On the Farm: A producer who grows crops on The Rock has learned the hard way how his province got its name
Ian Richardson knows why Newfoundland is called The Rock. Since moving to Cormack, N.L., about 20 years ago, Richardson has cleared about 700 acres of woodland and brought it into production. Most of the land is now used to grow forage, but Richardson spent an uncountable number of hours removing rocks and boulders from the […] Read moreFarm Living
Steps can be taken to stay positive in the time of COVID
Q: I have been enjoying your column in The Western Producer for years. I think that what I like best is that you usually come up with something that will make life easier for those of your readers who send their concerns to you. It is all very positive. At least it was until all […] Read more
Ottawa offers more measures to help ag sector
The federal government continues to unveil policies and dollars they say will assist agricultural sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. A $100-million fund, launching in partnership with Calgary-based Forage Capital Inc., will be used “to support proven, viable companies through unexpected business disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.” According to the federal government, Farm Credit Canada […] Read more
4-H skills help battle COVID-19
Face masks can be made at home using easily found material to protect against the virus, but it must be done properly
BIRDS HILL, Man. — There are hundreds of different mask patterns on the internet. They vary in degree of protection and degree of complexity. Some are easy for beginners. Others require a skilled seamstress. In making masks for our immediate family, I’m drawing on my 4-H sewing experience from years ago at Kane, Man. My […] Read moreEarly spring vegetables are a real treat when cooking in the kitchen this time of year
May is a month of renewal and refreshment. The trees have fresh-budded leaves, the grass is a lush green, the sun warms our skin and the smell of freshly turned soil lifts our spirits. At our house, we enjoy going out to the garden to snap off some fresh asparagus, cut a few stalks of […] Read more
Beekeeping changes focus for Sask. couple
On the Farm: A passion for bees brought them together, but growth has turned the honey operation into big business
GOOD SPIRIT ACRES, Sask. — Bees helped sweeten the deal that brought a young couple together. Sasha Howland and Danny Wasylenchuk both grew up in Yorkton and had summer jobs working with bees. It led to their marriage, family and successful honey business. Apiculture was not part of the original plan for either Howland or […] Read more
Small-town store closure devastates owner
Saskatchewan entrepreneur wonders if her business will be able to recover once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted
The tears flow. It’s all just too much: the store closure due to COVID-19, the disappointed customers, the inability to get new merchandise, the bills. Christine Fitzgerald has faced many challenges in her life, but few have compared to this — a pandemic that has put her entire life savings at risk. The Grenfell, Sask., […] Read more
Small family farms dominate Colombia’s coffee country
If you’re reading this while sipping your morning coffee, chances are that the coffee beans came from a farm like the one run by Nicolas Spath. We recently visited the heart of Colombia’s famous coffee region where Spath showed us around his small farm with 2,000 coffee trees. We were in the town of Filandia, […] Read more
COVID sheds light on importance of health on the farm
Farmers have always been connected to several aspects of a healthy lifestyle. As food producers, we’re closely connected to the lifecycle of food, from field to fork. We’re also early pioneers of the concept of community, which happens to be a primary factor for self-reported happiness. But as agriculture has evolved, have we lost aspects […] Read more
BASF develops online tool to help families with farm safety
The company’s work with ag safety group is based on the expectation that there will be more children on the farm this year
The Canadian Agriculture Safety Association and BASF are digitally expanding farm safety resources for children. The new resource comes as the COVID-19 pandemic affects family life. With kids at home because of school closures, it’s expected more of them will be involved in activities on the farm, said Wayne Barton, the manager of research and […] Read more
