Your thirty second elevator pitch: We are often told we should have one. For many of us it is hard for us to even stammer out who we are in 30 seconds, let alone talk about something intelligently. Afterwards, we often think we should have said more, but with fewer words. In this episode of… Read more »
Category: Advocacy
Farm visit connects culinary art students to their food
What do you do when two busloads of students come to your farm? Well, of course you welcome them, show them around, and feed them lunch. On a rainy day during harvest, students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic came out to the farm of Doyle and Val Wiebe near Langham. All of the farm equipment was lined… Read more »
APAS, SCA say livestock tax deferral leaves out too many producers
The Canadian government has announced a new livestock tax deferral program which covers some, but not all, major cattle areas within the country. Although both the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA) agree it’s a good start, neither believe it will cover everyone who needs the program. “Livestock producers… Read more »
Got poultry? New young leaders program aims to bring chicken farmers together
The Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFOC) have introduced a new Young Farmers Program, with the aim of connecting the younger generation of chicken producers with others like them across Canada. Selected participants will gain valuable experience to help with their personal farm operation along with knowledge on how to use the various tools available in… Read more »
Don’t get angry, get posting — about cereal, glyphosate, and being heard
Unless you live under a rock, chances are you came across an article that absolutely made your blood boil this week. (No, I’m not talking about the Karlsson trade…) I won’t mention who wrote it. It should be quite obvious by saying “glyphosate and breakfast cereal.” I’m fairly new to working in the agricultural sector… Read more »
‘Grow A Leader’ campaign raises $250,000 for 4-H
SeCan’s annual Grow A Leader program has raised $52,716 to support 4-H Canada in 2018. Over its five-year history, the program has contributed more than $250,000 to support 4-H across the country. “4-H is all about developing rural leaders and that’s what we’re doing when we support this program,” says SeCan communications manager Brenda Trask. “We… Read more »
As harvest rolls, farmers hope communication will lead to better railway performance
The federal Liberal caucus met in Saskatoon, Sask. this week, providing the opportunity to host a hastily-called roundtable on grain transportation. The roundtable included government representatives, farmers, shippers, and railway executives. The purpose of the meeting, according to a government news release, was to provide “participants with an opportunity to share information, to address challenges,… Read more »
Mental health first aid funding announced for rural communities
Starting today, if you live in a rural community and want to take a mental health first-aid course, there will be funding provided. The Do More Agriculture foundation (DMAF) along with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) will be giving rural community members the opportunity to apply for funding if you’re interested in organizing mental health first… Read more »
Agriculture in the Classroom Canada offers updated resources for the new school year
Can you believe it’s already September next week? I know most people can’t… The good news is, kids will be back in school, and Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITCC) is thrilled for school to start so teachers, parents, and kids can start using the new resources AITCC has developed. Johanne Ross, executive director for AITCC,… Read more »
Pulse Canada working to establish predictability in trade with India
India was the guest that was notable by its absence at the recent Pulse and Special Crops Convention at Regina. The country has pulled back substantially from the pulse market and, although there were few attendees from that area of world, India was mentioned often from the stage and in the corridors. Dale Leftwich had… Read more »
Saskatchewan farmer invites politicians to ride in the buddy seat
Megz Reynolds, a grain farmer from near Kyle, Saskatchewan, took inspiration from her colleagues overseas and decided to open the combine door to politicians of every stripe and level of government. The standing invite is, she says, about having meaningful conversations about how food is grown and to build understanding about what it takes to… Read more »
Pulse School: Pulse Canada’s 25 by 2025 market development strategy
Pulse Canada is always looking for ways to diversify markets, helping to create price stability for the commodity. In this episode of the Pulse School, field editor Dale Leftwich talks to Jackie Tenuta, director of market development for Pulse Canada, about the 25 by 2025 strategy. Tenuta explains “Essentially what it comes down to is finding… Read more »
SaskFSA seeks to bring understanding to water management
Saskatchewan has an extreme climate: summers are hot, but sometimes not, some areas are too dry or too wet, and winters can be too cold and too long. In the eastern part of Saskatchewan, the trend has been that it’s often too wet, so in 2011 a group of farmers formed the Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship… Read more »
Folta talks dialogue, defending science, and the firing of David Zaruk
The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) was created to “help deliver transformative innovation to agriculture in both the developed and the developing world.” Every second year, the Saskatoon-based organization hosts the Emerging Technologies for Global Food Security Conference, and this year I was on hand to take it all in. On the agenda was… Read more »
Foodsplaining celebrities fail on facts
Actress Natalie Portman was a guest last week on the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” talking about a new film that she narrates called “Eating Animals.” As you may expect by the title of the movie, it is a narrow view of today’s food production. Portman’s comments (see below) on Colbert’s show definitely initiated a… Read more »