RealAg's Top 25 Stories of 2016

As we close the book on 2016, it’s been an honour for us here at Real Agriculture to provide you with ag information and insight that we hope has been valuable.

Looking back, it’s interesting to see what got people excited over the past year. Traffic on our site is one way of measuring this, and so here we go — our top 25 stories of 2016:

1. Earls Makes the Shift to “Certified Humane” Beef

Earls restaurant chain announces plan to source beef with the “Certified Humane” program label, which requires buying beef from Kansas instead of Canada.

1. Please Forget These 7 Things Your Grandparents Taught You

Shaun and Kelvin break down a list of things that have changed since grandma and grandpa farmed.

1. “Wake Up, We Need to Bale the Kitchen” — Toy Tractors & Harvest ’16 with the Peterson Farm Bros

Another hit farm parody from the Peterson Farm Bros.

1. Tips for Pre-harvest Glyphosate and Desiccation

A throwback article on best practices for pre-harvest drydown.

1. Western Feedyards – One of Canada’s Largest Cattle Feeding Operations Stops Feeding Cattle

2016 was a tough year for the feedlot sector.

1. 5 Things You Might Not Have Known About Alberta Farm Worker WCB

Clearing up some confusion surrounding Alberta’s new farm labour rules.

1. Who Should Canadian Farmers Be Cheering For In The U.S. Election?

A poll: Trump or Clinton — who would be better for Canadian ag?

18. Racist, Hateful Comments Can’t Be Ignored

A response to comments made following the tragic death of Colten Boushie on a farm in west-central Saskatchewan.

1. Tough Harvest Summed Up in Saskatchewan Farm Brothers’ “Combine Got Stuck” Parody

Another parody! The Hunter Bros’ version of Corb Lund’s hit recorded while waiting for their combine to get pulled out — an all-too-common occurrence during #harvest16.

1. The Tragic Story of Layne and Swoop – Be Grain Safe

The story of two lives lost to grain entrapment in 2015.

1. If Monsanto is Purchased by Bayer or BASF, What Are the Implications?
   

Analysis of some of the “what ifs” as rumours of a Monsanto acquisition heated up in spring.

1. Burlington Pig Case Shows It’s Worth Planning to Encounter Activists

Andrew Campbell’s perspective on the lessons learned from a high-profile animal rights court case in Ontario.

1. John Deere Debuts Electric High-Power Tractor Prototype
   

A glimpse at a 400-hp electric tractor prototype from Deere in France.

1. Emojis Made for Farm Life

Think Shift’s creative contribution to the world of text messages and social media.

1. Case IH Unveils Autonomous Concept Tractor

Coverage from the unveiling of Case’s 420hp driverless tractor at the 2016 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

1. Honey Nut Cheerios’ Buzz is Disappearing, But Honeybees Are Not

Despite General Mill’s marketing claims on Cheerios’ boxes, honeybee numbers in Canada are climbing, notes Kelvin Heppner.

1. Dutch Sprayer Brings New Features to North American Sprayer Line-Up

Dutch sprayer manufacturer Agrifac introduces some innovative features, filmed at the 2016 Farm Progress Show in Regina.

1. Trudeau Celebrates Canola Deal By Tweeting What Appears To Be Mustard — Does It Matter?

The PM completes big canola deal with China, but hang on, that’s not canola in the picture.

1. Kubota Buys Great Plains Manufacturing for $430 Million

The Japanese tractor company makes its largest foray yet into the North American farm equipment market.

1. When Will Real, Honest, Good Food Win Out? A Canadian Rancher’s Take on Earls’ Beef Campaign

Saskatchewan rancher Adrienne Ivey responds to Earls’ “Certified Humane” marketing decision.

1. Proposed Bill C-246 Could Criminalize Routine Livestock Agriculture Practices

Proposed legislation aims to shut down shark harvesting and puppy mills, but could it extend to animal agriculture?

1. Frustrated With Consumers — The Story Behind My Viral Venting

Saskatchewan dairy farmer Cam Houle (left) explains the thought process behind his viral tweet (and later, t-shirt slogan) about people taking farmers for granted.

1. Sask. Farmer Charged With Equipment Thefts Worth More Than $1.2 Million

Farmer from Donavon District of Saskatchewan charged with stealing farm equipment worth more than $1.2 million.

1. Digging Deeper on Labels: What Does “Certified Humane” Really Mean?

Responding to Earls’ decision to source beef with the label, Andrew Campbell explores the story behind the “Certified Humane” program.

And number one for 2016, no question…

1. 14,000-acre Model Farm Fascinates Farmers at NFMS

Tennessee farmers Chase Long and Colby Counce proudly display what’s believed to be the world’s largest model farm at the National Farm Machinery Show.