Rural revitalization in this part of east-central Alberta takes a village — and a community, a school and a group effort
MEDICINE HAT — Along the rolling Neutral Hills of east-central Alberta near the Saskatchewan border, a group of communities are bucking the trend of declining rural towns. Kirriemuir, Altario and Compeer, collectively known as KAC, and the nearby communities of Consort and Veteran, are pushing back against pressures that see populations shrink in many hamlets, […] Read moreWP100 Research
Prairies expected to be cooler, wetter this year
There’s a good chance western Canadian farmers and ranchers will see rain in April and May to get crops started and grass growing, says a U.S. based weather scientist. It is only a forecast, says Matt Makens with Makens Weather based in Colorado, but the El Nino weather pattern is fizzling out and the La […] Read more
Ag must fight misinformation, says consultant
Producers are warned to take action as environmental activists appear intent on shutting down the meat and dairy industries
Canadian ranchers and farmers are being urged to get vocal and active — in a peaceful way — to let government and industry organizations know their views on plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions and on upcoming standards for measuring farm sustainability. Tammy Nemeth was born near Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask., and is now an energy and […] Read more
Climate change plan needs ‘proportion and perspective’
Glacier FarmMedia – The ag industry has a chance to get a hand on the reins of climate change discussions. That was the takeaway from a panel discussion at the 2024 Canadian Crops Convention in Winnipeg March 6. Kristjan Hebert was the farmer voice on the panel. He is president and chief executive officer of […] Read more
Conservation efforts take to the air
Glacier FarmMedia – Back in 2007, I was fishing at my favourite wild rice lake in the Whiteshell when I spotted some big, white birds in the distance. I didn’t think much of it at first; I assumed they were pelicans. As I got closer, it became obvious that the size and shape were wrong. […] Read more
Corporate Canada moves ahead on sustainability
Companies such as McCain and McDonald’s aren’t waiting for consumers to catch up as they develop a new food system
OTTAWA — The public might not be there yet, but some major buyers of farmers’ products are beginning to develop a “sustainable” food system. “Consumers, they don’t get it. They don’t. They will, eventually, but we’re not going to wait,” Matt Kohler, McCain Foods Canada’s managing director, said at the Future of Food conference. “Our assumption […] Read more
John Deere reaches for fully autonomous fleet by 2030
Company targets autonomous operations for every job required to grow a corn or soy crop, from tillage to harvest
As John Deere unveiled its 2025 model year product line in late February, it brought the company one year closer to a significant date: 2030. That is when the brand has promised to offer a complete fleet of autonomous equipment, able to handle a full farming season from seeding to harvest with self-driving machines. “The […] Read more
New wheat cluster funding to boost research
The federal government and a variety of commodity groups recently announced more than $20 million in funding
Glacier FarmMedia – Future Canadian wheat research will be supported by more than $20 million, following back-to-back commitments from the federal government and wheat farm groups. On March 6, Agriculture Canada announced $11.2 million for the Canadian National Wheat Cluster via the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Similar investments have been announced for the canola, pork […] Read more
Ag jobs — what ag jobs?
WINNIPEG — There are plenty of job titles in agriculture, including agronomist, soil scientist, livestock truck driver, veterinarian, lab technician, swine technician, grain merchant, seed sales rep and of course, agricultural journalist. There are dozens more job titles, probably hundreds. However, a survey last year of more than 2,000 Canadians who are not connected to […] Read more
Farmers urged to make friends in the suburbs
A pollster says suburban voters hold significant sway in federal elections and could advance producer interests if they knew what they were
OTTAWA — Farmers should build alliances with suburban voters if they want stronger political representation in the House of Commons, says a leading pollster. Darrell Bricker, global chief executive officer of Ipsos Public Affairs, told delegates to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting that suburban voters hold the greatest voting power. “They decide every […] Read more
