I know I’m not alone when I say the recent decision by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) surprised me. I’m also likely not alone when I say the decision made me incredibly angry. And angry for a few reasons, I might add. Angry, because I assumed (wrongly) that my name… Read More
Each year, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) recognizes producers that exceed standard industry conservation practices through the Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA), in recognition that Canada’s beef cattle producers serve as stewards for a vast portion of land and play a significant role in protecting and enhancing the environment. This year’s award winner was announced at… Read More
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Put another way, if you can’t take care of you, you can’t take care of others, including livestock. The connection between farmers’ own mental wellness and livestock care is a direct link; in many cases of animal welfare complaints, the root cause is a stressed and/or mentally ill… Read More
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the 25 members of its Canadian Agricultural Youth Council recently. In the application process, AAFC committed to regional representation and choosing members with a diversity of backgrounds. In naming the 25 members, AAFC has certainly achieved that — with people from every province and one from the northern territories, and… Read More
If ever you’ve been asked about a food or agriculture topic and not known where to send someone for more answers, Utensil.ca may be your new go-to online resource. Utensil.ca offers tools to build knowledge and confidence in Canada’s food chain, from farms to kitchens. It starts with Utensil Guide, the plain language guide to… Read More
Anyone and everyone who loves Canadian food is encouraged to show appreciation to the food industry every year on the Saturday of the August long weekend during Food Day Canada — this year it’s Saturday, August 1. Food Day Canada’s first iteration was back in 2003 during the BSE crisis, and was started by Anita… Read More
A recent Burger King advertisement has caused a stir for its claims about cows and methane portrayal of farmers, but it’s ended up with an outcome that’s a step in the right direction, according to many farmers and ranchers. Burger King released a letter, dated July 21, announcing their new partnership in the Global Roundtable… Read More
You can be forgiven if you don’t remember the first Food Day Canada. After all, it wasn’t even called that in 2003. At the time, the Canadian border was closed to livestock movement and protein trade because of BSE. It was an economic disaster for the beef industry, but it also spurred the creation of… Read More
With nearly all farm shows and in-person events cancelled or moved online, a community event is rather rare this time of year. And that’s proving rather challenging for many rural communities who are so used to using the warm summer field days as a way to learn, connect, and maybe even commiserate in the beverage… Read More
Let’s get one thing straight — livestock produce methane when they burp. It’s called enteric methane emissions, and it comes from the front end, not the back. That’s just the beginning of all the ways Dr. Frank Mitloehner wants people to shift their thinking when it comes to livestock and methane. In this RealAg LIVE!… Read More
Perceptions can be tough to overcome, especially when seeing is believing. A farmer from South Australia, John Gladigau, had some urban dwellers come visit the farm recently, and 4-year old Arcadia went for a tractor ride. Soon, she asked, “Why is it that adult girls don’t get to drive tractors and adult boys do?” Gladigau… Read More
Sheep farmer Sandi Brock might look a little familiar, if you’re keen on YouTube and Instagram. The Staffa, Ont. farmer was raised on a dairy farm, worked on a broiler breeder farm, and then eventually chose sheep as the livestock venture to diversify her grain enterprise. Brock learned so much in those first years of… Read More
A new mobile app is under development to help farmers track their mental health and link them with supports, says the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. The app is the result of a partnership between Innovation Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Bridges Health, out of Saskatoon, after being selected out of the province-wide Innovation Challenge… Read More
Nearly 500 farmers and farm businesses were emailed a letter in late June informing them of a request through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) for a list of business names and Farm Business Registration Numbers (FBRN). Several farmers have publicly addressed concern over the release of this information and the… Read More
It’s tough to come up with a technical description for what Ellen Pruden really does. A long-time agricultural educator and advocate, her job title says she’s the director for the Canola Eat Well program, which she leads out of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association office. But beyond that, her enthusiasm for sharing farmers’ stories has… Read More