WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, pictured here in 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Joshua Roberts)

WTO meeting seeks modest outcomes, with global trade at ‘critical juncture’

Striking deals by consensus becoming more difficult amid signs global economy fragmenting

Trade ministers from around the world gathered in Abu Dhabi on Monday for a World Trade Organization meeting that aims to set new global commerce rules, but its chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and delegates sought to curb expectations.

Knowledge is our holy ground and storytelling is the medium in tourism and agriculture.

Schoepp: Telling the farm story

The tourism sector can offer agriculture some lessons on connections

Reading Time: 3 minutes I was thrilled to attend a premier tourism conference in January and I certainly felt at home because tourism loves Canadian agriculture; so much so that the conference theme of regeneration was based on the agricultural model. Regenerative tourism digs deep into the concept of leaving a community better than before you visited – not […] Read more


Jim Fisher, vice-president of Canadian policy worked for ALUS for many years, knows the benefits of its programs.

Grants designed to combat drought and flooding

Province puts up funds to make watersheds and farmers more resilient

Reading Time: 4 minutes In January, Alberta’s government invested $3.5 million to make the province more drought and flood resistant. Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas, said it has never been more important to improve the resiliency of Alberta’s watersheds. “By working with local communities and partners, we are helping mitigate the impact of future floods and […] Read more

Canadians have become addicted to specials at grocery stores to the point that half of all grocery sales are specials.  phot0: fangxianuo/istock/getty images

Consumer food-buying behaviour changing rapidly

Inflation-strapped buyers turn to more discounts, cut their food-buying budgets

Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia — Canadian consumers have dramatically changed their grocery-buying patterns in the past year as food prices and housing inflation have squeezed their budgets. Demand and product changes in the food supply chain will affect farm commodities. Grocery store sales are down in Canada, even with product value inflation, which means less demand for […] Read more


Farmers have emphasized that incentives needed to be long-term and should consider the cost of adoption, ROI and the ecological goods and services provided.

Farmers demand incentives for environmental changes

Farmers say the federal government’s proposed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy must make economic sense

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A federal environmental strategy for the agriculture sector should be viewed through an economic lens, says a report from consultations on the proposed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. It should reflect regional differences, recognize early adopters and improve data and measurement. The “what we heard” report was posted to Agriculture Canada’s website during the […] Read more



Chinook Applied Research Association (CARA) researchers have purchased a new tractor and other equipment through a $267,000 investment from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) Accelerating Capacity Initiative.

Funding gets results for east-central Alberta research org

An investment of $267,000 from the WGRF has modernized CARA’s equipment fleet

Reading Time: 3 minutes A producer-led investment is helping an east-central Alberta research farm realize the full potential of its localized research. The Chinook Applied Research Association (CARA) in Oyen has bought a plot combine, tractor, pickup truck, GPS unit, cargo trailer and a mower tractor with $267,000 from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF). This funding is key […] Read more

What type of mindset do we use in ag and food as we do business within our sector, and how will this affect the future?

Opinion: Getting into the farming mindset

Your frame of mind can contribute greatly to your success

Reading Time: 3 minutes I had some eye-opening conversations on generational differences when I spoke to farmers last fall for Country Guide’s Best Advice podcast series. Early in our conversations, I could tell what type of mindset each farmer had. They quickly shared how different they were from their parents in how they chose to operate. Not only were […] Read more



(Lightspeedshutter/iStock/Getty Images)

Debt decisions need strategy

Take a strategic approach rather than reacting to immediate trends

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier Farmmedia — With interest rates swinging around like apes in the jungle, farmers might feel a lot of pressure to react to their debt and financing situations. Debt and financing decisions today, however, will have a long-term impact, so farmers should be tying decisions to the strategic vision for their operations, Backswath Management consultant […] Read more