Schoepp: In everyday things, we find our stories and great meaning

Schoepp: In everyday things, we find our stories and great meaning

On the shelves of my home are bowls that are precious for the memories they hold and the promise they offer

Reading Time: 3 minutes It is that time of year for reflection and as I hold an old cracked bowl in my hand, I am grateful. This bowl is nearly 90 years old and represents a part of my family history. For decades it has held the simple foods grown on the farm – colourful vegetables, bright berries, herbs. […] Read more

The farmer is only one stakeholder and what happens outside of agriculture impacts food production and availability.

Schoepp: The risks to our food system are many and must be addressed

Supply chain issues and inflation have both revealed serious fractures that won’t fix themselves

Reading Time: 3 minutes Our food system was certainly stretched during the pandemic. There were gaps and delays, but food was delivered. Fast forward to now, when we are experiencing massive inflation and the same gaps still appear, but with additional production challenges. Affordability is the new barrier to food in a system that experts describe as volatile and […] Read more


A will should ensure equitable treatment and avoid confusion in what is a very difficult time in the life of a farm family.

Schoepp: Having a will doesn’t guarantee a smooth succession process

This important document should provide a path forward, but sometimes it can sink the farm

Reading Time: 3 minutes What could possibly go wrong? There is a farm, a will and the future. Listening to the legal experts at a recent conference, it was a bit of a shocker to hear the situations in which farm families find themselves. It is always best to have a will. This important document should eliminate confusion and […] Read more

Schoepp: It was both an ordinary day and an extraordinary one, too

Schoepp: It was both an ordinary day and an extraordinary one, too

Sometimes when the load seems too heavy, little moments can lift you up

Reading Time: 3 minutes What started as a downer of a day turned into one of fulfilment and meaning. The person cutting my hair always surprises me with the depth of her compassion and her understanding of the world. Everything about her is beautiful and regardless of where I am that day, I feel uplifted when I go to […] Read more


‘The only way the commercialization of carbon sequestration works is when the farmer takes control and sets the terms of an annual or short-term agreement.’ – Brenda Schoepp.

Schoepp: The business of carbon credits is murky and risky

The payments are small and the agreements are often complex and ill-defined

Reading Time: 3 minutes In overall climate discussion, there is constant reference to trade in terms of carbon sequestration known as carbon credits. This is a global movement in carbon offsets under an assumption that the land, sea, and forests will absorb all carbon from total greenhouse gases. Does this benefit Canadian farmers and consumers? It’s a complex matter […] Read more

In many areas of the world, the introduction of ruminants has increased biodiversity when the intersection between animal and plant is understood.

Schoepp: Climate-focused diet misses the mark in targeting meat

Advocates of ‘climatarian’ diet need to look at entire picture when it comes to livestock

Reading Time: 3 minutes The ‘climatarian’ diet promotes the elimination of beef and lamb. The original movement is based on the premise that elimination of these ruminants reduces carbon emissions. Beef and lamb, the founders claim, leave the largest carbon footprint. Being climate conscious involves more than choosing one main point, such as carbon, and one culprit, such as […] Read more


A cruise ship sails out of the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia. It is estimated that the domestic and foreign shipping industry dumps a total of 147 billion litres of sewage and waste water in Canadian waters each year.

Schoepp: What produces more waste — a feedlot or a cruise ship?

Feedlot waste gets a lot of scrutiny by consumers while shipping gets a free pass

Reading Time: 3 minutes During a recent agricultural discussion, the chat centred around the public’s perception of animal agriculture and waste. As I had recently been at sea, our conversation shifted to the ocean being used as a dumping ground for human sewage and other waste. I became curious. What produces more waste — a feedlot or a ship, […] Read more

Harvest requires a keen appreciation of the weather and an acute respect for staying safe.

Schoepp: Take a ‘man overboard’ approach to make your farm safer

Sailors don’t leave harbour without going over the safety plan for that day. It’s an approach farmers should also take

Reading Time: 3 minutes I learned a lot about farm safety while sailing this summer. We set off for a week of fair skies, light winds and glorious sunsets, which were delivered in breathtaking beauty. On our first day out, a Minke whale graced our port side, followed during the week by porpoises and four humpback whales. Eagles soared, […] Read more


It is going to be tough to hire folks when an offer of a living wage is not on the table.

Schoepp: Times have changed, and so must the way you treat employees

A living wage is important but there are other things that today’s workers expect from employers

Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s crunch time as the harvest begins and farmers scramble for the help they need. A lot has changed on farms in the last decade as the baby boomers retire and are replaced by millennials and Gen Z. These generations have nurtured a different set of values and ethics. There has never been such a […] Read more