Milton Friedman, the patron saint of free markets and a founder of the Nobel-adorned Chicago school of economics, took a very dim view of all tariffs — ours, theirs, anyone’s. Writing in Capitalism and Freedom, his 1962 best seller, Friedman explained that if “unilateral free trade” is the goal, “reciprocal negotiations of tariff reductions … […] Read more
Opinion
Politics of global trade now getting weaponized
We once took for granted the easy movement of goods and services around the world. Global trade flourished and just-in-time inventory management was the norm — until, that is, the spring of 2020, when everything changed. The COVID-19 pandemic brought new additions to our vocabulary, such as “social distancing,” “remote working” and “Zoom.” “Supply chain” […] Read more
Peer power and professional precision can lead to success
In the dynamic and fast-changing world of agricultural production, successful farm management increasingly relies upon a combination of traditional wisdom and innovative strategies to improve business results and viability. Across the industry, farm management consultants are providing expert advice to farms on optimizing operations and financial and resource management. They’re helping to improve efficiency, profitability […] Read more
Letters to the editor – August 22, 2024
Predator control good policy I find it interesting to read Lorne Fitch’s opinions on wildlife conflict on page 11 of the Aug. 1 issue. A few years ago in British Columbia, we had a situation where government biologists told us the caribou herds were being depleted. They blamed the resource industries for causing the problem. […] Read more
Rail disruption will tighten producers’ cash flow
Labour disruptions have threatened grain movement many times in the past. The difference this time is that a speedy resolution seems unlikely. With the cloud being cast over fall grain deliveries, producers will want to assess their cash flow needs. Rail movement was already slowing as the Aug. 22 strike/lockout deadline approached. Some grain buyers […] Read more
WP’s history remains accessible
Has it been a year already? Last August, the Western Producer began a year-long celebration marking our 100th anniversary. This included a variety of initiatives and events throughout the year, and our writers enthusiastically participated in the festivities. We featured many articles and columns looking back at our history as well as the history of […] Read more
Stretchflation latest grocery bill bite
We are all familiar with “shrinkflation,” in which the quantity of a product decreases while the price remains the same, and “shelflation,” in which a product’s shelf life is compromised due to supply chain issues. These phenomena, which have been around for decades, contribute to the rising cost of groceries. However, a new trend called […] Read more
Rain makes lower grain prices: it’s a tried and true formula
Rain makes grain, and two mid-August U.S. Department of Agriculture reports offered this year’s first in-the-field look at how much corn, soybeans and wheat, as well as sugar and cotton, that American farmers will grow in this wet, grain-making year. On Aug. 12, USDA estimated that the 2024 U.S. corn crop would total 15.1 billion […] Read more
Consensus proves possible in climate change debate
We live in an increasingly polarized world. A glaring example is what’s currently happening in the United States, but it’s certainly not the only one. Here at home, rigid battle lines have been drawn over a variety of fronts, from the COVID-19 pandemic to First Nations reconciliation. Even the country’s housing affordability crisis has fallen […] Read more
Home office expenses an important tax consideration
It is never too early to start preparing for next year’s tax season. One question that should always be asked is, “how can I pay less tax?” It is important to consider what deductions can be claimed against farming income on a tax return. One of the deductions that should always be considered is a […] Read more
