The poll of 858 producers, from coast to coast, determined that farmers rank climate change as their No. 1 concern. Farmers for Climate Solutions hired Leger, a market research firm, to conduct the survey. | Screencap via farmersforclimatesolutions.ca

Climate change worries Canadian farmers: poll

WINNIPEG — A poll released Dec. 11 suggests that Canadian farmers worry more about the impacts of climate change than they do about input costs and market prices for canola, corn, wheat and cattle. The poll of 858 producers from coast to coast determined that farmers rank climate change as their No. 1 concern. “When […] Read more

Corteva’s next round of soybean product launches will be enhancements on products that are already available. | File photo

Varieties adapted for a changing environment

Glacier FarmMedia – Climate change has had a huge impact on farm operations in Western Canada for some time. Those shifting temperatures and weather patterns are also playing a key role in how future varieties are being developed. Glacier FarmMedia recently spoke with several prominent seed companies about new soybean varieties they have in the […] Read more

Canada’s farmers are in a good position to respond to new expectation around preserving wetlands, grasslands, soils and natural systems, says a strategist.  | File photo

Index calculates wetlands value for agriculture

The main outcome from COP29 was loose commitments to spend more on mitigating the effects of climate change

WINNIPEG — Food and agriculture were the main themes at the 2023 edition of the United Nations climate change conference, the Conference of the Parties. COP28 in Dubai was dubbed the Food COP because of that focus on agriculture. Other organizations said food was finally on the table in climate discussions. Food production was also […] Read more


The idea that producing more queen bees and nucleus colonies in Canada will reduce the number of planes in the air is far-fetched. | File photo

Do queen bees cause climate change?

Like most Canadians, I’m familiar with the fable of the boy who cried wolf. As everyone knows, shouting “wolf” at every opportunity didn’t end well for that boy. Something similar could be happening in the world of agricultural research. News releases about research projects in Canada often include a sentence or paragraph about how the […] Read more

An aboiteau, or one-way sluice, holds back salt water from the Bay of Fundy, keeping it off farmland and away from communities.  |  Karen Briere photo

Old water management concept continues to work

Nova Scotia producers who farm near the Bay of Fundy still use a dike system that was initially built 400 years ago


MASSTOWN, N.S. — Agricultural water management in Nova Scotia relies on a centuries-old method of keeping salt water at bay. The province’s dikeland system was established about 400 years ago and is still in use on tidal rivers in the Bay of Fundy area. It protects about 45,000 acres of farmland, as well as critical […] Read more


Mars was just one of many agriculture, food and ingredient companies that had vice-presidents and executives at the Reuters Transform Food & Agriculture conference, held Oct. 7-9 in Minneapolis. Representatives of Cargill, Bunge, Bayer, Nutrien, McCain Foods and General Mills all spoke at the event. | Screencap via mars.com

Sustainability has a problem

MINNEAPOLIS — Mars has a problem. Not the red planet, but the company. It’s one of the largest human and pet food companies in the world, posting $50 billion in revenue last year. Related stories in this issue: Global sales have been increasing, and this year the privately held company acquired the Kellogg’s line of […] Read more

The Canada Water Agency (CWA) will be headquartered in Winnipeg. The agency will work to advance Canada's Freshwater Action Plan, which, according to Environment Canada's website, was funded in the 2017 federal budget. This includes improving freshwater management through efforts to improved the water quality of Lake Winnipeg and other waterways throughout Canada. | Getty Images

New Canada Water Agency to tackle water pollution and protect natural resources

Glacier FarmMedia – The newly-launched Canada Water Agency will protect the country’s water from pollution and damaging effects of industrial and agricultural activities, Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said today. “Fresh water has been facing challenges – challenges that are intensifying in large part due to climate change,” Guilbeault said at The Forks, where he […] Read more

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, included nearly $20 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the farm sector. | File photo

U.S. gov’t may fund green ranching

REUTERS — American farmers who raise livestock in large industrial operations could get funding from President Joe Biden’s signature climate law to transition to more environmentally friendly practices under bills introduced in the House and Senate Sept. 25. Agriculture accounts for about 10 per cent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from livestock production and […] Read more


Cultivating Effective Climate Governance: A Guide for Small Farm Corporations in Canada is tailored for farms smaller than 12,000 acres. | Screencap via ccli.ubc.ca

Climate risk guide released

The Canada Climate Law Initiative has published a new guide for small farm corporations that explains how to develop effective climate governance. Called Cultivating Effective Climate Governance: A Guide for Small Farm Corporations in Canada, the guide is tailored for farms smaller than 12,000 acres. It is designed to equip the boards of directors of […] Read more

The author writes that some innovations in agriculture have been rapidly adopted, such as genetically modified canola, but others, such as the use of soil testing or nutrient placement strategies, remain only partially adopted despite lengthy availability.  |  File photo

Innovation adoption lags in farming

Every innovative product of technology that is commercialized eventually reaches what is known as “full adoption.” This is the point at which the peak percentage of society has adopted an innovation. Some innovations reach the point of full adoption more rapidly than others or have higher full adoption rates. The adoption rate of seatbelts in […] Read more