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: 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
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
Schoepp: The cost of climate change action shouldn’t fall on the few
Big changes are being contemplated — farmers should be part of the planning and be fairly supported
Reading Time: 3 minutes Climate consciousness has been replaced by a sense of urgency, much of it focused on Canadian agriculture. Before we begin the climate conversation, let us go to other areas of the world. Recently I spoke at length with friends in Europe where the momentum on climate action in Germany had resulted in embracing wind power. […] Read more
Schoepp: The food sector is much bigger than you might imagine
We’ve seriously underestimated how big the sector is, and its ability to be an even bigger economic engine
Reading Time: 3 minutes As the world of agriculture and agri-food evolves, so too does its workforce. Capturing just who is engaged in this massive economic engine has been difficult as previous statistics have focused on who works ‘on the farm’ rather than who is employed ‘in the food system.’ Perhaps never before in history has there been such […] Read more
Schoepp: Hunger doesn’t just happen to people in far-away places
You can see telltale signs in our grocery stores and the streets of cities and towns
Reading Time: 3 minutes While recently spending several months travelling in and out of a major city, I often ran out of time to eat in the evenings and whenever I shopped, it was late at night. Buying groceries was something I could do on the way back to the farm, without the worry of crowds or traffic. On […] Read more
Schoepp: Pitting one farming practice against another benefits no one
Dismissing regenerative agriculture — or synthetic fertilizer — out of hand is not the way forward
Reading Time: 3 minutes The use of synthetic nitrogen is being debated around the world by farmers and scientists. Stirring the discussion further last month was an opinion piece titled “Nutrient Claims are Crap” written by Jaqueline Rowarth in a New Zealand publication called Rural News. In it, the agrologist took a run at regenerative agriculture, describing it as […] Read more
A look back at the year that was — from bad to verse
There’s not that much to celebrate — and so this ‘poetry’ you’ll just have to tolerate
Reading Time: 3 minutes Once again, a year’s passed and for better or worse We start a new one in doggerel — that’s badly rhymed verse We review the last year (which you could say was a hexed one) And give you some tips on what to do in the next one Now I’ve heard all the stories while […] Read more
Schoepp: Does sourcing ingredients from around the world really make sense?
It’s time that consumers were offered the chance to buy truly Canadian food products
Reading Time: 3 minutes Have you ever felt betrayed when you bought a food product? I am fascinated by brand claims and food sources. One day I simply emptied the nearest cupboard to see where the food came from and what was in the manufactured products that now were scattered on the counter. The pure Atlantic Sea Salt I […] Read more
Comment: A seed regulatory system that inspires trust shouldn’t be undermined
The system can be improved but not by muddying the waters with differing sets of standards
Reading Time: 3 minutes Instead of replicated trials, farmers will have to rely on re-tweets to figure out the best varieties for their farms if Seeds Canada has its way in changing the regulatory framework for variety registration in Canada. In an article on the seed regulation review in the Nov. 1 edition of this paper (‘Seed regulatory review […] Read more
Opinion: Taking some small steps can make your farm much safer
Lowering the risk of an accident doesn’t have to be a complicated and time-consuming process
Reading Time: 3 minutes Now is the time to start thinking about small steps you can take to prevent major regrets. Ben was 16 years old and proud to be given a job that was usually assigned to someone older and more experienced. The job was to bring the tractor and small hay baler back home from a nearby […] Read more