Reading Time: 2 minutes Crop producers are practising sustainable farming, but consumers want proof — and that’s why a code of practice is needed, says a veteran industry leader. Consumers don’t understand that crop practices in Canada are sustainable, Ted Menzies said at the recent AGM of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture. “Maybe they don’t need to understand that,” […] Read more
Consumers want proof that crop farming is sustainable
Code of practice expected to be released for feedback this summer, says industry veteran Ted Menzies
Mexico wants Canadian oats
MarketsFarm — Mexico’s largest oat manufacturer is calling for Canadian oat producers to explore new varieties and increase acreage in order to keep up with global demand. Jorge Sanchez, chief financial officer of Mexico’s Corporativo Grupo Vida Internacional, said Canada’s oat crops need to “adapt to changing growing conditions” in order to meet world demand, […] Read more
New beef website answers consumer questions
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada Beef has created a new website — raisingcdnbeef.ca — aimed at answering “the most common questions about Canadian beef production.” The website has five sections and each has a series of slides accompanied by a brief text. The various sections contain numerous facts (such as typical weaning weights, days in a feedlot, testing protocols […] Read more
Packers win dismissal of U.S. pork price-fixing suits
Reuters — A federal judge on Thursday dismissed antitrust lawsuits accusing several large U.S. pork companies of conspiring to limit the supply of pork to inflate prices and their own profits at the expense of consumers and other purchasers. Chief Judge John Tunheim of the federal court in Minneapolis said the plaintiffs failed to show […] Read more
As the gap widens, farmers urged to reach out to consumers
The ag sector is better at both documenting its stewardship and communicating — but more is needed
Reading Time: 6 minutes Ever noticed you don’t hear the phrase ‘rural-urban gap’ as much these days? A decade and a half ago, farmers and ranchers — realizing most Canadians were, at best, a couple of generations removed from farming — were reaching out to urbanites at events such as the Calgary Stampede or through programs such as Ag […] Read more
USDA outlines first-ever rule for GMO labeling
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday laid out its first-ever requirements for labeling of genetically engineered, or GMO, foods as early as 2020, a rule met with praise from some farmers and criticism from consumer groups. Consumers have been pushing for years for greater transparency over what is in their […] Read more
Six steps to better consumer conversations
The science is worth learning. Gaining knowledge about why consumers behave the way they do and make the decisions they do is essential to building constructive, forward-thinking dialogue, engaging in artful and “value-added” arguments, and educating and influencing your audience. One way to gain insight into how the human brain processes information is by exploring[...]
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New programs aim to educate and reassure consumers about agriculture
The province is giving out $10 million for education, building public trust, and ‘sustainability assurances’
Reading Time: 3 minutes [UPDATE: Aug. 22, 2018]* The next wave of agricultural funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership is open and includes a trio of programs with goals that appear quite different than its predecessor, Growing Forward 2. The federal government, in partnership with the provinces and territories, has allocated $3 billion over the next five years to[...]
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Alberta Open Farm Days hosts wanted
Registration deadline is May 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers and ranchers are invited to share stories, educate, and expand their markets as hosts for Alberta Open Farm Days, which takes place on Aug. 18-19. Alberta Open Farm Days is a province-wide, two-day event that showcases agriculture, local food, and ag-tourism by inviting the public to come out and directly experience the farm. Alberta[...]
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‘What’s in the field?’ program adds new component
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture for Life is enhancing its ‘What’s in the field?’ program to give consumers more information on what they see when driving by fields and pastures. The program, which is entering its third year, provides signs (at no cost to producers) that identify the crop being grown in a field or the breed of livestock[...]
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Cyber-Savvy Farmer
