China is the largest fertilizer consumer in the world, consuming close to 50 million tonnes a year.

Comment: Fertilizers ride the coronavirus storm

Economies may struggle in the wake of COVID, but fertilizers remain essential and available

The domino effect of the coronavirus, as it has spread across the globe, has so far had a limited impact on the fertilizer industry. However, the full effects of the global pandemic are starting to show in some sectors owing to cash flow problems caused by decomposing crops, such as fruit and vegetables. China, having

The biggest challenge we have faced has been the lack of reliable internet connections outside of the school setting, due to inadequate rural internet services.

Comment: Pandemic shows value of local education oversight

Local input in the form of school boards can tailor solutions to the area

On Friday, May 29, the Winnipeg Free Press published a front-page article “‘Pandemic-proof pedagogical system’: Lessons as usual for Hutterite colonies.” During this time of suspended in-person classes due to the COVID pandemic, the article explained how across the province “an easy upload to distance learning has been all but impossible for teachers and students.”


Comment: No one ever loves the umpire

As a founder of the rules-based postwar consensus, the U.S. should be leading not pouting

While the coronavirus pandemic was hammering global trade earlier this year, the various bureaucracies devoted to trade barely skipped a beat before returning to their usual grind. For example, the U.S. and the United Kingdom (U.K.) just began talks on a bilateral trade pact prior to the U.K.’s Oct. 31 “Brexit” from the European Union

COVID-19 amplified two challenges restaurant operators were already facing before the pandemic.

Comment: Damnit Jim! Where’s the waiter?

Food-service establishments are poised to go ‘Star Trek’ in the wake of COVID

Canada’s first server-free restaurant opened its doors recently in Toronto. Box’d is a fully automated restaurant designed for life during a global pandemic. An interesting concept indeed, but it does raise the issue of the role humans can, and should play, in the food industry. Being aware of the new risks, we now need to


Going down: the true farm income picture

Going down: the true farm income picture

Farmers have seen their wealth creation scooped up by others for decades

Farm income up in 2019” was the front-page headline in the June 4 Co-operator. Though superficially true, a closer look at the numbers demonstrates the opposite, and reveals a troubling picture. How we measure and report farm income matters. Net cash income, the measure used in the June 4 story, omits depreciation — the value

The desire to “shop local” has moved into the mainstream.

Comment: Canadian food promotions shouldn’t be needed — but they are

Canadians enjoy a secure food system, but still have misgivings

Canadians are realizing in an unprecedented way the value of Canada’s food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Friends and family are regularly discussing where their food comes from, at least in my circles. The desire to “shop local” has moved out of urban ‘hipsterville’ and into the mainstream, as folks across the country realize the


As domestic demand for milk and some other dairy products drops, so will the number of farms and processing plants.

Comment: Dairy sector faces uncertain future

The dairy industry is slowly being trampled by a wave of consumers who see it as only one of many options

There’s been a lot of talk recently about meat alternatives but dairy alternatives are also becoming more popular. And when it comes to dairy in Canada, given our quotas and high tariffs, the stakes are significantly higher. Dairy alternatives can be seen everywhere from grocery stores to coffee shops. These products are no longer confined

Comment: U.S. soy exports to China at 16-year lows so far in 2020

Comment: U.S. soy exports to China at 16-year lows so far in 2020

With prices very competitive however, lofty total-year sales forecasts may still be attainable

Reuters – U.S. soybean exports had a dismal April performance and possibly an even worse showing in May as shipments to China remain historically low, but corn exports hit a one-year high in April and improved on those volumes last month. Soybean sales were relatively strong in May and that could continue since the U.S.


Laughter is no longer the best medicine

What’s old is periodically new on the well-worn ag policy treadmill

One reason — there were others — for my departure from farm magazine writing was laughter. Let me explain. In the early-1980s, the world, like now, was headed to hell in a hurry and agriculture was leading the parade. Interest rates were a crushing 14 per cent, farmland prices were on their way to plunging

The strength and resilience of Canadian agriculture and our food supply chain is a result of science and research.

Comment: Is science back in style?

There have been some unexpected impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of these is the new celebrity status of our chief medical health officers. A lot of people who just a few short months ago never even knew every province had a chief medical health officer are now hanging on to every word. Does this mean science and respected authority