Over last few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to bounce around from conference to conference, learning on topics ranging from no-till, to canola production, to irrigation. On a glance these three topics may not have a ton in common, but as January wraps up (already!?) it’s got me thinking about some of the common themes…. Read More
Category: Opinion
The Canadian agriculture system is complex and integrated from start to finish. What does that mean? It means that grain systems might include forages, manure, or livestock, and fruit and vegetable systems might send byproducts to be fed to livestock to avoid expensive tipping fees and adding to landfills and waste. Even in the vegetable… Read More
It’s no secret that I love to read. I read all different varieties of books, with certain types always being the go-to. Genre aside, I also have a rotating list of my favourite books, which I try to re-read every couple of years. One of my favourites will always be The Perks of Being a Wallflower by… Read More
At many meetings that I attend across the country, there are hallway discussions that include someone saying, “why do we have so many farm groups?” It’s a question that we will likely hear more often as time goes on. This is not the same as questioning the value of farm groups (they are valuable!), this… Read More
It’s been two years since the federal government first announced its 30 per cent fertilizer emissions reduction target. That means more than 20 percent of the timeframe for farmers, agronomists, fertilizer suppliers, and researchers to work toward meeting the goal by 2030 has already expired. The clock is ticking, but there’s been very little progress… Read More
The U.S. agriculture industry — and economy as a whole — breathed a sigh of relief early Thursday morning when Labour Secretary Marty Walsh tweeted that a tentative agreement had been reached between rail companies and the unions representing railway workers that were threatening to go on strike on Saturday. The Canadian agriculture sector, for… Read More
Creating good policy is difficult at the best of times. In the current world of social media, tribalism, issue zealots, and partisanship, the ability to create policy that achieves the goals of all sides is rare. Politicians talk about unity, but what they really mean is unity of their side not connecting with the other… Read More
The topic of trade has been tumbling around my brain for quite some time. There is something not sitting well with me regarding how Canada seems to view trade, and how it is being enabled. Canada is a country of about 38 million with vast resources and a land mass that was made to produce… Read More
Relationships matter. This might sound like a cliché to some, but that does not make it any less true. Agriculture in Western Canada is dependent on trade. Maintaining our relationships with our partners in other countries is one of the most important things agriculture representatives do, and no relationship is more important than with our… Read More
As I sit in my home office and listen to my house get sandblasted, while patio furniture flys around the yard, and watching topsoil swirl left and right, I can’t help but think — is this what The Dust Bowl looked like? Despite many areas of Canada experiencing too much moisture and cool temperatures —… Read More
A section on page 192 of the federal government’s new emissions reduction plan that refers to a “green levy” on pickup trucks has caught the attention of many Canadians. Thousands of people, including many Conservative politicians, have not only read but shared a column titled “Trudeau planning a tax on trucks” that was published on… Read More
The 2.5 day shutdown of CP Rail’s network last month was a sharp reminder why rail service, especially for agricultural commodities, should be deemed essential. Although the strike/lockout only lasted from a Sunday to a Tuesday, it caused weeks, even months, of disruption in already-stressed supply chains that rely on trains. The entire system was… 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
Our bodies are incredible things, and are quite often telling you something. Have you ever stopped to listen to your own? As I sit here wondering how I’ve managed to get sick for the second time within 10 days, not wanting to call in sick, because hey —I already did that last week, I’m taking… Read More
A lot is being made of this week’s NDP/Liberal supportive arrangement. It’s a sort-of coalition government, though not officially. The idea is that the Liberals will be supported in confidence motions and budget approvals by the NDP, and in return the NDP will gain support for its pharma and dentistry plans. The result, if the… Read More