Reading Time: 4 minutes The ranch we were starting from scratch had a stunning mountain view west of Grande Prairie. But except for a small lovely piece of native prairie, this was land mined hard for grain crops. A relentless wind meant drift from the sprayer had hardened the shelterbelts to a few old stalks of saskatoon bushes. Our […] Read more
Rotation grazing and an amazing transformation
The one-wire fences, cover crops, and intensive grazing raised some eyebrows — as did 500 fast-gaining head on 600 acres
In praise of those who make our lives and communities great
We are all makers of history and symbols of hope, and the contribution of women is invaluable and inspiring
Reading Time: 3 minutes I am writing this on the eve of International Women’s Day and as we near the celebration of the birth of my seventh granddaughter and remember the birth of her great-great-grandmother, Martha. I’m reflecting on women I know, and those whom I do not, who contribute to our societies and our future. I am overcome […] Read more
Making an old farm new again — sometimes without a playbook
The weeds were abundant and the pastures were tired, but we had faith that a turnaround was possible
Reading Time: 4 minutes The children had a book entitled Old Farm, New Farm that we just loved. It was the story of the rejuvenation of a farm — something that we did as a family. Never afraid of a challenge, I’ve purchased several farms to make new again. It was a great way to contribute to the world […] Read more
Clinging to old ways doesn’t work in a rapidly changing world
The beef industry needs to supply what consumers want, support innovation, and encourage new entrants
Reading Time: 3 minutes I’ve long said that the money in the beef industry comes from providing value as the customer defines it. That statement has several sides, of course. It means we value add, which is true. But it also came into play as consumers demanded beef labelled hormone and antibiotic free, local, grass fed, fresh or organic. […] Read more
The three basic rules of selling cattle
The key to long-term success is to pay attention to the basic marketing tools you need to stay in the game
Reading Time: 4 minutes The spike in cattle prices has led to some earnest soul-searching on farms and ranches. The concern is not so much in whether to buy or sell, but the longevity of high prices. How do we stay in the game for the long run? That is the question that has been asked of me in […] Read more
Abrupt change in rules for temporary foreign workers is wrong
Thousands of hardworking and dedicated people have been cut adrift because of changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program
Reading Time: 3 minutes In Alberta, the shortage of workers is so critical that experts estimate the province will be 96,000 persons short by 2023. With unemployment at 4.7 per cent (and well under four per cent per cent in some regions), the situation is warrants attention. At that rate Alberta dips into a demographic that should not be […] Read more
It’s a shame that Canada imports more food products than it exports
Canada should look to countries like the Netherlands, which is a leading exporter of roasted coffee even though it doesn’t grow coffee beans
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s agri-food trade profile continues to be in deficit. As the demand for specific items heats up around the globe, it’s apparent that a rethinking of our processing, value adding and export aggression is long overdue. Considering the low value of the Canadian currency, this is an opportune time to push our products onto the […] Read more
The grass is greener
People have long used technology to change the world to suit their purposes, but healthy soil is the foundation of it all
Reading Time: 3 minutes In Bruce Feiler’s book entitled Walking the Bible, he has a discussion with his travel partner Avner as they were tightly squeezed into a nawamis, or tiny tomb, that pastoralists used 6,000 years ago as they made their way around the desert. Avner said, “Those in agricultural areas used technology to change the world around […] Read more
The gift of Christmas comes not in a box or bag, but in the heart
The holiday season can be a stressful, and painful, time — but also one for cherishing the true gifts we have been given
Reading Time: 3 minutes Seasons of celebration can be lonely times for many individuals and families. It is a time that lends itself to reflect on times past, love lost, and the empty chair in the room. A painful memory can easily overshadow the chaos and commotion — even when, or especially when, children are involved. We suffer in […] Read more
The cattle industry hasn’t fully embraced animal welfare
The cattle sector has come a long way but there are still areas to be addressed and it should be leading the way
Reading Time: 3 minutes The children and I have a map marked with every road I drove in the 20 years in the 1980s and 1990s I spent speaking about animal welfare in Canada. There were a few empty spots, but those travels included hundreds of farm stops and thousands of participants. It was my mission to bring the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
