Readers who have made it this far into this week’s issue of the Western Producer will have already noticed that many stories are linked to the theme of sustainability and regenerative agriculture. It’s a thorny issue for many farmers these days, as seen in the recent decision by six major agricultural commodity groups to stop […] Read more
Opinion
Practical solutions required for sustainability
We need practical solutions in the quest for more sustainable crop production systems. Many of the methods being promoted aren’t a good fit for Western Canada. Cover crops are a prime example. This typically involves establishing another crop after harvest to keep roots growing in the soil until freeze-up. If you’re a potato farmer in […] Read more
ESG standards will impact producers
The impact of farming practices extends beyond harvest. Each year’s decisions can shape outcomes for generations to come. Increasingly, sustainability is a hot topic and not just for the agri-food sector. Large corporations are now required to report on the sustainability of processes used to generate their products. The reporting requirements are referred to as […] Read more
The Year in Rearview
Cartoonist Craig George shares his colourful take on sustainability in agriculture.
Compensation can be complex for incorporated farmers
While a corporation can introduce benefits into a business owner’s life — hello lower corporate tax rates and liability protection — it also introduces additional complexities. There is one complexity in particular that each corporate owner must deal with annually — how are they going to get paid? There are three options: salary, dividends or […] Read more
Approach miracle product pitches with caution
It seems everywhere you turn, some miracle product is going to cure whatever ails your soil and crops. It’s more difficult than ever to know what works and what isn’t worth the money. Got salinity? Miracle products can now return that land to productivity. At least, those are the claims, even though the official agronomic […] Read more
Food’s origins can sometimes be a mystery
Discussions about public perceptions toward agriculture often include worries that many consumers no longer know where their food comes from. Stories abound of urban kids being asked where milk comes from and replying, “the store.” I remember a former Western Producer staff member who didn’t want to think too deeply about how meat ended up […] Read more
Smear campaign targets carbon tax
This is how it works. A petroleum industry marketing organization releases a story about how much the carbon tax is costing municipalities in Alberta. It points out that the carbon tax has cost those municipalities $37 million. To the average person, $37 million is an incredible amount. To reinforce this point, the writer suggests that […] Read more
Loose cannon on board means battening down the hatches
Glacier FarmMedia – The French poet, novelist and playwright Victor Hugo is the first person known to use the term “loose cannon” in print. He was referring to an actual loose cannon that, improperly lashed down, rolled out of control, damaged the ship, and prevented his protagonist, the Marquis de Lantenac, from landing ashore in […] Read more
Gratitude always in season; Christmas time and beyond
As we roll into the final stretch of 2024, it’s time to reminisce, read a few best-of-the-year lists and either avoid or seek eggnog. This year, Prairie farmers are likely grateful that their grain handling systems and haying equipment were busy after some very dry and hard years. Crop prices are down, but the drought […] Read more
