Reading Time: 3 minutes One of Canada’s best-known food experts says that while farmers and the ag sector are trying hard to connect with consumers, they’re not pulling it off. And they’ll need to do better because customer engagement is critical in the new “era of supply chain transparency,” Sylvain Charlebois told the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency’s inaugural Traceability […] Read more
New era of traceability needs to involve the consumer
A system created to deal with food safety issues should also be a ‘conduit’ connecting consumers and farmers
Drought-hit tax deferral zones named
Ottawa has seen enough drought in parts of southwestern Alberta, southern and eastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec to offer deferrals on their ranchers’ 2016 income tax from breeding livestock sales. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Tuesday released the federal government’s initial list of municipalities designated for the 2016 deferral. In Alberta, those areas include Clearwater, […] Read more
Investors press meat producers to cut water pollution
Reuters — Forty-five large investors collectively managing C$1.6 trillion in assets are pressing some of the nation’s largest meat producers to set policies for reducing water pollution in their feeding, slaughtering and processing operations. The investors, who are members of sustainability non-profit advocate Ceres and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), sent letters to […] Read more
Better credit risk, smaller loan
It’s not just that women get turned down for loans more often, but that too many aren’t getting a proper financial education
Reading Time: 3 minutes In 2014, I published a detailed report on the development of mentorship programs for women in agriculture from a global perspective. This report (which can be found at brendaschoepp.com) has since given flight to a number of global study topics with other Nuffield Scholars. Recently, a report in Alberta published by the Agriculture & Food […] Read more
Ag students can win $1,500 award
Application deadline is May 5
Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications are being accepted for the 2016-17 Excellence Award for Agricultural Students. There are three awards (first place is worth $1,500) for the best responses to this question: Certain segments of the general public question the way food is produced, and have misgivings about the use of new technology. What concrete steps would you, as […] Read more
Tighter border programs eyed for poultry, dairy imports
Federal programs meant to give importers tariff breaks on certain imports and products destined for re-export are up for tweaks to better cover Canada’s supply-managed poultry and dairy sectors. The federal government said Friday it plans to launch consultations with “industry stakeholders” over potential changes to its Duties Relief Program (DRP) and Import for Re-Export […] Read more
Bovine TB probe turns up more TB-positive cattle
Federal inspectors have confirmed a southeastern Alberta cow found with bovine tuberculosis in September was not just a one-off. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Friday reported five more cattle from the initial cow’s index herd in southeastern Alberta are confirmed to have been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria — presumed to be to be […] Read more
Get advice on how to get good advice
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has a new fact sheet on best practices when creating a business advisory board. “Business success is greatly impacted by the support and guidance of a board, which helps ensure that the business leaders are achieving the vision, and are supported with skills and expertise,” said value chain development expert Margurite […] Read more
AgriProfit$ program gets upgrades
Reading Time: < 1 minute The latest version of the AgriProfit$ program offers improved reports and faster report turnaround times. Producers who sign up and submit production cost data receive a customized farm business analysis. The program is now moving to digital data collection, so reports will be ready shortly after completing the survey with program interviewers. Reports will also […] Read more
Slave Lake and Coaldale receive community awards
Reading Time: < 1 minute Slave Lake and Coaldale have received awards from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. Slave Lake was given the Most Significant Community Change Award because residents have taken great steps to enhance holistic wellness in their community over the last year. After a 2011 wildfire destroyed a third of the town, residents have been rebuilding […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
