Ag-Info Centre: 310-FARM (3276)

The Centre is staffed with specialists in the areas of crops, specialty crops, beef, forage, business management, and new ventures. Resource agents take all calls, answer questions, forward the caller to a specialist or refer the caller to other information sources. Staff are experienced at handling producer inquiries, from program information and production questions to diagnosing complex agricultural issues. We are the link to Alberta Agriculture's people, services, programs across the province.

Hours of Operation:
8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays

How to Contact the Centre
Toll-free in Alberta: 310 FARM (310-3276) or 1-866-882-7677
Out of province 1-403-742-7901

Currently, the 'in-house' specialists and resource agents at the Centre are:

Ross D. Hutchison - Branch Head, Alberta Ag-Info Centre. Ross has a B.Sc. A. Plant Science from the University of Saskatchewan. He started with AAFRD in 1989 as a District Agriculturalist. Ross became a Forage Extension Specialist in January 1994. Today Ross coordinates activities of the Centre staff to achieve the goals of AAFRD. Collaborates and partners with divisions and industry on common goals. Works with Agriculture Opportunities Fund team in regard to funding of applied research associations. Maintains and expands industry contacts relative to issues and information needs. Coaching and teamwork is the best way to reach our goals.

Leonna Lind - is the Unit Leader for the Ag-Info Centre. She was the project leader for the Cereal and Oilseed pilot project. Leonna worked as Client Service Representative in the Stettler District Office since 1994, and prior to that she was the RITE Operator in Stettler for 19 years.

Russel Horvey - (Beef Forage Specialist) Russel brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to the Centre. He has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan. After joining the Department in 1973, Horvey worked as a District Agriculturist in Calgary, Three Hills and Hanna, and for several years worked as a soil and water conservation coordinator in Edmonton and Red Deer. More recently, he was a cereals and oilseeds specialist in Oyen and Three Hills. Throughout his career with Alberta Agriculture, the Horvey family has maintained a herd of purebred cattle, most recently being based in the Delburne area. At the Ag-Info Centre, Horvey will use his diverse background and skills to handle producers' beef and forage production concerns and will continue to expand his interests in organic farming as time allows.

Ken Ziegler - (Beef- Forage Specialist) For the past 20+ years, Ken has been keenly interested in the animal/pasture interaction, to improve the efficiency of converting sunlight energy into a sellable commodity by raising forages and beef. In particular, Ken has focused on grazing management to improve the productivity of pasture which results in either higher stocking rates or an extend grazing season into the winter time. By working with clients, Ken has been able to improve the grazing season well into winter and for cattle to resume grazing in early April thereby reducing the cost of production of the beef cow herd. By developing a low cost production system, the pasture grazier and cattle owner can reap economic benefits while staying environmentally sustainable.

Barry Yaremico - (Beef-Forage Specialist) Barry was raised on a hog and grain farm in North Eastern Alberta. After graduation from the University of Alberta, he worked as a District Agriculturist in Lamont, Lac La Biche and Two Hills. He worked as the lab and beef nutritionist at the O.S. Longman Building for 6 years. Yaremcio worked eight years in private industry as a technical support consultant, crop consultant and a feed mill nutritionist before returning to Alberta Agriculture at the Ag-Info Center. Barry works with the Beef Group on the Information Review Committee for Ropin the Web, reviewing research and updating information. He is maintaining and including new information in the beef reference library at the centre.

Grant Lastiwka - (Forage-Beef Specialist) Grant grew up and farmed for 7 years in northeastern Alberta. He has been with Alberta Agriculture in central Alberta since 1988, first as a District Agriculturist and later as a forage specialist. In 1996 he moved to Lacombe as a Pasture specialist/Extension with Alberta Agriculture and the Western Forage/Beef Group. In 2006 Grant started working with the Ag-Info Center as a Pasture Specialist, based in Lacombe.

Mark Johns - (Forage Specialist) Mark attended the University of Alberta for his Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in animal sciences. Since graduating in 1995 he has worked for private industry specializing in forage and forage seed production. Johns has worked as a forage seed production fieldman, technical sales representative, and for the past several years was the Forage Technical Marketing Representative for Proven Seed, a division of Agricore United.

Gordon Hutton - (Forage Specialist) Gordon has been working with the forage industry in Alberta for the past 17 years with both dryland and irrigated cropping systems. His focus has been on the application of both annual and perennial forage crops for use as pasture, stockpiled winter grazing, domestic hay and export hay. Gordon has also participated in the transfer of forage information to producers and industry partners through the development of new information factsheets, web based tools and industry training programs. Gordon is based out of the Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development office in Airdrie and can be contacted through the 310- FARM number or through email gordon.hutton@gov.ab.ca

Jim Broatch - (Crop Specialist) Jim graduated from the University of Manitoba, with a B. Sc. in Agriculture-Entomology. He completed the Master of Pest Management program at Simon Fraser University in 1993. His research was in canola, studying root maggots in the Peace River Region of Alberta. Currently he is a Ph. D. Candidate at the University of Alberta, studying root maggot predators and parasitoids, and how agronomic practices influence insect populations. Jim's interests are in Integrated Crop Management and beneficial insects, especially predators and parasitoids of our current agronomic pests. Experience includes work as an Industry Agronomist dealing with custom applicator/fertilizer sales, Agricultural Fieldman, as a private consultant and since 1997 as a Crop Specialist with Alberta Agriculture.

Karla Bergstrom - (Crop Specialist) Karla Bergstrom (nee Barmentloo) was born in Wainwright and raised in the border city, Lloydminster. She was influenced by the family grain farm and the co-operative education program in the College of Agriculture to pursue studies in agriculture. At the University of Saskatchewan she majored in Agriculture Economics and minored in Agri-business. Her experiences have lead her to serve Alberta's producers and Industry partners in both agronomy and economics. She also grain farms with her husband in the Meeting Creek area.

