Reading Time: 3 minutes As I stood in the desert with my colleagues, I realized that competing both economically and in volume to their level of production would be impossible. The sand delivered 48 dry tonnes of forage in many harvests per year. More importantly, the long-term objective of turning the desert into food production was becoming a reality. […] Read more
Agriculture must continue to be a technology leader
We need to foster innovative research in order to meet the challenges that we will face in the coming years
Modern-day horses face ergonomic hazards, too
Small pens, repeated movement and the training circle can all cause chronic injuries
Reading Time: 4 minutes Carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and texting thumb are all specific types of soft tissue injury that humans experience. This type of injury to the soft tissue (tendons and ligaments) is unique to modern-day lifestyle and/or work environments. They arise in response to repetitive movements which are often carried out in an unnatural or imbalanced […] Read more
We know how to make agriculture more resilient
Encouraging use of proven techniques and improving infrastructure are key to sustainable food production
Reading Time: 3 minutes It was my grandfather who said to me, “Once in your life you need a doctor, lawyer, policeman or preacher, but every day three times a day — you need a farmer.” The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations uses this in a poster promoting the importance of farming and agriculture globally. […] Read more
Preserving highly productive soil is critical for tomorrow
In my hometown, across the province and around the world, top-quality soil is being lost to development
Reading Time: 3 minutes My hometown is Stony Plain. It is a great town, progressive, beautiful and welcoming: A place that honours the past and has no fear of the future. I love to go back to visit with my family and friends. I can stand in one spot for hours and simply talk to folks as they pass […] Read more
Quick treatment of sick animals is often critical
Sometimes a wait-and-see approach works but often a rapid response is needed to prevent losses
Reading Time: 3 minutes Veterinary medicine, like human medicine, is very complex and difficult to master. Outcomes can rely on a quick, accurate diagnosis and followed up by a timely treatment. If we have made the right diagnosis, detected it early enough and treated with the appropriate product, then the odds of a successful prognosis will go up considerably. […] Read more
Conflict drives them from home, but hope is what they bring
Many of our newcomers had to flee their own country and they value the peace and opportunity they find here
Reading Time: 3 minutes While walking on the path, I met a group of students working on an outdoor assignment, enjoying the activity and chatting away. I love to find out the story behind people — starting with a joyous welcome to Canada and asking the inevitable question, ‘Where are you from?’ In this group there were people from […] Read more
What’s underfoot has a big effect on horse soundness
Footing surface impacts the quality of performance and can even bring a risk of injury
Reading Time: 3 minutes Horses are well adapted to move over a variety of terrain and their entire bodies benefit tremendously from doing so. Variable ground surfaces in a horse’s environment challenge and stimulate the healthy development of hooves, supportive connective tissues and musculoskeleture — all the while weaving in resiliency and soundness for the horse. Footing is a […] Read more
Getting past the walls that we build around ourselves
Our lives change in profound ways when we reach out to others — and let them reach out to us
Reading Time: 3 minutes I am flipping through the photos of this past year. It has been an amazing time for me. Blessed at every juncture, I have been filled with light and love and pure joy. Despite huge and heartbreaking challenges, each day was worthy of this page, each moment a cherished memory. It was a lovely meshing […] Read more
As we rethink globalization, we need to think about communities
In many parts of the world, the current system is broken and doesn’t serve consumers or farmers
Reading Time: 3 minutes The world was once a scattering of small communities that through hunting and gathering, and later farming, were often self-sufficient. As systems of trade were built, dependent largely on the sea, goods and services had value and started to leave or be exported from these community hubs. In many cases, this brought an infusion of […] Read more
What we can do to address the shortage of large-animal vets
More spots in veterinary schools and more support for new grads would go a long way
Reading Time: 4 minutes After talking with large-animal veterinarians, observing the number of ads for large-animal veterinarians, and taking part in a job fair at the University of Calgary’s vet school, it’s clear that there is getting to be a real shortage of veterinarians wanting to do either mixed- or large-animal practice in Western Canada. But strategies are starting […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
