Reading Time: 3 minutes There is a lot of excitement in Canadian agriculture today. From the tremendous increase in farmland values to food processing — Canada is a country that has it all! In all my travel, I have never met a person who did not want to live, farm, visit or be educated in Canada. The ultimate destination, […] Read more
Exciting times for Canadian farmers
Straight From the Hip: Rising farmland values reflect the solid fundamentals that are driving agriculture forward in this country
China has deep problems, but offers opportunity for our food sector
Straight from the hip: The Asian titan is deeply in debt and its economy under stress, but it needs high-quality and safe food
Reading Time: 3 minutes China has always been regarded in the West as a superpower. But despite its recovery from the 2008 financial crisis and the perceived recent growth, China is estimated to be $23.3 trillion in debt — which is up $15 trillion in the past five years. The world’s largest user of steel (46 per cent) and […] Read more
Cattle prices are strong, but margins remain very tight
Straight from the hip: Reducing feed costs, minimizing shrink, and smart marketing are key ingredients to profitability
Reading Time: 3 minutes There is a lot of frothing at the mouth with cattle prices the way they are. Even the banker’s handshake is warming up with these returns. But a lot of young folks are asking the hard question as they enter into agriculture and farming: Will cows pay? I am a little hard on the bottom […] Read more
Infrastructure is the weak link in agriculture around the globe
Straight from the hip: We produce enough food to feed a growing world, but getting it to consumers is getting more difficult
Reading Time: 3 minutes The infrastructure in Canada to get farmers’ product to market is broken. Canadian farmers are not alone, as this is a concern worldwide, especially right after harvest. In most countries, piles of product sit by the road in the sun waiting for a pickup by the local truck. In some countries, such as Australia, lack […] Read more
Women in agriculture bank on change
Straight From the Hip: Give women a fair shake and agricultural production will increase
Reading Time: 3 minutes There has been a global failure to improve infrastructure and address policy to enable women to access the same level of education, technology, credit, and land ownership. In many countries I have seen how this has left farming women unprepared for the current and future increases in input costs and challenges in marketing. Women farmers […] Read more
Set boundaries and be safe
Straight From the Hip: Anything that risks the well-being of those on the farm shouldn’t be tolerated, and women need to make sure that message is heard
Reading Time: 3 minutes Women in agriculture are exposed to the risk of injury every day. Whether you work full time, part time, are an employee or partner, women and girls on Alberta farms need to ensure they are protected from injury and disability. That starts by setting boundaries for ourselves. A woman I’ll call Pat works in partnership […] Read more
Good record-keeping when treating livestock is a must
Thorough records are vital for showing that farmers are responsible stewards who follow the rules when treating livestock
Reading Time: 3 minutes In spring, cattle that seemed to be doing well all winter often become ill. Warm days and cold nights bring out the chronic conditions that were lying latent in the body. These cattle may or may not respond to medication. Old damage in the lungs or intestines may dominate or there could be resistance to […] Read more
Don’t get mad, give your critics something to think about
It’s easy to be offended by critics of modern farming, but there are ways to challenge their thinking and provide new perspectives
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Watch what you eat. Wherever possible, avoid food grown with pesticides, in feedlots, or by agribusiness. It’s an easy way to use your dollars to vote against the spread of toxins in our bodies, soil and water.” This is the fourth principle in the consumption manifesto issued by the World Watch Institute, an environmental research […] Read more
Team players do their best to support others in times of need
Straight from the hip: Helping a young farmer work through a hypothetical disaster shows the value of having a committed and engaged network
Reading Time: 3 minutes Not all of us are all star players. I love basketball and although a decent shot, I am far from the star of the team. In setting up the person to make the shot, I always had to ask myself: Where should I be when I don’t have the ball? In agriculture, we are often […] Read more
Report says business management the key to success in farming
Report highlights need to manage capital, focus on marketing, and become better employers
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Conference Board of Canada is set to release a Canadian food strategy in March based on results of two previous food summits and some on-the-ground research. One of the supporting documents, Seeds for Success: Enhancing Canada’s Farming Enterprises, is a broad look at farming that makes recommendations that may surprise you. While we all recognize […] Read more
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