A new report on the competitiveness of the Alberta beef cattle industry contains few surprises, but it outlines significant challenges the industry faces if it is to remain healthy. The report says the Alberta beef cattle industry has been “generally competitive over the past decade” with three comparative cattle-producing states in the United States — […] Read more
Opinion
Must Reads
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Wise call to delay new livestock transport rules
The federal Ministry of Agriculture’s decision to soften the introductory period for new livestock transportation rules by allowing a two-year…
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Young farmers face financing issues
I am 34 years old with a diploma in civil engineering. I started my farm near Edmonton when I was…
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Year’s top 10 online stories
We regularly look at the top-read stories on producer.com. The following are the top 10 stories of the year. 10.…
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Vacation properties promise sun, sand — and tax considerations
Everyone needs a vacation, especially in this winter climate. Whether it’s a cabin, a condo or an additional house, vacation…
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Government support for farmers seldom simple
Increase AgriStability support to 85 from 70 percent of the reference margin and compensate producers for the carbon tax expense…
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Bibeau buys time; BRM not a priority
The federal government is buying time when it comes to making drastic improvements to AgriStability and other business risk management…
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Stories from our other publications
Latest trust-in-food data is unsettling
I’ve spent my entire life involved in the food system. My upbringing, education, career path and even marriage to a ranch girl have all involved agriculture. My experiences have allowed me to see many different sides of food and farming, but this perspective isn’t shared by the vast majority of Canadians. The Canadian Centre for […] Read more
Is the future in steel weed management?
I love a good farm show. Heck, I’d love a bad farm show, but I can’t say I’ve ever been to one. My enthusiasm for farm shows began when I was a kid growing up on the farm. It was always a good day to miss a little school and go learn more about something […] Read more
Increasing happiness quotient more important than ever
For a great many farms, 2019 won’t actually fade into the rear-view mirror until the harvest is finished in spring. That’s definitely not how the plans were originally drawn up. People will likely be getting tired of talking about 2019 and how difficult it was. Having said that, I’ve observed that quite a hangover remains […] Read more
It is hard to make money with average yields
Average crops just don’t pay the bills, particularly if you apply inputs aiming to achieve above average yields. That’s evident in the new Crop Planning Guide 2020 from Saskatchewan Agriculture, which has a two-pronged approach to yields this year. Its targeted crop yields represent the top 20 percent of five-year average yields for each crop […] Read more
Bibeau’s info-gathering stall leads to missed opportunities
Federal politicians will return to Ottawa Jan. 27 to get back to parliamentary business, but by then Canada’s agriculture minister will have already had some time to emphasize the importance of her file and priorities to colleagues. However, these will largely be missed opportunities for Marie-Claude Bibeau. In a blatantly apparent attempt to subdue concerns […] Read more
Letters to the editor – January 23, 2020
Not all climate-change advocates are extremists Re: Smith warns of pressure by environmentalists (WP, Jan. 9). It is ironic that radio talk show host (and former Wildrose Party leader) Danielle Smith warns of “extremist” propaganda while appearing to use the same type of propaganda, classing all environmentalists in one extreme category. Not everyone concerned about […] Read more
It is too soon to write off glyphosate access just yet
Is there an inexorable drive to ban glyphosate? Is it inevitable? There is certainly a drive by some opponents to eliminate the world’s most commonly used herbicide, but whether it’s unstoppable is to be determined. Weed scientist Hugh Beckie, formerly of Agriculture Canada and now director of Australia’s herbicide resistance initiative at the University of […] Read more
Fearless predictions for the decade ahead
While 20/20 may be considered good eyesight, having the calendar turn over to 2020 doesn’t improve the vision for future gazing. Despite that, here are some predictions for agriculture in the decade ahead. Warning: some of these may make your blood boil. They aren’t necessarily what I want to see happen; they are what I […] Read more
The jury is still out on trade deal with EU
The European Union’s move toward a hazard-based approach for pesticide approvals has put billions of dollars worth of Canadian crop exports at risk. A hazard-based approach regulates substances based on their intrinsic properties without accounting for the exposure to the substance, while a risk-based approach factors in exposure. Canada’s Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau met May […] Read more
