Do you remember when you decided you wanted to pursue a career in agriculture? Or were you someone who never really chose it, it was just what you had always done? An increasing number of individuals from a non-farming background go on to work in the agriculture industry — it’s a natural byproduct of a… Read More
Category: CEO interviews
Don’t shoot the messenger, but if you haven’t priced your nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer for this year, things are about to get very ugly. Or uglier. There’s really no upside here, unless you happen to have a neighbour with livestock and a manure problem (which you might. Ask around. Don’t worry, I’ll wait here while… Read More
Modernizing Canada’s varietal registration system needed to happen — the removal of kernel visual distinguishability and the CWB’s monopoly in recent years has changed crop variety development in Canada. The registration system needs to evolve with it in order to stay current and competitive. Read More: Upov 91, Gerry Rits and Canada’s variety registration system… Read More
If you happen to meet Pat Beaujot these days, you’ll likely get the sense that he’s a pretty happy guy. Not only has the founder of Saskatchewan-based Seed Hawk recently sold his company to Swedish Vaderstad, he also stays on in the product development role. Imagine, for a moment, that you get to choose the… Read More
This week Calgary is hosting ABIC 2013 which is a global conference on food and agricultural biotechnology. I had the chance to sit down with Jim Wispinski, President of Dow AgroSciences Canada, and discuss the panel that he moderated about the past and future impacts of biotechnology agribusiness and farmers. If you cannot hear the interview… Read More
Is there a strong business case for another grain co-operative in Canada? Carl Casale thinks so, and as CEO of CHS, the largest co-operative in the United States, it’s probably an opinion worth some weight. In this episode of the RealLeaders series, Kim McConnell, founder of AdFarm, sits down with Casale to discuss not just… Read More
From a game-changing opener launched several years ago, to leading the way on sectional control, to brand new planters and giant carts, Seed Hawk continues to evolve and push the envelope on machinery innovation. In the interview above, Shaun Haney speaks with Pat Beaujot, Seed Hawk’s president, about how the company has evolved, how it’s… Read More
Shaun Haney, founder of RealAgriculture.com, spoke with Willie Van Solkema, president of JBS Canada, at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers’ 100th AGM this week to get an update on JBS’s move into Canada. Up for discussion: JBS Canada’s foray into existing markets for the former-XL Foods products, which markets are still closed to the company and… Read More
2013 is a big year for 4-H Canada, as it’s the year the organization marks 100 years of “learn to do by doing.” Started in Roland, Manitoba, so very long ago, 4-H’s particular style of teaching young farm kids about everything from animal husbandry to woodworking has evolved in recent years to include instruction for… Read More
Ever wonder what the Canola Council of Canada does and who is involved? RealAgriculture.com caught up with Patti Miller, president of the council, to ask her those questions and many more. For example, 2012 was in some ways a fantastic year for the crop — a huge number of acres went in and planned crush… Read More
The Canadian Seed Trade Association has a lot on its plate. Newly elected President Steve Denys will be the first to tell you that. The association is working toward directing government policies that will help Canadian producers thrive at home and compete abroad in a fast paced, constantly changing arena. We spoke to Steve at… Read More
The western prairies have been described as a sea of canola. Floating somewhere adrift are crops like flax. Crops that are full of potential, but are at risk of falling to more profitable crops like canola and soybeans. Keeping these fringe crops afloat to develop some of that potential means finding better cropping systems. One… Read More
Due to the purchase of Viterra by Glencore, much of the media attention has been pointed at Cargill, Richardsons and Glencore. One company that is maybe running under the radar in their strategy in th open market and overal Canadian operations is Louis Dreyfus. At the International Livestock conference RealAgriculture.com chatted with Louis Dreyfus Canadian… Read More
Farm Credit Canada has been serving the financial needs of Canadian farmers since 1959. Since that time, the organization has evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of the agricultural industry. Currently holding a portfolio of a staggering $22 billion and counting, FCC has shown tremendous growth and continues to serve the needs of… Read More
Western Canadian Farmers will have more choices open to them in the cereal crop arena thanks to an agreement (see press release) between French based Group Limagrain and Western Canadian based Canterra Seeds. The partnership strengthens the already strong breeding programs of both companies providing farmers across the West with access to new and advanced… Read More