Reading Time: 3 minutes I saw her as rich and sophisticated. She saw me as well fed and wildly free. I was visiting with my cousin who had lived her childhood and most of her adult life in the city. We were talking about food and she mentioned how poor they were — with so many limits on their […] Read more
In many Canadian homes, there’s not enough food
As farmers we tend to take abundance for granted but food insecurity affects one in seven people
Treating used plastic as a resource is key for farmers
Zero waste is an achievable goal for ag plastics and one that we are already pursuing
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers earn their living from the land, and they work hard making sure their fields and farms remain healthy, well managed and free from litter and waste. This is an investment that benefits all of Canada, given the importance of our agricultural industry to feed our country and the world. While necessary to Canada’s agricultural […] Read more
The interconnections between species are deep and interwoven
COVID-19 has put bats into the spotlight, and research shows how deeply everything is connected
Reading Time: 3 minutes In the last column I introduced the concept of systems change for the benefit of human and animal health. Fortunately, there is an avenue to work with human and animal doctors, scientists and experts towards a healthy world and it is called One Health. One Health is defined as a “collaborative, multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary approach […] Read more
How did we get to this place at this time in history?
The spread of disease from animals to humans isn’t new, but reducing it will take a new approach
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s a bewildering year and you may have wondered: Just how did we get to this place at this time in history? There are many theories that are specific to the origin and spread of the coronavirus, but few look at global history and the role of food and population change within the context of […] Read more
Reflections from a long and sorrowful drive
Those who came before us have given us a gift and we must preserve it for future generations
Reading Time: 3 minutes It was a long and sorrowful drive home in September as I travelled to say the final goodbye to my dad. He was a man of honour, integrity and faith — and will remain forever our farmer and gentleman. It is men like him who along with their partners carved out a living strictly from […] Read more
Opinion: There’s a big difference between ‘right to repair’ and ‘right to modify’
Farmers should absolutely be able to repair their equipment but modifying programming leads to a host of problems
Reading Time: 3 minutes The relationship between equipment dealers, manufacturers and farmers is close knit. Equipment manufacturers and dealers have a vested interest for our customers to be prosperous. We know that when farmers are successful, dealers and our communities are successful. That is why at this time it would be unwise for a provincial government to disrupt the […] Read more
Is curiosity something that has taken root on your farm?
There are hidden opportunities on every farm that can bring both financial and personal rewards
Reading Time: 3 minutes I was recently asked by a reader to “get back to the farm” in my column. Now there is a journey worth taking, for the farm is both my roots and my wings. The question I asked myself was: What is new in Canada on the farm? The answer was an hour away as I […] Read more
Keep it relaxed — practise low-stress cattle handling to stay safe
You might think you know the risks, but complacency is your enemy during this busy season
Reading Time: 2 minutes As we head into another busy time of year for cattle producers and handlers, it’s good to stop and think about all the increased risks we face over the next couple of months. Fall is a dangerous time because there is a lot more movement, as ranchers are bringing in cows and calves that haven’t […] Read more
Opinion: We need to open the farm gate wide
Consumers want to see in, and farmers need to know what is happening beyond their operation
Reading Time: 3 minutes The first half of 2020 was amazing for agriculture as Canadians were focused on food quality and security. Consumers were interested in being part of the solution and, at the very least, wanted more information about where their food came from. Local became in vogue and instead of standing in line at the checkout, many […] Read more
Opinion: Don’t kid yourself — the odds of an accident on your farm are high
There were more than 20,000 farm accidents here last year
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the major contributors to farm accidents is stress. And so we at AgSafe Alberta are worried right now. Not only has this been an unusually stressful year for farmers, we are also now heading into one of the busiest and intense periods for grain farms — harvest. It is human nature to operate […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
