John Kolk News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Unlike their American neighbours, Alberta’s farmers don’t pay for water but irrigation districts do fund a hefty share of the costs.

Farmers and ranchers around southern Alberta are making hay while the sun shines — all while hoping it doesn't shine too hard, or too long.

  LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. -- It's been a whirlwind season for farmers in southern Alberta who have had to deal with dry weather and extreme heat. Now, uninvited insects are adding more misery to their already-wounded crops. The region's grasshopper population is booming and the pesky insects are ripping through farmers' crops, leaving behind a trail of devastation. One of the biggest hurdles is that grasshopper infestations aren't an easy thing to control. "Most insecticides are non-selective so, if you have to go in because you have a problem with something like grasshoppers in your crops, y...

  PICTURE BUTTE, ALTA. -- Osprey arriving back to southern Alberta after a long migration, will have a new nesting structure at the Picture Butte reservoir. The nest platform, which was installed on a tall wooden pole, has been donated and built by AltaLink to be ready for the return of osprey this spring. Local volunteers with the Walk On the Wild Side Society brought branches to build the starter nest. “What we’re trying to do is get one of the higher predators in, which helps to balance the whole eco-system,” said John Kolk, a society member who farms nearby.

Wildlife enthusiasts working to attract new residents to walking trails Poll Yes A southern Alberta group is hoping to add a few residents to the walking trails around Picture Butte. With spring approaching, Walk on the Wild Side have been working on a new addition to the trails that will be put up at the end of the month, weather permitting. Ideally, this structure will attract some wildlife that will call the area home and provide bird watching enthusiasts with some prime viewing. “What we’re hoping to be able to do on March 31 is we’re working with Alta Link, Lethbridge Northern Irri...