Senator Rob Black says committee will seek more details on government’s response to Critical Ground in the new year
REGINA — The senator who led the Canadian soils study says farmers have to hold the government’s feet to the fire if they want the recommendations implemented. Rob Black told a recent Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan meeting that the Senate’s agriculture committee was “less than happy” with some of the government’s response, which offered […] Read moreTag Archives Rob Black

Senate soil study highlights need for research
In their Critical Ground report, senators call for the protection of soil and its designation as a national resource
Glacier FarmMedia – Under a blazing sun, Senator Rob Black shared insights from the recently released soil study entitled “Critical Ground.” “Soil is critical and essential to life; we must do all we can to preserve it,” Black stated. The senator spoke metres away from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s soil pit, which […] Read more
Critical Ground highlights the need for research during Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show
Report advocates for soil to be designated and protected as a national resource
Glacier FarmMedia – Under a blazing sun, Senator Rob Black shared insights from the recently released soil study “Critical Ground.” The senator spoke metres from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s soil pit, displaying the challenges and benefits of soil health during Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show on Sept. 11. Related stories: The Latest News […] Read more
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show kicks off 2024 event
Glacier FarmMedia — The 2024 edition of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) kicked off near Woodstock this morning, with a celebration of agriculture. Rob O’Connor, COFS show director, said the show’s dynamic nature is on display this year. Related stories: The Latest News and Stories from Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show “There’s nothing ‘always the same’ […] Read more

Senators Black, Robinson urge ministers to intervene in rail dispute
Glacier FarmMedia – Senators Rob Black and Mary Robinson have urged federal ministers to intervene to prevent a rail strike or lockout, according to a letter posted to social media this morning. “The agriculture sector has already endured numerous labour disruptions in recent years… It is imperative that we explore long-term solutions to reduce the […] Read more

Senate soil report supports valued asset
Quick, what one thing is essential to any farming operation? If you had to think for a minute to come up with soil, it’s understandable. Land, or more specifically soil, is much like water for a fish or air for land animals. We are oblivious to its presence until it is gone or degraded. This […] Read more

Senate urges soil strategy
The two-year study of Canada's soils is now complete and recognizes that while conservation efforts over recent decades have been tremendous there is still more to be done
UPDATED: Tuesday June 13, 2024 – 1500 CST – to include comments from government and industry officials. REGINA — Canada requires a long-term overarching soil conservation and protection strategy, a Senate committee says. The committee on agriculture and forestry released its report on the state of the nation’s soil last week after two years of […] Read more

Losing farmland to urban sprawl receives little attention
Every day, thousands of acres of farmland around the world are converted into urban sprawl as developers build low-density housing projects for people choosing to move out of too-expensive, decayed, highly-taxed, over-regulated and crime-ridden cities. Canada is particularly subject to this with cities like Toronto and Calgary spilling out across hundreds of thousands of acres […] Read more

Emissions focus worries ag sector
WINNIPEG — Forcing every federally supported agricultural research project to involve climate change mitigation threatens farmers’ vital interests, leading agriculture industry stakeholders say. “That lens is always ‘how is this going to help reduce emissions,’” noted CropLife Canada president Pierre Petelle in an interview during a farm meeting this winter. Other stories in this Special […] Read more

Farmers urged to make sure decision-makers hear them
Farmers need the best lobbyists to get up close and personal with the politicians, regulators, officials, presidents, vice-presidents and regional managers who affect their lives. The good thing is that they’re cheap. As discussed in a story on page 15 in this week’s paper, the head of CropLife Canada says that farmers are the best […] Read more