Accelerate Weekly #99
Accelerate Weekly – Issue 99 (Week of November 17, 2025)
This week’s Accelerate Weekly is a look back at a milestone moment for Farming Forward — the successful launch of the first-ever Gathering Ground: A Producer Development Day. Producers, families, and ag professionals came together in Whitecourt for a full day of learning, hands-on sessions, and community connection. The keynote by Annessa Good-Hassard set the tone with practical tools for farm succession, followed by four interactive breakout sessions led by Ryan Copithorne, Marissa Lemay, Morgan Webb, and the Gathering Ground Gauntlet team. The producer panel closed the day with honest insights into direct marketing, value-added production, and building customer relationships. Strong feedback from attendees highlighted the quality, relevance, and value of the event.
Alongside the event, the newsletter shares an update from Executive Director Carri, who spent the weekend in Manitoba supporting teams in the AquaHacking Challenge as the small-scale agriculture water issues lead. More updates on the solutions emerging from the competition will be shared in upcoming editions.
The issue also includes several producer-focused resources and opportunities. Producers and agrologists are encouraged to take part in the national Agronomy Resources Survey. Environmental Farm Plan workshops continue in Whitecourt and Wildwood. A new recurring feature — From Other Fields — explores fresh global ideas, starting this week with a look at Azolla as a fast-growing livestock feed and what would be required for it to work in Alberta’s climate.
Additional content includes research news on nanotechnology-based pest control from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, insights from an on-farm nitrogen trial, youth opportunities through the Alberta Beef Producers Young Creators Contest, and upcoming workshops such as Dig Into Horticulture and Chicken 101.
