Invest Grain farmers will be paying more so investors are attracted to CN and CP shares
Reading Time: 3 minutes Recently the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) announced that Prairie grain farmers will pay 9.5 per cent more to ship their grain. Based on the 2011 total freight bill under the revenue cap of $952 million, a 9.5 per cent increase means another $90 million straight out of the pockets of Prairie farmers. Based on 31 […] Read moreRailway raise of 9.5 per cent for hauling grain highlights need for review
Latest census reflects a changing farm face
Reading Time: 2 minutes Whether or not you think consolidation in agriculture is a good thing, it’s continuing at a brisk pace. And nowhere is that more apparent than on the Canadian Prairies. The latest data on farm numbers and scale based on the newly released 2011 Census of Agriculture shows the pace of farm size growth in Alberta, […] Read more
Will it be negotiation or more alienation?
Reading Time: 3 minutes It would be safe to assume that with the election over we are in for at least four (or 40 more — depending on your political perspective) years of steady government in Alberta. It means that the Land Use Framework (LUF) legislation can now be implemented and enforced by the ruling PC government. By all […] Read more
Beef producers must engage the public on animal welfare
Get involved Development of a new code of practice means producers must participate in the process
Reading Time: 2 minutes Animal welfare. These two words often evoke a strong response from livestock producers across the country who feel that their way of life is under siege by those who don’t understand them and don’t grasp what they do for society. One just has to look at a few headlines to understand why farmers may feel […] Read moreFood security is a problem, even in Canada’s richest province
From the hip After many Albertans pay for a place to live, there isn’t much left for proper nutrition
Reading Time: 4 minutes When most Canadians think of food insecurity, they likely envision a poor person a world away. And although they may be frustrated when a grocery item is sold out, the reality of food insecurity which is defined as a “lack of access to affordable, adequate food through socially acceptable means” is a little more startling. […] Read moreElection creates a new political reality in rural Alberta
Little change Business as usual likely, but Premier Redford’s promise of OHS rules for agriculture may come to pass
Reading Time: 3 minutes Voters in rural areas and small towns, particularly in central and southern Alberta, sent a message to their political leaders at the ballot box during the recent election — they wanted some respect. Whether they will get that respect from the victorious PC Party only time will tell, since the Wildrose Party won most of […] Read moreLivestock industry needs to build trust with consumers
Shared values Simply claiming that science is on their side won’t help producers build trust with consumers
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new culture of care is emerging around farm animal welfare that demands fresh thinking, partnerships, expectations and strategies for the livestock industry to define a successful future. And it’s coming fast, said speakers at the Livestock Care Conference hosted by Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) last month in Red Deer. “We’re in a completely […] Read moreMoving beyond supply management
Reading Time: 2 minutes Now that we have some clarity on the economic future of the Canadian Wheat Board, attention is slowly turning toward the issue of supply management, which has arguably served our agricultural economy well for decades. Economically speaking, these sectors have been unwavering, and consumers have long benefited from stable retail prices for these products. However, […] Read more
The party leaders speak on farm and rural issues
Close race The results in rural ridings can’t be taken for granted in this critical election
Reading Time: 3 minutes Until this time most elections in Alberta were foregone conclusions before they were even called. In the same light agricultural issues usually barely saw a mention. And rural and small-town voters usually did their duty and voted the ruling PC party back in for another term. But it’s different this time around. There is a […] Read more“Lean, finely textured beef,” or “pink slime?”
Trimmings They’re turned into added-value products for processors, but they’re giving meat a bad name
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Laws are like sausages — it is best not to see them being made.” This quote has been widely but wrongly attributed to Otto Von Bismarck, the “Iron Chancellor” of Germany in the 19th century, which proves that misinformation was spreading long before the Internet. However, the Internet is certainly a much more efficient way […] Read more