent to their work.

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For more information, please contact:

Jody Wacowich
Executive Director
AgSafe Alberta
JWacowich@agsafeab.ca
587-585-2906

About AgSafe Alberta:
AgSafe Alberta is the health and safety association for agricultural producers in our province. As an industry-led organization, AgSafe Alberta works with and supports farms and ranches of all types and sizes in becoming safer places to live, work and grow up.

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on October 16, 2024, 9:00am

AgSafe Alberta launches FARMERS CARE Level 4

Oct. 16, 2024 (Calgary, AB) – AgSafe Alberta is proud to announce the launch of the fourth and final stage in its FARMERS CARE program.

FARMERS CARE Level 4 is now available at AgSafeAB.ca. This free program provides valuable safety information in an accessible and engaging format that agricultural producers can navigate at their own pace.

AgSafe Alberta knows farmers and ranchers are extremely busy people and wants to respect their time. That is why all levels of FARMERS CARE cover a wealth of valuable information in a condensed format, avoiding the major time commitment that typically comes with intensive safety courses.

“FARMERS CARE is a great way for farmers and ranchers to start building a culture of safety on their operations,” says AgSafe Alberta chair Ian Chitwood. “With a very small investment of time, you can learn critical information and strategies that have the potential to prevent serious injuries and save lives.”

FARMERS CARE is an acronym that represents the 11 most common types of farm incidents – all of which are detailed on AgSafeAB.ca.

The first level of FARMERS CARE helps farmers and ranchers identify common agricultural hazards and learn how to control them, while introducing basic health and safety concepts. The second level of FARMERS CARE introduces the topics of training, orientation and communication – all concepts that are critical to managing hazards and risks on operations of all sizes.

FARMERS CARE Level 3 outlines basic inspections that will benefit a farm of any size and type, as well as how to conduct an inspection, fix issues found during an inspection and communicate inspection results to the farm team. Finally, FARMERS CARE Level 4 introduces emergency action plans and important considerations that will help keep people on farms safe during an emergency. It also covers practical measures related to emergency prevention, preparedness, management and recovery.

“Since we launched the first level of FARMERS CARE in 2021, hundreds of farmers and ranchers throughout the province have taken this important first step towards making their operations safer places to live and work,” says AgSafe Alberta executive director Jody Wacowich.

“Together, all four levels of FARMERS CARE provide a solid foundation from which agricultural producers can build a thriving safety culture – for themselves, their families and their employees.”

Once they have completed the FARMERS CARE program, farms and ranches can continue their safety journey through additional specialized programs offered by AgSafe Alberta based on the type, size and scale of their operation.

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For more information, please contact:

Jody Wacowich
Executive Director
AgSafe Alberta
JWacowich@agsafeab.ca
587-585-2906

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on September 17, 2024, 9:06am

Alberta Grains Supports Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) Initiative with $4.3 Million Investment

Sept. 17, 2024 (Calgary, AB) – Alberta Grains is pleased to announce its significant financial commitment to the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) initiative, approving an investment of $4,319,798. This funding is part of a broader $13.2 million collaboration involving key agricultural organizations across Canada, including Sask Wheat, and Manitoba Crop Alliance.

The Gate initiative, spearheaded by Cereals Canada, aims to create a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a hub for market access, development and innovation within Canada’s cereals sector. This new facility is poised to enhance Canada’s standing as a global leader in agricultural exports, providing crucial infrastructure to support the continued growth and competitiveness of our cereals industry.

“Alberta Grains recognizes the critical role that market access and development play in maintaining our competitive edge on the global stage,” said Greg Sears, Alberta Grains Region 6 Director. “The Gate initiative will not only reinforce our existing markets but will also open new avenues for growth and innovation, ensuring that Alberta’s wheat and barley producers remain at the forefront of global trade.”

This investment aligns with Alberta Grains’ ongoing commitment to advancing agricultural technology and innovation. The Gate facility will serve as a central point for training and testing building on the momentum that Cereals Canada has established over the past five decades.

“The Gate initiative represents an exciting leap forward for the grain sector by fostering collaboration and innovation, which will play a pivotal role in securing the future of Canadian grains on the world stage,” stated Alberta Grains Executive Director, Mike Flynn. “Alberta Grains fully supports the Gate initiative, as it directly aligns with our goals of driving research forward, fostering economic growth and ensuring sustainability for our farmers.”

The approval of this funding is conditional upon securing additional financial support from government entities and other funding partners. Alberta Grains is confident that with the combined efforts of provincial commissions and industry stakeholders, the Gate initiative will achieve its vision, benefitting grain producers across Alberta and Canada.

For media inquiries please contact:

Jonathan Anderson
Director, Communications, Marketing & Events
Alberta Grains
403-371-2132
media@albertagrains.com

About Alberta Grains
Alberta Grains is a farmer-directed organization that represents the interests of and serves as the single voice for all of Alberta’s wheat and barley producers.