Convincing policymakers and politicians that agriculture matters is easy; it’s getting them to push for changes and advancements that are tricky. Part of the reason for that is the compartmentalization of the industry, sure, but there are plenty of overarching issues that impact most farmers — and that’s where change needs to start. Mary Robinson,… Read More
Category: Grow Canada
With no restrictions, spending $153 million seems easy. But when the task at hand is to leverage that $153 million into leap-frogging an entire industry forward, knowing where to commit that cash becomes much more complicated. Bill Greuel, CEO of Protein Industries Canada, is tasked with ensuring the federal Protein Supercluster funding is invested prudently… Read More
While the forecasters are calling for a slightly longer winter than most would like, most are calling for less extreme weather events for the coming months — with a drier west and wetter east expected. “We will not have an El Niño or La Niña influencing the weather patterns for 2020, and this is the… Read More
After a year of incredible adversity in Canadian agriculture, lenders such as Farm Credit Canada are especially alert to the needs of their clients. “We’re monitoring the financial situation,” says Michael Hoffort, president and CEO of FCC. In an interview with RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney, Hoffort says that where it’s challenging, FCC and other… Read More
For John Herdman, coach of the Canada men’s national soccer team, leadership is more than guiding a group of people. “[It’s] getting the best out of yourself every day, being clear that it’s a process that never stops,” says Herdman, in conversation with RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney. “…And when you stop getting the best out… Read More
Have you ever wondered how countries that buy Canadian wheat learn about each crop-year’s characteristics? The story of each crop begins with the harvest sample program, involves a careful analysis of the crop, and continues with crop missions to countries such as Singapore, Ecuador, China, and Mexico. Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada, and Gary Stanford,… Read More
Be the change or be changed, says Nikolas Badminton, futurist and TechTour alumnus. What does that mean for agriculture? Well, according to Badminton, it means that farmers are either going to have to adapt and evolve their practices, technology, and equipment, or someone else willing to do so will be the one farming and not them…. Read More
The western Canadian canola market is an attractive one with about 20 million acres of seed put in the ground each year. But while the acres are plentiful, it’s still a very competitive market. Nuseed, a division of Nufarm, wagers that its approach is the right one in bringing a new commercial commodity canola business… Read More
Those within agriculture are always looking for ways to communicate to those outside of agriculture just how many rewarding careers there are in the industry. University of Guelph students David Westerveld and Brendan McDougall are two such “non-farm kids” who are turning interests in veterinary medicine and technology into agriculture-related jobs. Selected as “future influencers”… Read More
It’s fundamentally understood by most countries around the world that competition is a good thing. It forces countries to be innovative and focused on the competitive factors within its control to be the best they can be as a nation — things like infrastructure, tax and trade policy, and natural resources. Canada has its strengths… Read More