Food doesn’t come from the grocery store. That is one of the lessons North Americans are learning during this pandemic. Another is learning to spread risk. Like other major industries that have been bent on a path to lower costs over time, food has been sourced globally from the cheapest suppliers it can find. Is […] Read more
Opinion
Must Reads
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4-H members learn to do (differently) by doing
A young person’s 4-H livestock career is marked by the showing and often the selling of their stock. Season-long projects…
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Digital committee meetings face technical, time limitations
Our members of Parliament should be applauded for their efforts to practise democracy during these trying times. To ensure social…
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Expecting more from gov’t a mistake
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture really set the bar high with its recent $2.6 billion aid request. When a federal…
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BRMs need an overhaul, but patch it at least
Producers and governments must use all the tools available if they are going to fix the current breakdowns in Canadian…
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Agriculture requires more support
Overall, I have been impressed with the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has altered the lives of all…
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Livestock needs forecast to deal with bad weather
Storm clouds have gathered over Canada's livestock industry. And although federal and provincial governments can't change the weather, they can…
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Stories from our other publications
Grain farming is the forgotten sector
Grain farmers are concerned. The current federal government pays lip service and says that they have our back, but the simple truth is that they don’t walk the talk. These frustrations existed long before COVID-19 but now it’s even more challenging. The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association remains dedicated to the values of free trade, […] Read more
WP writers recognized for their work
Western Producer reporters don’t do what they do for the awards. Their motivation is based largely on a natural curiosity and a desire to provide western Canadian farmers with the information they need to successfully produce food and feed the world. However, everyone likes to be recognized for their achievements, and it’s no different for […] Read more
U.S. property owners may face tax bill
Has the thought ever crossed your mind to buy that beautiful property south of the border? Do you already own property in the United States? There are many factors that come into play when owning U.S. property. Specifically, the U.S. tax system has many different rules than Canada. One huge difference you must consider is […] Read more
CERB debate prompts reflection of ongoing labour issues
D.C. Fraser is Glacier Farm Media’s Ottawa correspondent. Reach out to him by emailing dfraser@farmmedia.com. The coronavirus pandemic is revealing a fundamental problem with our society — thousands of essential workers don’t make nearly enough money. The question is, how to fix it. It’s worth debating whether that responsibility should fall to private employers or […] Read more
COVID-19 fears diminish in many rural areas
I attended a farm auction sale recently and bought a couple hopper bottom bins and an old welder. It wasn’t large by farm auction standards, but it was still a significant gathering of people in this era of physical distancing. People were asked to come alone and only attend if they were interested in buying […] Read more
Letters to the editor – May 28, 2020
FCL acting badly in refinery dispute I was once a dedicated and loyal member of our local co-op — for 40 years our farm fuel and supplies were purchased there. But no more will I spend one penny there until they show some decency and respect for the oil and gas workers that they have […] Read more
Don’t expect too much, no matter what happens with Meng
Whatever happens Wednesday, China will not be a market we can count on again
Tomorrow (Wednesday) a B.C. Supreme Court judge will release the ruling on whether or not to uphold the validity of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou’s arrest and detention on a U.S. extradition request. A lot of people are hoping Meng gets released, goes back to China, that China calms down, the two Michaels are released and […] Read more
4-H members learn to do (differently) by doing
A young person’s 4-H livestock career is marked by the showing and often the selling of their stock. Season-long projects take a lot of heart, time and learning, all of it evaluated and measured at achievement day. This year, the usual culmination of 4-H livestock projects is missing due to pandemic restrictions and health risk […] Read more
Digital committee meetings face technical, time limitations
Our members of Parliament should be applauded for their efforts to practise democracy during these trying times. To ensure social distancing remains in place, MPs have taken to meeting online over video chats to conduct parliamentary committee meetings. So far, they have proven challenging but workable. Recent meetings of the standing committee on agriculture and […] Read more
