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 »
Category: Advocacy
SaskWheat meeting to feature information on discovery of GM wheat
Each June, SaskWheat holds its semi-annual meeting at Canada’s Farm Progress Show at Regina. It’s a chance for the board to meet with the farmers they represent and for all attendees to hear from interesting speakers on timely topics. Dallas Carpenter, communications manager for SaskWheat, says they had an interesting and informative meeting planned for this… Read more »
Getting involved in the conversation with Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan
Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan was launched in 2015 to foster conversations with people in Saskatchewan about food and farming. We recently had a chance to catch up with Clint Monchuk, Executive Director with Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan (FFCS). Farm and Food Care had its origins in the Food and Animal Council (FAC). When… Read more »
Food Truths From Farm to Table addresses food guilt, shares farmers’ stories
If the conversation around farming and food is really going to change for the better, we have to get past talking to each other and reach out to our customers. In writing her book, Food Truths From Farm to Table, author Michele Payn specifically chose consumers as her target audience to move beyond “preaching to the choir.”… Read more »
The small world of ag: U.S. ag secretary tweets t-shirt photo quoting Sask. dairy farmer
It’s funny how word travels in today’s social media world. Someone shares a photo or message on Twitter or Facebook and it can be instantly seen around the world. If shared publicly, you never know who’s going to see or react to what you posted. Take, for example, this tweet by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture… Read more »
Saskatchewan rancher challenges consumers with “What if?” in TEDx talk
“What does someone who raises cattle look like?” Adrienne Ivey, a Saskatchewan cattle rancher, stood in front of a TEDx audience in Regina recently and asked this question. Soon after, she openly admitted to some pretty shocking things — like running a corporate farm, using growth implants in cattle, and even using antibiotics. She also… Read more »
Farm & Food Care offers individual membership to bolster funding
It’s been 30 years since a fledgling organization called the Ontario Farm Animal Council began working to counter the efforts of activists opposed to animal agriculture in Ontario. After three decades, which included a name change and an amalgamation with AgCare, a like-minded farm organization concerned about resources and environmental stewardship, Farm & Food Care… Read more »
Farm & Food Care Ontario names new chair
Farm & Food Care Ontario recently named its board of directors for the coming year. Stepping into the chair’s position is Christine Schoonderwoerd, nominated to the board by Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd. Schoonderwoerd replaces Brian Gilroy, nominated by Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, who assumes the role of past chair for the organization…. Read more »
Does activism have to be a four-letter-word?
First: a disclaimer. I completely agree that the Health Canada front-of-package labeling regulations, as written, are not what I want, as a consumer and as a farmer. I also completely agree that if, as individuals and as groups, people share a view they should absolutely speak up and voice their concerns, especially during the comment… Read more »
Changing minds by changing yours: influencing consumers’ opinions on agriculture
Are you willing to change your mind when you discuss agriculture and food issues with people who don’t agree with your point of view? On some level, most people in agriculture engage in conversations with family, friends, and colleagues on a range of issues – everything from conventional versus organic agriculture, to the right to… Read more »
Staking a claim for ag in the social media jungle
Marketing and farming go hand in hand, says UK communications specialist Simon Haley. In a swing through Ontario that starts later this week, he’ll be urging farmers to use their intrinsic marketing skills to get back in touch with consumers. “Farming is where marketing started,” says Haley. But over the years – as nations became… Read more »
The unintended benefit of signing up to raise ag awareness
Over a hundred thousand people, including our family, visited the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon, Manitoba, last week. The list of things the kids wanted to see had three things on it: horses, the SuperDogs, and all the farm animals. Given the size of the crowd in the ‘Thru the Farmgate’ area, there’s no… Read more »
That’s a wrap: Mark Brock on stepping up, lobbying, and the importance of family
When you let your name stand as chair of an organization, you never know what challenges you’ll face. For Mark Brock, who stepped in as chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario in 2015, there was little time to adjust to the new leadership role. As he was nominated, the organization was facing one of its… Read more »
Putting yourself out there — ag policy and the under 40 crowd
Time away from the farm is important for so many reasons, even if it can be a challenge to make it work. Whether it’s continuing your education, getting some much needed downtime, or speaking up for changes to your sector, there’s a whole other world away from the farm that can offer real value back,… Read more »
Celebrate the food you love on Canada’s Agriculture Day
February 13 marks the second annual Canada’s Agriculture Day, a day to “celebrate the food we love.” Everyone involved in the agriculture and food industry is encouraged to celebrate in their own way — from hosting an event, to posting their agriculture pride online and through social media channels, or by engaging with customers and… Read more »