Fighting the renewable fuel devil

I don’t believe I have seen any studies yet challenging the value of motherhood, but I am sure one is underway somewhere. In that vane, it was interesting to read this week that scientists are working to develop a more mechanical means to produce ethanol, which could replace the nasty practice of producing biofuels from […] Read more

In search of Nutsedge and long lost bridesmaids

It has been another exciting week here at the Grainews foreign office in Calgary. First, I received a news release about a new-to-Canada herbicide that will end all your worries over purple and yellow nutsedge. I thought, “this is great news, except I have never heard of purple and yellow nutsedge…I obviously have been in […] Read more


Thoughts on grain transportation and ranchers

Since this blog thing has healed, I have no excuse now not to get into gear with some profound insights. I like avoiding big issues like grain transportation. They are too complex. Lisa Guenther did a great report in the March 4 issue of Grainews. Farmers couldn’t move grain this winter. So what were the […] Read more



Seeing agriculture from a different perspective

While I was at Agritechnica in Hanover Germany last November, I had a chance to talk shop with a few farmers from other parts of the world. It was a great opportunity to find out what matters to them and how they see agriculture’s future. Speaking with Ralf Küsel, a mixed farmer from South Africa, […] Read more

AGCO further improves parts distribution

In early February, members of AGCO’s senior North American management team made the trip to Woodstock, Ontario, for yet another of that company’s ribbon cutting ceremonies. And there have been quite a few in the past couple of years, as the brand makes some concrete moves toward improving its manufacturing and parts distribution infrastructure. The […] Read more


Brand it

  It hasn’t been that long since Canadians were busy unwrapping Christmas presents under trees. And it’s a safe bet that prairie farm kids received their share of scale model farm toys and clothing branded with their—or Dad’s—favourite machinery name. Those toys, caps, T-shirts and the like actually generate a substantial amount of revenue for […] Read more

The haves and the have nots

I was talking with Eric Boulton, 85, and his daughter Alexa Emerson recently about their beef operation on Gabriola Island just off the east coast of Vancouver Island (near Nanaimo). With an 85 head cowherd, they raise mostly Limousin calves for a local fresh meat market. Most of the market heifers, finished on their Somerset […] Read more


No quick fix for antibiotic resistance issue

I like wading in on complex, scientific topics like antibiotic resistance blamed on the use of too many antibiotics in the livestock industry, because then I can clear things up for the average, lay reader. So on this subject I can say that I completely agree — yes antibiotics are used in the livestock industry. […] Read more

New F 150 is no lightweight

“When you spend nearly four decades at the top of the pickup truck market, you learn some things,” is the leadoff line on Ford’s release to the media introducing the 2015 F150. What Ford seems to have learned best is how to keep ahead of the competition when it comes to truck sales numbers. The […] Read more