RJ Sigurdson in as Alberta ag minister

Jun 09, 2023

Premier Danielle Smith introduced her new cabinet Friday

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Alberta’s ag sector has a new representative in the provincial legislature.

Premier Danielle Smith appointed RJ Sigurdson, the MLA for Highwood as the new minister of agriculture and irrigation during a cabinet swearing in ceremony on June 9.

• Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation – RJ Sigurdson
• Minister of Health – Adriana LaGrange
• Minister of Mental Health and Addiction – Dan Williams
• Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services – Jason Nixon pic.twitter.com/jeHDRlAh8j
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) June 9, 2023

Sigurdson grew up on a 40-acre “farm north of Cochrane, spending the early years of his life raising horses, cattle and farming,” his United Conservative Party biography says.

He also has extensive experience as a red seal sheet metal worker.

Former ag minister Nate Horner remains in Premier Smith’s cabinet.

He will serve as minister of finance and president of the treasury board.

Including the premier, 25 people make up the provincial cabinet.

Other appointees include:

Mike Ellis as deputy premier and minister of public safety and emergency services
Adriana LaGrange as minister of health
Rebecca Schulz as minister of environment and protected areas
Dan Williams as minister of mental health and addiction.

Video: Creating the Potential for Higher Yields - Phil Needham

Phil Needham grew up on a family farm on the east coast of England, where 140-160 bu/ac wheat yields were common with around 20-22” of annual rainfall. After college and university Phil moved to the USA in 1989 to join Opti-Crop, a consulting company based in Kentucky. Opti-Crop had contributed to more than a doubling of the Kentucky state wheat yield when they were asked by growers to expand their services to surrounding states and west to Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. In 2000 they expanded their wheat consulting to South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota to manage spring wheat in those areas, and in 2002 they moved further north to help spring wheat producers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Phil will discuss some of the weak links he has seen within the management systems of spring cereal producers across AB, SK and MB. He will then provide options to minimize or eliminate these weak links, to push yields, protein and profits higher, especially in years with above average rainfall. Phil will also discuss ways to minimize expenses and risk, in the years with below average rainfall.