Reading Time: 3 minutes The fear environment that we live in at this time now goes beyond disease and disaster. For many it is simply a question of finding enough food to eat or drink. As persons of privilege in a First World country, how can we engage in solutions that are transformative and transferable? This past winter I […] Read more
Creating food security requires innovative approaches
It’s not a matter of providing food but finding long-lasting solutions that fit the needs of communities
Our animals give us such a precious gift
We have something very special when we share our lives with companion and food animals
Reading Time: 3 minutes I was visiting with a friend who has had a rough life. His mother and dad worked hard to provide, but they did not know how to love each other or their children. Babies were not rocked or held, and little ones were on their own. There was never a goodnight kiss, a story, a […] Read more
China needs what we can supply — but it’s a challenging customer
When markets get back to normal, expect China to continue its protein buying spree
Reading Time: 3 minutes China has been unfortunate in the past few years in experiencing both animal and human disease that has been costly in terms of life and the economy. Often, China is thought of as an exporter of almost anything, but the table has turned when it comes to food and to protein supplies. Until the coronavirus […] Read more
The all-too-common pitfall of successful businesses
Growth brings rewards but also stretches the founder — especially if he or she hasn’t developed their team
Reading Time: 3 minutes What does success look like to you? For many, success is measured in terms of net profit, wealth or an accumulation of assets. For others, it is the ability to put children through school, travel or to own a cabin. However measured, success is often tied to money and people. In my Nuffield travels and […] Read more
Opinion: What does Alberta’s Farm Freedom and Safety Act mean for you?
Insurance, employment standards and OHS compliance are three areas producers need to consider
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers, we get it. Whenever a new agriculture-specific bill is adopted, you rightfully ask, ‘How does this apply to me?’ Rarely are there easy answers, especially when they come in the form of legislation that is long, wordy, and, let’s be honest, not that fun of a read. A recent example of this is the […] Read more
In business, starting small doesn’t mean thinking small
As in any other enterprise, a farm’s success is the cumulation of a multitude of small acts
Reading Time: 3 minutes One cannot look at a vast ocean without realizing that it just does not come into being. It takes a thousand raindrops, so goes the saying, to start the flow of water to make the sea just as it takes millions of microbes to build soil. And so it is with a farm or farm […] Read more
We’re often afraid to ask questions, but it’s a key skill
Being curious and asking lots of questions is a good thing but for some reason, we tend to hold back
Reading Time: 3 minutes The little boy was curious and always asking questions. Over and over again he would ask his increasingly impatient mother why, how come, how far, how long, when, where and what. But his grandfather would gently smile and say, ‘That is a wise boy; for you are only one question away from being a better […] Read more
Opinion: On cereal commissions. Collaboration? Yes. Amalgamation? No
Sharing staff has been good for Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley, but having one board wouldn’t be wise
Reading Time: 3 minutes At FarmTech last month, the membership of the Alberta Wheat Commission passed a resolution to explore the possibility of one governance structure with the Alberta Barley Commission. Alberta Barley passed a similar resolution at its AGM in December. The exploratory process shouldn’t be clouded by turf wars on the employee side of things since the […] Read more
Agriculture must continue to be a technology leader
We need to foster innovative research in order to meet the challenges that we will face in the coming years
Reading Time: 3 minutes As I stood in the desert with my colleagues, I realized that competing both economically and in volume to their level of production would be impossible. The sand delivered 48 dry tonnes of forage in many harvests per year. More importantly, the long-term objective of turning the desert into food production was becoming a reality. […] Read more
We know how to make agriculture more resilient
Encouraging use of proven techniques and improving infrastructure are key to sustainable food production
Reading Time: 3 minutes It was my grandfather who said to me, “Once in your life you need a doctor, lawyer, policeman or preacher, but every day three times a day — you need a farmer.” The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations uses this in a poster promoting the importance of farming and agriculture globally. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
