Reading Time: 3 minutes In order for us to maintain our leadership position, the status quo is unacceptable. Alberta Farm Animal Care Association As noted by Will Verboven (on the opposite page) Susan Church has decided to leave AFAC. This is her final report to the board of directors. Back in 1992, the industry had the foresight to figure […] Read more
New Shifts In Animal Welfare Are Coming
The Business Of Bison Recovers In Alberta
Reading Time: 3 minutes Your dream is rapidly turning into a nightmare and you wonder “whatever happened to the notion of free trade?” Bison Producers of Alberta Imagine the year is 2003. You’ve borrowed as much as you can from the banks and other financial institutions because you have a dream. It is not just about your future, but […] Read more
Glory Days Of Livestock Production May Be Over
Reading Time: 3 minutes As the livestock industry has learned over the years, political circumstances have shown that the free market is not really free. A recent report by the USDA noted that the U.S. cattle herd was down to numbers last seen in the 1950s. The Alberta cattle herd may be down by 1 million head by this […] Read more
Why Support Farmers Who Don’t Need It?
Reading Time: 2 minutes President Barack Obama is creating a bit of a stir in agriculture circles. For one thing, he has indicated he’ll bring in a ban on meat packers owning cattle. This has been a long-time on the wish list of American ranchers, who believe that when packers own cattle, they are able to manipulate livestock prices […] Read more
Commission Says Investing In Barley Will Pay Off
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Australian grain producers, including barley producers, pay their member organization 0.99 per cent of the net farmgate value of their crops.” Communications advisor to the Alberta Barley Commission When times are good, you must save. When times are uncertain, you must invest. For the Alberta Barley Commission, there’s no better time to invest in barley […] Read more
You Can’t Beat The Market — Or The Pool
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the more peculiar accusations levelled at the Canadian Wheat Board is that is “secretive.” Compared to what? No other of the world’s major grain marketing organizations provides so much detail such as that in the annual report released last month. Contrast the CWB’s multi-page statements of revenue and expenses with Glencore, one of […] Read more
Farming Must Change To Feed The World – for Feb. 16, 2009
Reading Time: 2 minutes “In the name of intensification in many places around the world, farmers over-ploughed, over-fertilized, over-irrigated, over-applied pesticides.” The world’s farmers must quickly switch to more sustainable and productive farming systems to grow the food needed by a swelling world population and respond to climate change, FAO’s top crops expert told an international farm congress Feb. […] Read more
Land-Use Policy Step In The Right Direction
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Farmers should receive annual payments to deliver and maintain environmental services.” Regional Director, Wild Rose Agricultural Producers Wild Rose Agricultural Producers (WRAP) was pleased to see the Draft Land-Use Framework, and particularly pleased with the strategy to consider cumulative effects input of the development of land, water and air, and the intent to develop a […] Read more
The Canadian grocery bill for the year is now covered
Reading Time: 2 minutes On February 12, 2009, the average Canadian will have had enough income to pay his or her individual grocery bill for the entire year. In observing Food Freedom Day, farmers across the country will celebrate their role in providing consumers with one of the safest and most affordable food supplies in the world. Food Freedom […] Read more