Lyndsey Smith is a field editor for RealAgriculture. A self-proclaimed agnerd, Lyndsey is passionate about all things farming but is especially thrilled by agronomy and livestock production.
The federal government rolled out its 2022 budget this week, and in it are several programs for agriculture, including funding for research, adaptation, carbon sequestration and more. One of those programs, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund, received a major cash boost, from just under $200 million to $469.5 million over six years, starting in 2022-23. Announced last… Read More
If there’s one thing clear in Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan, it’s that very few things are completely clear. Take for example what agriculture is expected to deliver in emissions reductions. It’s either a reduction of one percent, as listed on page 90, or an increase of one per cent as listed on page 219. Or… Read More
Put aside for a moment your opinion on the current federal government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. (Though, if you’re curious, you can read about what is proposed, here) There are two timeframes to think about in regards to carbon emissions — there’s the 2030 line in the sand, by which… Read More
The federal government has published its plan detailing expectations of carbon emissions reductions by 2030, by sector. This first of many Emissions Reduction Plans (ERP) sets out what each industry will be required to achieve under the climate plan to get Canada to net zero emissions by 2050. In a lengthy technical briefing Tuesday afternoon,… Read More
In what feels like just a short time and also a lifetime ago, two months has passed since we asked the question of what you’re most worried about accessing for the year ahead. Our last poll on the topic included labour and feed, but we are focusing this latest poll on crop production (don’t worry… Read More
After a few years’ pause, the Bank of Canada increased the overnight rate March 2, 2022. Analysts suggests it’s the first of at leasts two or more increases for this calendar year alone, to try and cool inflation (that is sitting just below 6 per cent at last report). For lines of credit, variable rate… Read More
For Albertans, selling carbon credits isn’t a new thing — there’s been a carbon credit exchange in place for years. But for most of the rest of Canadian farmers, selling carbon credits is a new thing, but is potentially about to become very common. Right now, there is a voluntary market for carbon credits, but… Read More
There is so much happening in the carbon credit space right now, even those with over a decade in the business are taking a cautious approach. Alastair Handley, founder of Radicle, based at Calgary, Alta., says he’s got two words of advice for farmers itching to sell carbon credits to the voluntary market: slow down…. Read More
Trying to tackle the enormity that is recognizing leading women in agriculture left me so overwhelmed, I ended up being unable to even begin to write or interview. In order to overcome the inertia, I decided instead to focus on one aspect of the industry and tip the hat to some notable scientists who also… Read More
When crop prices are favourable, it can seem that any pricing strategy works. That said, the higher prices are, the more inherent risk there is in leaving crop unpriced. There’s plenty of volatility in the world right now, with no end in sight, and that makes the risk management strategy all the more important. Which… Read More
Karn Manhas, CEO of Terramera, wants to know why Canada is lagging so far behind the U.S. when it comes to investing in carbon capture demonstration and knowledge transfer within the farming and agriculture sector. Terramera is an agriculture tech company based at Vancouver, focused on artificial intelligence, computer modelling, and diagnostic devices. Manhas spoke… Read More
Running a farm requires a combination of hard skills, encyclopedic knowledge, and a knack for business. Sometimes, everyone on the farm team needs to know a skill, and other situations might call for just one person or a few people to be capable or permitted to get the job done. Which brings us to this… Read More
The last three to four weeks have been nothing short of, well, wild in Canada. Regardless of where you sit on the protest/blockade/Emergencies Act issues, Canadians have witnessed a new kind of uncertainty since a convoy of Canadians converged on the nation’s capital and U.S. border crossings in late January and early February. The last… Read More
Anyone who owns and moves livestock needs to get up close and personal with the latest transportation regulations. The rules encompass all animal movement, including that done by farmers themselves, and has been law for two years. The “for two years” part has caught some producers by surprise, and that’s because the Canadian Food Inspection… Read More
The City of Kingston, Ont. has launched a multi-year, multi-faceted strategy for its rural and agriculture economic development. The strategy includes the hiring of Tracey Snow as rural economic and community development manager. It means the strategy will have one person, dedicated full-time to steering the projects going forward. Kingston, a city of about 135,000,… Read More
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