The rollback of the minor wage increase deservedly given to grocery store staff during the pandemic is only a recent example of ongoing cultural destruction.

Temper tantrums aren’t just someone having a bad day

It may seem like someone has a short fuse but there’s 
usually a long list of reasons behind a blowup

Reading Time: 3 minutes A conflict in itself is often not the root of the problem. I waited in a return line as the person in front of me argued about her bill. The staff person was unable to respond in a way that was satisfactory and the customer started shouting. Management was called and the young staff member […] Read more

This three-year-old filly has two upper permanent central incisors and has just recently lost the ‘caps’ of her lower central incisors revealing the erupting adult teeth. Within the next few months her four central incisors will be in full wear against one another.

When young horses are missing their front teeth

There’s a fairly predictable pattern for the loss of ‘baby’ teeth and when their permanent ones appear

Reading Time: 3 minutes Whenever horse owners notice that their horse is missing one or more front teeth they will often question the significance of this loss. This question generally applies to the grouping of 12 incisor teeth that are readily visible under the horse’s lips. Implications for loss of an incisor tooth depends upon the age of the […] Read more


Ethical fashion is an emerging trend that will affect agriculture

We need value chains that reward excellence in the production of fibre and leather

Reading Time: 3 minutes The ever iconic Vogue magazine has cornered the fashion industry since 1892. The razor-sharp and trendy photos of women (and men) in dynamic, vibrant trend-setting clothing, always stirs the artist in oneself. From makeup to muck boots, this publication has earned its place in history. In May, Vogue published the most intriguing article titled ‘Regenerative […] Read more

Any time we find liver flukes it could be a serious herd problem, so take care to treat and monitor.

They’re hard to diagnose but flukes are a concern

Unexplained weight loss is one sign that this parasite may be affecting your herd

Reading Time: 3 minutes I hear of the diagnosis of liver flukes here and there, a condition that can be hard to diagnose and has rather limited treatments. One of the first clinical signs is non-specific weight loss, which can be confused with many things. As well, having liver flukes predisposes cattle to a susceptibility to a clostridial disease […] Read more


(Jeremy Woodhouse/DigitalVision/Getty Images Plus)

Schoepp: Pandemic an opportunity to rethink food distribution

A highly centralized food system isn't the only option; there's a place for local, too

Reading Time: 3 minutes First- and second-fiscal-quarter earnings for those selling groceries exceeded expectations as consumers stocked up during the pandemic. From small specialty stores to supermarkets, all have reported excellent profits. The idea of centralized retail grocery is relatively recent and yet most societies, regardless of global address, can now relate to shopping at a supermarket. In North […] Read more

Having enough room for ‘a horse to be a horse’ is one of the best investments you can make in horse care.

Savvy ways to wisely direct dollars in horse ownership

Uncertain economic times mean taking a hard look at where to make your investments

Reading Time: 3 minutes Whenever economic times become uncertain, peripheral lifestyle choices such as horse ownership often become affected. Regardless of the circumstances that initiate evaluation or re-evaluation of financial resources pertinent to horse-keeping practices, it is prudent to understand where allocation of financial resources contribute the greatest benefit to the horse’s well-being. There is no one single best […] Read more


When the load gets too heavy, be kind to yourself

When the load gets too heavy, be kind to yourself

Asking yourself what went well today can bring great relief during times of great stress

Reading Time: 3 minutes Let us begin… Appreciating the gifts of abundance, honouring the process of stress and our own capabilities each day can create a strong societal ecology in our homes, businesses and communities. Strong enough to weather change. The Great Change of 2008 In the year 2008 the dynamic of the world changed. It was the first […] Read more

Perhaps never before in Canadian history has there been such an awareness of the entire food system, and this is a pivotal point.

We can put food at the centre of our national economy

We have a new appreciation for food systems, and a chance to capitalize on our strengths

Reading Time: 3 minutes Nature is the great equalizer. In just three months she took the world from assured continuance along the path of globalization and commercialism to world recognition of one simple fact — we all need to eat. For many years, there have been calls to recognize the importance of agriculture. I have been in that camp, […] Read more


Cattle producers are familiar with mitigating risk when it comes to infectious diseases.

Cattle sector knows about learning and adapting

Infectious disease is a constant risk on ranches and feedlots, and we know how to reduce the threat

Reading Time: 3 minutes The COVID-19 outbreak gives us time to reflect on how we do things with our livestock. Cattle producers are in the unique situation in the sense we all know about infectious disease — and mitigating risk. From now on, it won’t be as hard to explain to people how we don’t want visitors, especially around […] Read more

AI is determining what to put on the shelves in the future, how much of it to have available and at what cost.

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, and it’s just getting started

The invisible tracking of our buying habits should challenge us so we are not defined by a database

Reading Time: 3 minutes I have been thinking about artificial intelligence (AI) and the impact it has on consumerism. AI is used to track your buying habits and predetermine your buying needs. It is also the robotics that clean fields or make cars, do complex surgery or make a digital diagnosis. It is the smart fridge that knows what […] Read more