Reading Time: 3 minutes Today’s farmers show resiliency, whether they are highly technical mass producers or deliver fresh to the farm gate. In agriculture, technology continues to rapidly advance in areas such as robotics and precision farming. Nutrient attributes can now be added or taken away in plants through genomics. Machinery can do the work of humans in picking […] Read more
Schoepp: Farmers are innovative and resilient — our food system should be, too
The globalized commodity model is needed, but so are regional and local alternatives
Schoepp: Don’t be brought down by the constant drumbeat of bad news
Yes, the world faces a lot of troubles right now but we remain fortunate in Canada
Reading Time: 3 minutes Each day we are bombarded with negativity — often regarding food, fuel and housing, those core foundational building blocks in our hierarchy of needs. Without them we start to lose our sense of belonging and of control in our lives and begin to fear for our future. Added to inflation and declining markets is the […] Read more
Schoepp: When we put values ahead of winning, good things happen
Of course we play to win but those who dare to be different often reap exceptional rewards
Reading Time: 3 minutes I have found a cousin — or rather he found me. Years ago, I had placed a little post on Facebook with a short message in which I said I was looking for information on my maternal grandmother. I knew her name and when she passed, but that was nearly all. And I wanted to […] Read more
Schoepp: Fresh water a gift we can’t afford to take for granted
What falls from the sky gets most of our attention but the entire water supply should be our concern
Reading Time: 3 minutes Drop by precious drop we are celebrating rain in the dry areas — and cursing it on the flood plains. The weather patterns have been rather unpredictable with monumental hail in Mexico City to extreme heat in Europe and Saharan winds that are dropping sand in the most remote of locations. Putting seed in the […] Read more
Schoepp: Pity the poor cow — bovine burps have so many in a tizzy
In the vast world of ruminants, cattle and their belching are getting an awful lot of attention
Reading Time: 3 minutes It might be a sensitive time to talk about wearing a mask, especially for the rest of a lifetime. That simply cannot be in the best interest of any living creature. However, this is exactly what is being proposed — and being developed — for cattle. The mask (developed by art students) covers the nostrils […] Read more
Schoepp: Many popular foods have a long history — and an uncertain future
Reading Time: 3 minutes Lately I have been curious about lettuce. The plant has been traced back to Egypt some 6,000 years ago and is a member of the sunflower family. That may surprise you because we often think of sunflowers in terms of the flower and the oil. But lettuce was not grown for its leaves, it was […] Read more
Schoepp: More farms need to plant the seeds of financial literacy
Many operations, both new and old, pay a big price for not knowing the language of finance
Reading Time: 3 minutes British Columbia is a unique place in the world. The variety of food grown is astounding as is the diversity among its processed products. The landscape is home to tiny farms and large ranches, local processors and those who export worldwide. This is a province of mountains, islands, rivers, ocean, lakes, ports and flyways, valleys […] Read more
Schoepp: Our ag sector is a powerhouse but transport woes hold it back
Farmers are paying a big price because transportation infrastructure is not what it should be
Reading Time: 3 minutes Trains, planes and trucks are in constant motion to move Canadian agricultural commodities and value-added products across our massive country to ports for distribution around the world. Our farmers depend on a functioning infrastructure that includes road, rail and the sea. The more interruptions there are to the smooth and timely flow of goods, the […] Read more
Schoepp: Loss of extension services left a hole in rural communities
There needs to be a hub at the centre where information and ideas can build resilience and innovation
Reading Time: 3 minutes Rural communities across Canada are striving to maintain their schools, businesses and labour force. Often, the lack of services, slow broadband, isolation and a narrow spectrum of jobs that provide a living wage contribute to an exit of the young population to major centres. In several provinces, the disbanding or complete elimination of extension services […] Read more
Schoepp: It’s time to dispel a key myth about cattle and greenhouse gases
We can reduce cattle emissions but the focus should be on the real source of atmospheric warming
Reading Time: 3 minutes On the small island of Meares off the West Coast of Canada there is a herd of wild cattle. They are a cross of Shorthorn, Hereford and Jersey and the offspring resemble a long-legged red and white calf. What is unique about these cattle is their diet. Just as the coastal wolves are fishing wolves, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
