Once in a while I try to respond to the proverbial “mailbag” to acknowledge comments, updates and sometimes criticisms of my wide-ranging observations. So here are a few thoughts that readers shared, in no particular order: Clubroot reminder I had to tone this down a bit, but after a few articles I wrote on risk […] Read more
You never know what readers are thinking
Despite mention of canola, cheese, carrots and fish this is not a recipe
My knowledge as of the Ides of March
The amount that I have learned since my last blog is scary. The real scary thing I learned – my editor said if I don’t write more timely blogs they may be looking for a new writer. (The ancient Romans seemed to have been acting on a similar impulse on this day in 44 B.C. […] Read more
Celebrating Agriculture Day with food
The important things you can learn at a free industry luncheon celebration
Well that was a party and a half. There I was on Canada’s Agriculture Day in mid-February at a Calgary luncheon table with Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Pulse Growers and Alberta Dairy Producers. Talk about shoving, pushing, name calling and aggression. It wasn’t over any philosophy of who had the best source of food protein… […] Read more
Elmer unveils its biggest grain cart yet
Elmer’s Manufacturing’s newest cart has a profile with greater capacity and sophisticated technology
[UPDATED: Mar. 15, 2019] With 40 years of experience in the farm equipment manufacturing business, Elmer’s Manufacturing of south-central Manitoba has unveiled its largest and improved grain cart, available for the 2019 harvest season. With a nearby diesel tractor running, the front-end loader was raised to draw back the large white tarp to unveil a […] Read more
Some seed may be in short supply
Last fall’s ‘winter’ took a heavy toll on seed quality for 2019
Seed people are saying the 2018 harvest season was one of the toughest in decades on seed quality across parts of Western Canada. If you do have seed make sure it’s germination tested before seeding, and if you haven’t lined up certified seed you might be disappointed — certain crop types and varieties may not […] Read more
I’m not quite ready for blockchain deals
On-line banking is pretty digital — money comes in, money goes out, I never see it
The next time I am buying an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia or even just dabbling in selling a half million tonnes of wheat to China I am definitely doing it through a blockchain. I’m not trusting the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce with this level of business. Why blockchain, you ask? Well for us […] Read more
The evolving role of women in agriculture
Tamara Carter believes women need confidence as well as encouragement
Tamara Carter urges farmwomen to be true to themselves. Know your strengths and then have the patience and persistence to pursue your goals. Have the confidence to sometimes step outside of your comfort zone and go for it. Those are some of the qualities Carter applied herself over a 25-year career of learning the agriculture […] Read more
Travel the world for a great cheese
In search of a great Gouda or a robust Raclette?
If you have trouble reaching me in mid-October I will probably be at the World Cheese Awards competition in Bergamo, the Lombardy Region of Italy. I like cheese, so I thought I would head to the World Cheese Awards. It is a big deal. I buy orange cheddar cheese from my local grocery store, but […] Read more
Clubroot is here. Deal with it
Use best practices and management to keep it low and localized
Be proactive against clubroot in canola. It is not a matter of it might be coming, it is already here. If it hasn’t affected your county or your farm yet, the question isn’t about if it will appear, but really about when. That’s the message Alberta farmers were hearing late last year, as part of […] Read more
Allison Ammeter morphs into changing roles
Women in agriculture: At home, in the farm and in the boardroom, women are playing many roles
Allison Ammeter may not have a Class 1 driver’s licence, but put her in front of microphone and she can comfortably cover a lot of ground. The central Alberta farmer says at one time she was dogged by the notion “to be a real farmer you needed a Class 1 drivers licence” and be able […] Read more