Two worrying trends haunt modern agriculture. First, farmers’ average age is rising and they are fewer in number. At the same time, the industry is competing with a wide variety of career options available to today’s young people, and it doesn’t always win the race. Many groups try to ensure agriculture remains in good hands, […] Read more
Opinion
VIDEO: Pulse, special crops conference dodges roadblocks
It hasn’t officially started, but the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association annual conference has already survived more drama than most commodity industries have seen in ages. Just last week it looked likely that the conference would either be crippled or its attendees stranded by a labour breakdown at Air Canada, but just a […] Read more
Letters to the editor – September 19, 2024
Proper glyphosate use fixes resistance I write regarding the article on page 5 of the Aug. 29 issue of the Western Producer looking for alternatives to glyphosate. As a farm contractor in England, I was familiar with the Roundup brand name from its inception in the early 1970s. It came about as an alternative to […] Read more
Programs available to help producers mitigate farm risk
Being a farmer isn’t for the faint of heart. The different daily risks can be overwhelming, from market fluctuations, political uncertainties and changing consumer preferences to the all-consuming weather. Many farming practices such as crop rotations, herd health practices, crop insurance and forward contracts have been implemented to mitigate risks. As part of the core […] Read more
Corporate merger approvals need new approach
Will Canada approve, deny or put conditions on Bunge’s proposed takeover of Viterra? We don’t know yet, but on Aug. 1, the European Commission approved Bunge’s acquisition of Viterra on the condition it sells Viterra’s oilseed businesses in Hungary and Poland, along with logistical assets linked to these operations. “These commitments fully address the competition […] Read more
Higher yields offset by lower crop prices this year
You’d think higher yields would mean higher returns per acre. Unfortunately, data for Saskatchewan shows the benefit of this year’s higher crop yields is often negated by lower prices. Using Statistics Canada estimated yields and comparing them to the estimated yields from one year ago, all crops are showing a significant increase. It should be […] Read more
Old elevators continue to cast their spell
Regular readers of this column will know that I have spent the last year writing about old editions of the Western Producer as part of this paper’s year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary. Starting with the Aug. 27, 1923, issue, I jumped ahead every two years for the next 50 weeks until I reached the […] Read more
Farming needs new land tenure options
Farm succession is partially motivated by a love of family and land in both generations. Despite tensions between generations and varying expectations, succession works well in some cases. Today, many farms are aggregated parcels of land with equipment, infrastructure and perhaps quota, often incorporated, even if they are family run, and may not include the […] Read more
Climate change a political hot potato on both sides of border
Lately, it’s been nearly impossible to watch, read or listen to the news without politics being in the headlines. At the forefront is the upcoming presidential election in the United States and the race between current U.S. vice-president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump. It’s interesting fodder at times, but as I write this […] Read more
China threat on canola unpalatable, not surprising
The most concerning aspect of Canadian farmers caught in a trade dispute between China and Ottawa is the lack of surprise. The federal government knew China was likely to target Canadian canola exports before it placed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25 per cent surtax on imports of steel and […] Read more
