Studio shot of glasses of water

We think we have water in abundance, but that’s just not so

We need to start appreciating how precious each 
litre of fresh water is, and how much of it we are using


Reading Time: 4 minutes The dry spring brought to many parts of Alberta the stark reality of the importance of rainwater. But all water usage is getting stretched beyond that which falls from the sky. And although this province is technically a semi-arid climate, Albertans have often thought of themselves as “water abundant.” Are we? Alberta has 2.2 per […] Read more

We can’t turn a blind eye to abuse

Domestic violence and animal abuse do take place 
on farms in our province, and both must be reported

Reading Time: 4 minutes A 2012 report called The Cruelty Connection looked at whether there was a relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence in Alberta. And there was — people who committed crimes against animals also committed crimes against people. The project (a collaboration between the SPCA and the RCMP) found that in 85 per cent of cases […] Read more


We no longer have the luxury of time in making changes

We no longer have the luxury of time in making changes

When consumers decide a livestock practice is wrong, 
they expect changes to be made immediately

Reading Time: 3 minutes We used to believe — and many companies still do — that we could maintain consumer trust by going through the exercise of a food safety or production protocol. We have discovered in this very tribal age of transparency, this is not sufficient. Consumers are expecting actions to be taken and are moving away from […] Read more

Getting ready to deal with consumers’ expectations of the food system

New research shows the public expects farmers, food companies, 
grocery chains, and restaurants to work as partners

Reading Time: 3 minutes Siddhartha Gautama, the Indian fellow who we in the western world refer to as Buddha, once said: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” And in this he was right, for when we are ready to learn or seek some form of knowledge, someone comes into our life to enlighten us. Enlightenment has […] Read more


There is opportunity all around us and it’s there all the time

All sectors in agriculture have tremendous strengths and 
every farm operation can capitalize on them in some way

Reading Time: 3 minutes I am a business mentor for a young woman who just landed a multimillion-dollar deal. She and her family took a risk, went without for a few years, and worked hard to get their product going. They had folks who believed in them but more importantly, they believed in themselves. She once said to me […] Read more

Branding is key for Sydney
Rock Oysters.

Celebrating food — and gaining a marketing edge

The story of an Australian oyster producer has lessons 
for any farmer who appreciates creative thinking


Reading Time: 3 minutes My friend Ewan McAsh is an oyster farmer on the Clyde River in New South Wales, Australia. He is a fellow Nuffield Scholar and was a travel mate of mine through Australia, Holland, U.K., India, and Qatar. A young man with vision, he was named in 2015 as a finalist for NSW farmer of the […] Read more


woman smiling

Empower your daughters to be great farmers

Understanding one’s abilities, becoming financially literate, 
and gaining experience outside the farm are all critical

Reading Time: 3 minutes More women own and operate farms and agribusinesses in Canada than ever before. What is it that women need to do to be great farmers and how can farms prepare daughters for the ownership of the family farm? Underlying any business transaction is value. And often, families focus on the value of the capital assets […] Read more

Tech companies charting a new food trend

Amazon, Uber, and Google are hoping to make billions 
by becoming middlemen in the food business


Reading Time: 3 minutes Uber Eats is not a giant meal that you serve your teenager. It is a service to deliver food to urban dwellers in a hurry through the Uber system of loosely collected, non-taxi drivers. It is just one of the companies, along with Amazon and Google, that are in the food business. Google in food? […] Read more


The downside of farm subsidies

Government money is usually welcomed but those 
who take it soon learn it can come with a heavy price

Reading Time: 3 minutes There are certain aspects of farming around the globe that are subsidized either directly or indirectly. In the world of trade, these are sensitive issues. For example, what is the true level of subsidization in China? How does it enhance its competitive advantage? What is the real cost of production? We have many guests in […] Read more

Each year brings many gifts and each new one promises more

The simple things are truly wondrous and we should 
cherish all the precious moments of our lives

Reading Time: 4 minutes It is the beginning of a new year and I have often contemplated how I would spend my time if given just a portion of it. I would go dancing. My cousin would sing in the band and all the extended family would be there — four generations of us. We would sing and chat […] Read more