The home of Haggis

I am in Glasgow, Scotland tonight  (Monday) as I write this, but I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that Beatrix Potter raised Herdwick sheep? That is one bit of trivia I learned today was we took the tour bus through northern England and into Scotland. Potter who was the writer of children’s […] Read more

As the London Eye turns

In honor of the Canadian dairy industry we went to see a West London musical called “The Jersey Boys” on  Thursday and Friday in honor of purebred beef breeders everywhere we ate dinner at a restaurant called The Angus Steakhouse. It featured Black Aberdeen Angus beef. I am sure someone in Canada has shipped breeding […] Read more


Tally ho, from Grainews London correspondent

What do four old people, London, 6 p.m. and pizza have in common? That’s what happens when you have been up all night traveling to England from Canada – you fall asleep at 6 p.m. eating pizza in London.  Geez, salmon fishing at Campbell River, B.C. one day and a less than a week later […] Read more

As the tide turns

  I’m home from salmon fishing and the jinx of the one-day loosing streak was broken. As I discovered last Thursday the real skill in catching salmon is in reeling them in. Many are caught, but only about half actually make it into the boat. Slow and steady reeling and let ‘em run if they […] Read more


Field research is no fishing expedition

  Today in my relentless “going to the ends of the earth” search for knowledge on how to grow better crops and improve beef production profitability, I am in Campbell River, B.C. salmon fishing. I think I was fishing, although at times Wednesday morning it was much more like doing research on how other  people […] Read more

Green machinery and beer

This week, John Deere invited members of the ag media to Indianapolis, Indiana, to see the official unveiling of its new 2012 product line up. The event was part of the company’s dealer convention and new product training. Just like AGCO’s Kansas City launch two weeks prior, farm writers had a chance to not only […] Read more


As the ballot box closes on the CWB referendum

Here are a couple interesting columns from totally different observers on the actions and role of the Canadian Wheat Board, as the wheat marketing monopoly era comes to an end. Wednesday August 24 was the final day for getting ballots on the CWB referendum on the monopoly in the mail.  Many people will know Brenda […] Read more

Layton was a likeable politician, good character

  Whether you agreed with his politics or not, you have to give Jack Layton credit for the character and courage he showed in the final days of his life. It was just under a month ago, he mustered his strength and hobbled into a news conference — a frail looking figure — to announce […] Read more


Update on and more Amazing Road Trip photos

So I have had a couple suggestions on this mystery photo I took of a canola field in the Westlock area last week. The crop looked nice and uniform except for these flowered strips and I did see a couple other fields with similar patterns. I thought it might be something to do with compaction, […] Read more

AGCO’s Kansas City stars

This week (starting on the 8th) AGCO is holding its North American dealer convention in Kansas City, Missouri. I was one of the members of the farm media invited to attend the opening ceremony and product introduction portion. That gala evening made the event seem more like a night at the Oscars than a farm […] Read more