Doon Pauly - (Crop Specialist) Doon worked on the Cereal and Oilseed Helpline pilot project in 2001. He comes to Alberta Agriculture with extensive industry experience as a researcher and as a crop production specialist. Pauly has Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Master of Science in Soil Fertility degrees, both from the University of Alberta. Soil fertility, fertilizer products and weed management are his primary areas of interest.

Harry Brook - (Crop Specialist) Has a varied career. Graduated from the U of A with a B.Sc. in Agronomy. Has worked as a range land agrologist, cattle manager on the family mixed farm, district agriculturist, beef specialist, agricultural/commercial lender and sales agronomist. Worked on the help line pilot project and now back for an extended engagement.

Tricia Palmer - (Agrologist Intern) Tricia joined our team as a Multi-Discipline Agrologist Intern. She will spend the next year involved in all areas of the Ag-Info Centre with the opportunity to work with specialists from each of the disciplines here. Tricia grew up on a farm near Eatonia, Saskatchewan and is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Agriculture, majoring in Horticulture. Prior to completing her studies, Tricia spent time with IAEA in New Zealand, travelled in Australia and Scotland and did an internship at a nursery in Oregon. We look forward to Tricia's time with us, and welcome opportunities for her involvement in all sector activities and projects.
Rob Spencer - (Irrigated and Specialty Crops Specialist) Rob is a recently migrated native of Saskatchewan from the Saskatoon area. Rob has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honors) with a major in Horticulture from the University of Saskatchewan and has completed his Masters of Science in Plant Sciences with a focus on post-harvest potato pathology. Rob's training includes the production of most horticultural crops and plant pathology. His work experience includes vegetable crop and anti-fungal research at the U of S and AAFC in Saskatoon.

Dale Robinson -(Business Management Specialist) Dale joined Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development in 1998 as the Farm Management Specialist in Stettler. He has worked on a number of provincial initiatives including farm financial management publications, an annual farm succession planning seminar series and authoring fact sheets on evaluating the feasibility of farm diversification options. Before moving to Stettler, Robinson was actively involved in the family farm operation, focusing on dairy, beef & grain production. He has a B. Sc. in Animal Science & Business as well as a MBA in Agriculture. Dale's expertise is entrepreneurial skills development, financial management, farm succession planning and strategic business management. He has extensive experience in working with farm families and beginning farmers across all sectors of the agricultural industry. His interests include encouraging individual producers to enhance their management skills as they diversify, expand or refocus their farm businesses for increased profitability.

Ted Nibourg - (Business Management Specialist) Ted has returned to Alberta Agriculture after a nine year hiatus during which he worked as a private consultant. He originally started with the department as a Regional 4-H Specialist working in the Lethbridge and Peace Regions. He eventually moved into a District Agriculturist role, working in the Three Hills, Claresholm and Red Deer offices. In private practice, Ted focused on cost of production for crops and livestock, precision farming, computer training, agricultural software development and information management. Nibourg has B.Sc. Agriculture from the University of Alberta with an Animal Science major and Ag. Econ. minor as well as an Advanced Graduate Diploma Distance Education Technology from Athabasca University. He is currently working on a Masters in Distance Education through, of course, Internet delivery from A.U.

Kathy Bosse - (New Ventures Specialist) Kathy first joined Alberta Agriculture as a Home Economist in Cardston, Alberta. After leaving the department, she worked for Consumer and Corporate Affairs and most recently Olds College. Kathy has experience with business development and management and also experience in the food processing area. She has a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has almost completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. As a New Venutres Specialist Kathy assists start up businesses assess opportunity, develops there product or idea and connects people with the resources they need.

Betty Birch - (Communication Coordinator) has worked for Alberta Agriculture as a District Home Economist and as a Rural Development Specialist with Organizations, and now has taken on the role of Communications Coordinator for the Ag-Info Centre. She led the team who developed the Cereal and Oilseeds Helpline pilot project, which grew into the Alberta Ag-Info Centre. Betty has a bachelor of science degree in Home Economics from the University of Alberta. She brings a wealth of community, organizations and team experience to the Ag-Info Centre.

Marj Tunney - (Resource Agent) Marj has been with the provincial government for 24 years. Marj has worked as a Client Service Representative with Alberta Agriculture in the Wainwright District Office. She answers Duke questions and publishes FAQ's on Ropin The Web.

Deborah Heidt - (Resource Agent) Deb has worked as a client service representative for Alberta Agriculture since 1988, first in the Lacombe office and then the Stettler office. Heidt and her husband farm in the Mirror/Bashaw area. Deb leads the Registration Desk at the Ag-Info Centre.

Brenda McLellan - (Resource Agent) Brenda worked for many years in the Livestock Marketing Services division ( brands office). After privatization of the Brand's Office, she provided public and telephone service at the Alberta Agriculture Stettler District office for 4-H and industry development. Brenda is the publisher for Hay & livestock listings on Ropin the Web, works with the Registration Desk and web publishing.

Mary Ann Nelson - (Resource Agent) Mary Ann has worked for Alberta Agriculture in the Livestock Marketing Services division before coming to the Ag-Info Centre. Mary Ann is publisher for the Organic Directory. She also assists with the budget and web publishing at the Centre.

Backup Resource Agents - Heather Lang, Wendy Rowledge, Janet Fletcher & Gail Baker

Backup Specialists - Bill Dietrich (Forage/Beef) & Colin Bergstrom (Crops)