Reading Time: 3 minutes Drop by precious drop we are celebrating rain in the dry areas — and cursing it on the flood plains. The weather patterns have been rather unpredictable with monumental hail in Mexico City to extreme heat in Europe and Saharan winds that are dropping sand in the most remote of locations. Putting seed in the […] Read more
Schoepp: Fresh water a gift we can’t afford to take for granted
What falls from the sky gets most of our attention but the entire water supply should be our concern
Schoepp: Pity the poor cow — bovine burps have so many in a tizzy
In the vast world of ruminants, cattle and their belching are getting an awful lot of attention
Reading Time: 3 minutes It might be a sensitive time to talk about wearing a mask, especially for the rest of a lifetime. That simply cannot be in the best interest of any living creature. However, this is exactly what is being proposed — and being developed — for cattle. The mask (developed by art students) covers the nostrils […] Read more
Opinion: It’s not just oil prices — refining capacity is driving up fuel bills
Fat margins mean refineries have plenty of reasons to up production but they have limited capacity
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reuters – Global stocks of refined petroleum products have fallen to critically low levels as refineries prove unable to keep up with surging demand especially for the diesel-like fuels used in manufacturing and freight transportation. The result has been a surge in prices refiners receive for selling fuels compared with prices they pay for buying […] Read more
Schoepp: Many popular foods have a long history — and an uncertain future
Reading Time: 3 minutes Lately I have been curious about lettuce. The plant has been traced back to Egypt some 6,000 years ago and is a member of the sunflower family. That may surprise you because we often think of sunflowers in terms of the flower and the oil. But lettuce was not grown for its leaves, it was […] Read more
Comment: The invasion of Ukraine is causing hunger in a host of countries
Reading Time: 4 minutes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has produced a terrible humanitarian crisis in eastern Europe. It also is worsening conditions for other countries, many of them thousands of miles away. Together, Russia and Ukraine account for almost 30 per cent of wheat exports, nearly 20 per cent of corn exports and close to 80 per cent of […] Read more
Schoepp: More farms need to plant the seeds of financial literacy
Many operations, both new and old, pay a big price for not knowing the language of finance
Reading Time: 3 minutes British Columbia is a unique place in the world. The variety of food grown is astounding as is the diversity among its processed products. The landscape is home to tiny farms and large ranches, local processors and those who export worldwide. This is a province of mountains, islands, rivers, ocean, lakes, ports and flyways, valleys […] Read more
Schoepp: Our ag sector is a powerhouse but transport woes hold it back
Farmers are paying a big price because transportation infrastructure is not what it should be
Reading Time: 3 minutes Trains, planes and trucks are in constant motion to move Canadian agricultural commodities and value-added products across our massive country to ports for distribution around the world. Our farmers depend on a functioning infrastructure that includes road, rail and the sea. The more interruptions there are to the smooth and timely flow of goods, the […] Read more
Schoepp: Loss of extension services left a hole in rural communities
There needs to be a hub at the centre where information and ideas can build resilience and innovation
Reading Time: 3 minutes Rural communities across Canada are striving to maintain their schools, businesses and labour force. Often, the lack of services, slow broadband, isolation and a narrow spectrum of jobs that provide a living wage contribute to an exit of the young population to major centres. In several provinces, the disbanding or complete elimination of extension services […] Read more
Schoepp: It’s time to dispel a key myth about cattle and greenhouse gases
We can reduce cattle emissions but the focus should be on the real source of atmospheric warming
Reading Time: 3 minutes On the small island of Meares off the West Coast of Canada there is a herd of wild cattle. They are a cross of Shorthorn, Hereford and Jersey and the offspring resemble a long-legged red and white calf. What is unique about these cattle is their diet. Just as the coastal wolves are fishing wolves, […] Read more
Schoepp: Rising input costs offer a chance to rethink our approach
The benefits of biodiversity are increasingly well known and offer an alternative to the status quo
Reading Time: 3 minutes Gas and diesel prices are heading into record territory, while producers are facing shortages of basics such as seed, herbicide and fertilizer. With costs increasing, the question becomes one of field performance. Are there ways to hold the yields without compromising the environment while on the journey to better climate behaviour? One could argue that […] Read more
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