Field day attendees check out soil health gains at the Robins farm in western Manitoba in 2019.

Soil: the great unifier

Senate soil report highlights shifting focus on core issues

Senate report, "Critical Ground: why soil is essential to Canada's economic, environmental, human and social health," marks a pivotal shift in how we value soil and soil health.


A large pothole down the centre of a lane on PTH 244 north of Manitou, Man.

Editorial: The bill’s coming for bad roads

It’s been a good spring for bad road stories. To be fair, it’s prime time for it — the season of frost boils, weight restrictions and ruts from vehicles and machinery on gravel roads that are still firming up. Even by the standards of spring, though, it feels like it’s been hard to drive any


Editorial: Grain business consolidation and concentration

Editorial: Grain business consolidation and concentration

Press releases are often notable because of what they don’t say. Then again, sometimes they unintentionally speak volumes. For example, consider the official statements coming from the Glencore team related to their role in the continuing consolidation and concentration of the grain handling business in Canada.  In 2012, when Glencore announced it was acquiring Viterra,

A farmer might not think this is an important issue, but if processors, retailers and consumers do, that farmer will have to meet the standard, regardless of their own feelings.

Editor’s Take: Accounting for change

A life of spreadsheets might not be for everyone, but accountancy is important work. It’s how we measure success, track expenses, and how we hold people and organizations accountable. A new report from one of Canada’s major accounting firms, Deloitte Canada, proposes a different application for accounting principles, one that farmers may not be accustomed




Failing to protect biodiversity, prevent deterioration in water quality and such like will likely come back to bite us politically.

(Guest) Editorial: Time to farm with nature

I’m increasingly convinced that legislation to protect nature on farmland from ourselves is a necessity. Aside from the environment, there are practical political and economic reasons to support hypothetical restrictions on the removal of woodlots, fencerows, tallgrass prairie and the like. And if we are proactive, there is opportunity to lobby for frameworks that support