If ever there was a question about the value of research and development in crop production, this year answered it with a resounding affirmative. Residual moisture from previous years was critical for many in the central and southern Prairies, but so too were advances in crop varieties and minimum and zero tillage. Nothing could prevent […] Read more
Stories by Western Producer Editorial
Wall government gave agriculture portfolio respect
The response to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall’s announced departure from politics last week has been largely laudatory — even to the point of eye-rolling, with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper tweeting that Wall “will go down in history as the man who turned the fortunes of Saskatchewan around.” Inheriting a budget surplus and then running […] Read more
Ag trade negotiators must uncover hidden supports
When talk in Canada turns to international trade, often the focus is on our systems such as supply management and whether we can or should preserve them. Maybe it is a Canadian trait to look inward, be self-critical and say sorry. But what about the other guys? Are they squeaky clean? Of course not. Almost […] Read more
Mandatory labels create inefficiencies bad for all
The arguments behind Italy’s move to require country-of-origin labelling for pasta are as limp as over-boiled spaghetti. The label requirement is a protectionist trade barrier and unwelcome when beneficial global trade is under attack on many fronts. Canada must respond aggressively against the labels because it hurts Canadian farmers and sets a regressive precedent. The […] Read more
Ag Hall of Fame inductees a turning point for women?
For the first time ever, all inductees to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame this year are women. They join only five other females already among the hall’s 210 members. What’s that? Only five in the 57-year history of the hall? It is true. Robynne Anderson, an agriculture consultant and publisher, Patty Jones, a livestock […] Read more
Promoting good eating habits better than warning labels
A front-of-package food warning system that Health Canada is proposing would treat dairy products unfairly by warning Canadians away from nutritious milk-based food. Health Canada has launched a campaign to promote healthy eating, physical activity and mental health. The healthy eating strategy includes revising Canada’s food guide, improving nutrition labelling and introducing a new highly […] Read more
Ag carbon reduction policies must jibe with food demands
Given the diversity of carbon regimes in place — or about to be launched across the nation — there is one thing in the agricultural industry that is certain: farmers don’t like it. In fact, many farmers are downright angry. This was evident long before The Western Producer’s three-week series on various carbon reduction efforts […] Read more
Gov’t takes steps to reduce Man. hog sector red tape
The Manitoba government’s Red Tape Reduction and Government Efficiency Act is a welcome action to allow hog farmers an opportunity to grow. The previous government had imposed regulations regarding barn construction and manure management that amounted to a moratorium on new barn construction. The Progressive Conservative government that was elected a year ago has already […] Read more
If livestock sector fails to police against abuse, government will
Farmers tend to view covert video taken by activists working as temporary employees as invasive at best and sinister at worst. Trouble is, the tactic keeps showing its worth by revealing abuse of livestock; abuse that can’t be tolerated by the agriculture industry or by society as a whole. Such was the case at several […] Read more
U.S. ag secretary pours oil on troubled trade waters
It’s doubtful that U.S. President Donald Trump was thinking of Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign-policy advice — speak softly and carry a big stick — with his approach to NAFTA and agriculture in particular, but the United States is nonetheless following that counsel — sort of. Trump bludgeoned and blustered his way through criticism of the North […] Read more
