A Saskatchewan couple hand-picks their successors, ensuring the operation is farmed the way they would prefer
While all succession plans are unique, one playing out on the farm of Al Boyko and Hélène Tremblay-Boyko near Canora, Sask., could be described as more than a little outside the box. Readers met the couple in The Western Producer two years ago. At that time they were looking for a young couple who would […] Read moreFarm Living
Fear of failure may cause reader’s lack of success
Q: For someone who was picked most likely to succeed from his Grade 12 graduating class, I have not done well for myself. I have failed at most everything that I have tried. I managed to get myself into a university and I graduated with a degree, but I cannot claim much for stellar success […] Read more
WP January 2nd edition will arrive late
Due to unforeseen circumstances the January 2nd issue of The Western Producer will be late arriving. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. The January 2, 2020 “Digital Edition” will be available online at its usual time, early Thursday morning, here: https://www.producer.com/digital-edition/
What we eat and how we produce it contributes to climate change: expert
The global food system is the largest employer in the world. It engages thousands of people and enterprises in agriculture, and millions are employed in processing, transportation, distribution, marketing, and sales. But questions about food industry sustainability recently asked at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, which is headquartered in Cali, Colombia, led to a […] Read more
Is regenerative the next ‘sustainable?’
KELOWNA, B.C. — During a first-of-its kind conference in Kelowna earlier this year, producers, soil health experts and advocates gathered to discuss the future of farming. The First Canadian Summit on Climate Action in Food Systems focused on regenerative agriculture, looking at how farmers can be part of the solution in helping mitigate climate change. […] Read more
The town that refused to give up
A Manitoba town is defying the trend. Unlike other small towns on the Prairies, Reston is gaining people and getting younger. In 2016 the town had 570 people — up slightly from 550 in 2011. And Reston had 115 people younger than 19, about 21 percent of the population. Several years ago, to accommodate the […] Read more
A sustainable farm with a mission
The Loewith dairy farm has a five-point mission statement pinned to the wall to remind staff of its values and priorities
COPETOWN, Ont. — When Ben Loewith walks through the dairy barns on his family farm, he is filled with contentment from a job well done. Keeping a modern dairy sustainable means protecting the environment, contending with urban encroachment, finding competent labour and raising healthy, productive cows. Continuous improvement in all those areas has always driven […] Read more
Tapping into the power of methane
‘The circle of agriculture’: Twin anaerobic digesters generate electricity and produce enriched manure
The reuse of material is a key tenet of sustainability in agriculture, and Greenholm Farms, in Embro, Ont., just northwest of Woodstock, has taken that to heart. The owners, Gord and Laura Green, along with their son and business partner, Dave, have discovered that producing methane to generate electricity on their mixed dairy and crop […] Read more
Robotic farming project focuses on swarms
The Hands Free Hectare project in Britain finds that many small robots may work better than larger, manned machinery
A study of autonomous farming at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, England, found that swarm farming with many small robots may be more efficient than farming with larger, manned machinery. “The initial economic analysis suggests that robots could cut the cost of producing wheat in the United Kingdom by 10 to 15 percent compared to […] Read more
Sustainability important to consumers
The definition of sustainability is as diverse as the consumers who seek it out in their every day purchases. Many consumers identify it is as being environmentally friendly, where products are free of certain amendments. They expect their food to be safe and they are starting to expect that sustainable practices were used to make […] Read more
