Reading Time: 3 minutes One in seven Canadians is food insecure. I wondered: Just who are the food insecure throughout this vast nation? Where do they live and what is the relationship between food security, location, culture or income? Those persons who are the most food insecure in Canada live in remote places. The population of Nunavut is 57 […] Read more
Schoepp: It’s harder for women to put food on table when they’re paid less
Many women make one-third less than men doing similar work
Schoepp: The pandemic brought stress but also something empowering
A lot of the burden fell on farm and ranch women, but struggle also brought a new strength
Reading Time: 3 minutes Women have multiple roles on Alberta’s farms and ranches, and navigating the pandemic has taken courage, determination, innovation and forgiving grace. I asked some of them to share their experiences. At first, the fact that the country home was remote seemed a blessing as it reduced the potential exposure to the virus. But as time […] Read more
The cattle sector benefits enormously from a wide array of vaccines
There is a large number of vaccines for cattle — here’s a primer on key ones and their use
Reading Time: 3 minutes Healthy cattle production relies on good vaccination strategies. The general public is now hearing about efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, two doses of vaccine, storage and the logistics of transport. We are now hearing about supply issues. With a single-dose vaccine of 66 per cent efficacy, is that worse or better that needing two doses to […] Read more
Schoepp: Novice farmers offer a host of lessons on what is possible
Across the country, young people are following in the footsteps of the pioneers, building farms one acre at a time
Reading Time: 3 minutes The invitation came by text to attend a party at the neighbouring farm. It was simply to showcase food production and to launch the farm to the community. COVID rules were followed, but that did not dampen the spirit. Folks loved the animals and the vegetable gardens, and enjoyed the vendors who sold natural products. […] Read more
The nose knows: the sense of smell in horses
This often-overlooked sensory system is a major contributor to horse well-being
Reading Time: 4 minutes Despite horses being described as one of the most perceptive of all animals, research on equine sensory abilities is limited and has mainly focused on hearing and vision. Although olfaction, or the sense of smell, has only been studied sparsely, the highly developed and sophisticated anatomy of the olfactory system in the horse with its […] Read more
Schoepp: Growing food in space could spark big changes on Earth
Scientists are looking at how to grow food on Mars and their research could change the food sector here
Reading Time: 3 minutes “When we go to Mars, we will have to grow our own food.” Canadian physician, engineer and former astronaut Robert Thirsk made that comment when asked a question on the preservation of seed at the Canadian Beef Industry Virtual Conference in late August. Since a space vessel cannot carry enough food to fly to, and then conduct […] Read more
Lessons learned on the farm apply to the pandemic
Maintaining herd health has taught us about the same good practices being used to combat COVID
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association designates the first week in October every year in order to increase awareness of veterinary involvement with all animals. Every year there is a theme and this year’s is most appropriate. It is Animal Health + Human Health + Planet Health = One Health. One Health really encompasses the entire […] Read more
Schoepp: Report shines a light on the threat of chronic wasting disease
The spread of CWD needs to be halted but there’s no simple answer for addressing the problem
Reading Time: 3 minutes [UPDATED: Oct. 20, 2021] The increase in the cases of chronic wasting disease in Alberta and Saskatchewan has caught the attention of policy advisors in Ottawa. A report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute highlighted an extreme urgency to prevent any further spread of the disease and the organization has called for a close of […] Read more
There’s a lot to be learned by reading a horse’s withers
This complex structure can reveal a lot about a horse’s soundness
Reading Time: 4 minutes The comfort and health of the horse’s withers is a central key to its performance and soundness. The withers are the part of the spinal column that lies in between the animal’s shoulder blades and includes the third to 11th thoracic vertebrae. Collectively these vertebra project upwards into an arch. Their uniquely prominent (tall) spinous […] Read more
Schoepp: A solid foundation is key to resilience and can’t be neglected
This summer spoke volumes about the need for rotational grazing and regenerative practices
Reading Time: 3 minutes General Motors declared bankruptcy in June of 2009 after steadily losing money since 2005. GM’s plight has become a case study and is often used in education programs for directors on boards, but it also holds a lesson for farmers. During the time of its decline, GM was scrambling to produce a vehicle for everyone […] Read more