By: Taraya Middleton First-Year Brewmaster Student The rolling prairie farmlands of central Alberta are a lovely shade of golden straw brown mixed with plots of green. The land is slowly coming out of the long winter hibernation and farmers are working long days to prep the soil for seeding. It would be best if you cared about the state of Alberta's farmlands because nearly half of the yearly Canadian export of 620,000 tonnes of barley comes from Alberta farms. The impact of all this hard work is showcased by brewers both local and international, at the micro- and macro-levels. It's early May, and heavy rain, snow, and hail have moved through the Calgary-area around noon, tracking east towards Strathmore. For those in the farming industry, it's another Alberta weather pattern that requires patience as it will eventually blow over. It might push seeding schedules back by a few hours, or days, but hopefully not much longer. For everyone else, well, it’s a minor ...