When farmers discuss input costs, it’s usually about equipment, repairs, fertilizer, diesel fuel and crop protection products. One huge cost, grain freight rates, is seldom discussed because producers pay indirectly. Freight costs used to appear as a deduction on cash grain tickets. These days, the elevator companies pay the huge cost of grain movement by […] Read more
Opinion
Look back at Aug. 17, 2023, issue
This column is part of a series that marks the Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. Flipping through the pages of the Aug. 17, 2023, issue of the Western Producer reminds us that last year was another dry one. Stories in that issue’s […] Read more
Tax change hurts farm succession
Pity the family farmer. Once a shining centrepiece of Canada’s economic growth, our farmers are little more than an afterthought in our urban-focused world. And the federal government, which once supported small farms through helpful policies, is landing a new and devastating blow through federal capital gains tax changes. The planned changes will make it […] Read more
Trump’s deportation plan would gut American ag labour force
Nearly 45 percent of all agricultural workers in the United States — 950,000 of an estimated 2.2 million farm workers — are “unauthorized” migrants working illegally on American farms and ranches. All would be deported under the plan former President Donald Trump has been trumpeting since before securing the Republican nomination for president last month. […] Read more
Talent, careers can thrive on Canadian Prairie farms
As we head into harvest season, farmers are again faced with the perennial problem of getting enough people to take off this year’s crop. Traditional solutions include recruiting recently retired farmers who like to jump on the combine, grain cart or truck for a few weeks of work, or younger people from the farm community […] Read more
Big crop dwindles amid heat and lack of rain
It’s a classic example of counting your chickens before they hatch. The hot weather in July and corresponding lack of rain has lowered yield expectations in many regions. In my area of southwestern Saskatchewan, crops have been going backward for many weeks. While not abundant, rainfall had been timely and crops looked pretty good until […] Read more
Look back at Aug. 5, 2021, issue
This column is part of a series that marks the Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. Another year, another drought, and the one three years ago was a doozy, as most of us still remember. The Aug. 5, 2021, issue was full of […] Read more
Grocer code of conduct has benefits
The recent announcement that American retail giants Walmart and Costco will be joining the Grocer Code of Conduct, alongside established Canadian players such as Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro, marks a critical step forward in the evolution of Canada’s grocery sector. This collective commitment by all major players is vital for the code’s effectiveness and represents […] Read more
East-west agricultural issues are more similar than different
I both farm and work out of southern Ontario, but these days I find myself spending more time in Western Canada. Most recently I was at Ag In Motion, the outdoor farm show near Langham, Sask., where it was great to see lush crops after several years of drought. There’s a lot made of the […] Read more
Prone to condone drones? Best proceed with caution
Drones are one of the more intriguing new technologies tickling producers’ fancies these days, right up there with driverless farm equipment. There are many potential on-farm applications, such as mapping fields and checking on cattle herds. However, the potential for spraying pesticides is drawing the most attention, and drone demonstrations at the recent Ag in […] Read more
