Before I get into my first column of 2023, I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year! I hope 2023 is a great year for all. That said, what a wild ride 2022 was. The high commodity prices and the promise of a new growing season after the 2021 drought had us all feeling […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Waves of optimism and bewilderment
Editor’s Column: November: a month for remembrances
As I sit down to write this column in late October, my thoughts turn to the month ahead. I usually enjoy November, as it is the time I plan the winter issues of Grainews. As you are winding down your busy production period, we’re beginning ours. It’s good to take a step back and reflect […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Winds of change
There is a lot happening at Grainews this fall. Change can feel uncomfortable, but it can also feel exhilarating. I am feeling both at the moment, but the balance is tipped toward the latter at the time of writing. There is exciting stuff happening at Grainews, new stuff. I imagine it’s a similar feeling to […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Les Henry has a message
I think we are very fortunate to have the columnists we do at Grainews. Each has a unique perspective and voice in the industry, is an expert in their field and provides information that directly or indirectly affects the profitability of your farms in an engaging and accessible way. If you’re not familiar with the […] Read more
Editor’s Column: We aren’t doing enough to stop child fatalities on the farm
Last month, I was happy to see BASF’s announcement of the second year of its Safety Scouts program. The purpose of the program is to support farm safety for children and their families by inviting kids to act as safety ambassadors on their family farms. This year, 2,000 Safety Scouts Kits will be available for […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Plant your seeds for growth
You, as Canadian farmers, have had a lot thrown at you over the past two-and-a-bit years. In fact, if I was to create a work of fiction set in rural Western Canada, with large, even far-fetched, hardships for my farm families to overcome, I could not have conjured up more outlandish obstacles than you have […] Read more
Editor’s Column: War, weather and wheat markets, Part 2
In my last column, I wrote about how world wheat markets are being affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Prairie weather outlook and planting conditions. In this column, written on April 6, I’d like to look at the overall wheat outlook. As I mentioned in my last column, generally, wheat prices have strengthened […] Read more
Editor’s Column: War, weather and wheat markets, Part 1
As I write this, it has been 28 days since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The invasion continues to take a terrible, direct toll on the people of Ukraine. Daily, the direction and events of the war change dramatically as Russia continues its attacks on Ukrainian citizens and infrastructure. Ukraine’s agriculture sector is […] Read more
Lean into strategic planning skills for 2022
In February, Farm Credit Canada released recommendations for farmers to navigate the challenges 2022 might present. According to FCC, this year is going to be a balancing act between growth, innovation and risk management, in which strategic planning will play a large role. “Canadian producers are encouraged to lean into their strategic planning skills this […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Before you head out on your ATV this spring, read this
Beginning March 13-19, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association kicks off Ag Safety Week. It’s a great time to review with your family your farm’s safety plans and farm safety in general. One document related to safety that came across my desk recently was statistics on ATV-related deaths in Canada — and the numbers are staggering. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
