I have observed a variety of farmers. There are those who value their time and pay attention to where and how it is spent, and those who do not. I am not here to judge. There are many ways to get the job done on the farm and sometimes things need to happen in chaotic […] Read more
Stories by Toban Dyck
Winter in my part of Canada is cold and terrible on the farm
I walked up to the conveyor, exhausted after hours of clearing snow and replacing shear pins. I was hoping against hope that its exposed battery was not frozen and that it had enough juice to wake up the Subaru gas engine. I am a fatalist. I try not to be, but I am. My brain […] Read more
Agriculture’s messaging need not, and should not, be so dull
I was in Ottawa for the annual Grow Canada conference. I had in my mind that I would stroll downtown, visiting all the agricultural associations and groups to which I have some connection. I did that and found myself very close to Parliament Hill. The walk back to my hotel would take me right by […] Read more
Debate can turn nasty when some producers are left behind
What happens when a group of people are left behind? I don’t know, exactly, but it can’t be good. In agriculture, industry groups, agricultural associations and companies all have mandates to communicate with farmers. They need to reach farmers with their products and their messages. Their lobbying efforts need to accurately reflect the farmer voice […] Read more
Increasing sector’s capacity starts with learning the issues
On a typical day, I tie up a lot of my brain’s finite capacity before 9 a.m. Then, I attempt to put that scramble aside, but end up reaching my limit again. Earlier this year, I thought I was unique. I believed that my propensity to make myself busy and operate at or near capacity […] Read more
Agriculture needs to kill its darlings — it’s an editing phrase
I want the agriculture sector to be more efficient. I’m in it. I’m in it in a variety of ways. It’s hope that keeps me pushing through the sludge. Really, I want the thing that unifies Canadian agriculture, fosters a regulatory environment that has accountability and competitiveness baked into it and provides a solution to […] Read more
Businesses require progressive attitudes, diverse thinking
It’s Sunday. Our vehicle is parked at Sault Transmission. I slipped its key through the after-hours flap inside an envelope with an accompanying piece of paper, on which I wrote that the transfer case is leaking transmission oil, the cabin smells hot, the vehicle is shifting gears irregularly and that we’re hoping to be back […] Read more
Criticism of federal government should be more level-headed
There is a 15-acre field of wheat east of our house. It carries the weight of signalling just how much crop damage occurred during the wild squalls that seem to unleash a few minutes of terror every night at around 4 a.m. This is an exaggeration, but the Starbuck wheat I stare at every morning […] Read more
Agricultural presentations need an injection of accessibility
Imagine sitting in a room full of people involved in agriculture. Let’s say it’s a conference. There are farmers in the room. There are industry representatives in the room. And there are policymakers in the room. The goal of this session is to critically evaluate and find common ground on a piece of legislation that […] Read more
Absolute certainty not a good approach for agriculture to take
Good writing is honest writing. Good communications are honest communications. We all wrestle with this — the ambivalence between knowing more than we can say, or should say, at certain times. Perhaps it’s just another thing we can chalk up to being an adult, being diplomatic, or knowing your audience. When agricultural organizations seek my […] Read more
