In August we wrote in this space about the need for better water management. At that time, it was already dry in much of the Prairies, and getting drier by the day, but we didn’t pull the fire alarm. The editorial instead listed ways farmers were conserving water and additional ways they could do more. […] Read more
Tag Archives WP editorial — page 10
Canada’s agri-food sector needs a long-term vision
Many Canadians were shocked to learn during the pandemic that they couldn’t always get the food items they wanted at their grocery store. That was followed by the worst food price inflation in generations. A new report by the Canadian Agricultural Policy Institute shatters any illusion that those are isolated events. Rather, it highlights a […] Read more
Level playing field needed to harvest benefits for all
Public discussion can be noisy and rancorous but there are many things on which most people agree – the need for clean air and water, a healthy environment and the ability to get a reasonable return from a marketplace that offers a level playing field for all. Getting to that level playing field for international […] Read more
Connecting with Canadians is a more diverse task
The growing disconnect between farmers and non-farmers in Canada has been the topic of much discussion and no small amount of consternation in agricultural circles over the past decade or so. There’s been a plethora of initiatives launched to bridge that gap, including Ag in the Classroom, the Centre for Food Integrity, Farm & Food […] Read more
Support for livestock sector might need new approach
This year’s drought is hurting all producers in affected areas, but those in the livestock sector are taking the brunt of it. Grass is burning up in the heat while the price of feed continues to increase as drought reduces feedgrain supplies. In Alberta, the provincial government is urging producers to use available water-related programs, […] Read more
Celebrating a century of agricultural news
The Western Producer turns 100 this week, and we’re spilling a bit of ink in this issue to mark the occasion. The intention is to carry the commemoration throughout the next year, and to look ahead as well as behind. However, this issue is dedicated very much to looking at where we’ve come from and […] Read more
Waiting for a rainy day? We should be so lucky
Water management is not a new issue in farming country. Prairie farmers have been focused on either finding enough water or figuring out how to get rid of it ever since they began tilling the soil and running cattle on rangeland more than 100 years ago. It’s no different this year. Lack of water in […] Read more
Prairie farmers score a win in grain commission tussle
Recent Canadian Grain Commission plans to align primary and export wheat test weights had unforeseen consequences. The controversy managed to bring the National Farmers Union and the Wheat Growers Association onto the same page — in this case, a joint news release — which astounded many observers of prairie agricultural politics. It also laid into […] Read more
Bee import rules deserve reassessment by CFIA
Western Canadian agriculture faces significant challenges this summer, notably lack of rain in some regions and fallout from a port strike in British Columbia. But there’s another aggravation buzzing around the sector that has been an irritant for years. A bee in the ointment, so to speak, and one that could soon be offered some […] Read more
Europe may finally choose science over ideology
Europe has been tying the agricultural science community in knots for decades. Despite overwhelming evidence indicating the safety of genetic modification, the region continues to dig in its heels. Some European Union members have flirted over the years with approving the sale and/or cultivation of genetically modified crops, but the general message remains the same: […] Read more
