Blog

Just when I thought I knew it all, (or is it that I didn’t want to learn anymore) I spent a day at the Saskatchewan Beef and Forage Symposium in Saskatoon, this week, and got a bad case of information overload. I was only able to catch 13 of the 17 presentations during the day, […] Read more

We were in Lethbridge yesterday to help welcome the Olympic torch run to southern Alberta. We could have seen the flame and the torch bearers in any number of communities. It is actually in Calgary today for a three-day event before it heads west. We met friends – Adrian and Val Cooke, and son Elliott, […] Read more

The year is off to a better start already, compared to 2009.  Last year my CaseIH calendar didn’t arrive in the mail until sometime in April (that was for the 2009 calendar year) so it really was too late. I had already found a good calendar to put on the wall above my office phone. […] Read more

Two questions for producers to ponder. How important is the enhanced traceability of cattle through the production system, to producers? It could be coming along in 2011. And secondly, is it time for COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) in Canada? If you have any thoughts on these two topics, or any other, I would be […] Read more

Vegetable producers from P.E.I. farming about 150 acres, and a grain farming couple from Manitoba cropping about 13,000 acres were named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2009 at the national awards ceremony in Ottawa last night. Greg and Tania MacKenzie of Stratford P.E.I., who own MacKenzie Produce and Grant and Colleen Dyck of Niverville, MB […] Read more

An interesting point made this morning here in Ottawa, is that Canadian farmers need to be prepared to talk to the media. Don’t hide, don’t be evasive, don’t say anymore than you have to, but if you are faced by a reporter or a news camera looking for comment or reaction on an industry, environmental […] Read more

I  lied in one of my earlier blogs. I don’t have an effective, sure-fire, three-point solution for fixing the Canadian beef industry. But I am hoping some of the readers do and can send me their thoughts. The search for a solution follows a conversation I had a couple weeks ago with Gary Etherington, a […] Read more

I was going to write today with a short analysis of the problems facing the beef industry, followed by an effective three-point strategy for returning the cattle business to sound profitability, but that will have to wait. Today my mind is on tractor comfort. The following underscores the fact that I am getting older. This […] Read more

It has been a big socially connected week for me. I had about 20 birthday greetings from Facebook friends, I received an email from Prime Minister Harper, another from Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and an inspiring ‘Performance Matters’ video clip from Canterra Seeds (see website below).  I had Facebook birthday wishes from friends and family across […] Read more

Spots are still open for the November 2009 and May 2010 Canadian Beef School at Olds College, Olds, Alberta. It is a great learning experience for anyone involved in the Canadian beef industry – whether you are a producer, or feeder, or processor or involved in a related service industry, such as the animal health […] Read more