Reading Time: 3 minutes The Calgary Herald ran the story on the front page and it was not about politics, religion or tragedy. The story was about the Calgary Co-op’s members’ non-binding resolution for management to consider phasing out the purchasing of pork and eggs produced in confinement cages. This reflects what some Calgary Co-op consumers have been asking […] Read more
Meat and eggs make front-page news
Meat and eggs make front-page news
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Calgary Herald ran the story on the front page and it was not about politics, religion or tragedy. The story was about the Calgary Co-op’s members’ non-binding resolution for management to consider phasing out the purchasing of pork and eggs produced in confinement cages. This reflects what some Calgary Co-op consumers have been asking […] Read more
Good policy is needed to preserve rural Canada and our country’s farms
Food production is the foundation of all societies and we need policies that support entrepreneurs and sustainability
Reading Time: 3 minutes Enabling policy is the backbone of any successful economy because it allows for creative, innovative ideas to grow and thrive. Enabling policy includes domestic and foreign policy that supports entrepreneurs and sustainability in established business. In my view, it is measured in terms of a healthy and educated middle class, lively rural communities, and an […] Read moreCollaborative farming makes partnerships a business
From the hip A visiting Australian has some good ideas on balancing business and family life
Reading Time: 4 minutes Robin Schaefer knows all about collaborative farming. He owns a grain farm in south Australia with a non-family partner and is studying business management systems and weather forecasting worldwide. Working together, he and his business partner have found the optimal levels of operation and how to keep on the same page. When Robin talks about […] Read moreA refresher course in selling feeder cattle in the spring
Preparation As we head into spring, a review of some of the basic principles and terms of marketing
Reading Time: 4 minutes Recently I have had a few calls on the basics of cattle marketing. As we head into the spring market and the backgrounded calves sell, it is timely to review the basic principles of marketing and to go over the terms. In all the examples, the cattle are sold direct or through the electronic auction. […] Read moreAnalyzing the mixed prospects for world beef trade
From the hip Fewer cattle don’t necessarily mean less beef, and dairy is a major influence
Reading Time: 3 minutes With all the talk about the reduction of cattle inventory in Canada and the U.S. it is a good time to also revisit the balance of world beef trade. In which countries is beef demand and supply in balance and where do we expect change? More importantly — what does this mean? India continues to […] Read moreUrban farming gives city folks a connection to food and each other
Opportunity As science increases our ability to bloom indoors and without soil, so does our opportunity to provide food for the city from within it
Reading Time: 4 minutes When we think of agriculture our minds drift off to fields, bins, cages and pens. Ask an urbanite what they think of when it comes to the production of food from the earth and they dream of gardens, herb boxes and paper bags of “fresh” produce from the farmers’ market. Although at first glance the […] Read moreBullying doesn’t only happen in the schoolyard
From the hip The farm is one of the workplaces where bullying has been identified as a problem
Reading Time: 4 minutes Tom* continues to work on the family farm that was established by his father. He has a loving wife and five school-age children. Tom is getting long past the stage of waiting on Dad to fulfil his commitments and comes to the realization that he is simply a free hired hand and that his brothers […] Read morePutting the “success” in family farm succession
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s that time of year when discussions on family succession are getting going in full gear. There are many seminars offered and lots of advice floating around. I always find the discussion interesting and enlightening and appreciate that experienced family guides are talented leaders in the process. For us, farming is our business. We love […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
