Pasture south of Medicine Hat shows little snow cover to rejuvenate water levels as of December 2023 following another drought year in Alberta. PHOTO: ALEX MCCUAIG

Wider conversation needed on climate causes

PERSPECTIVE | Agriculture has a role to play, but so does society at large

It’s tough being a farmer today and it is easy to be fixed on sky watching, that proverbial hope of rain or snow and even perhaps a wee bit of wind. Even as the farmer watches, there are political and social expectations that we, the keepers of the land, do something to change the course

Supported by social media, millennials have challenged the food industry, advocating for clean labelling, better sourcing of ingredients and healthier options.

Opinion: The times, they are a-changin’

Canada is undergoing a generational change, and that’s shifting consumer food choice

Millennials now outnumber boomers in our country, says Statistics Canada. As of July 1, 2023, the millennial population (born in 1981-1996), has surpassed baby boomers (born in 1946-1965) for the first time. Likewise, generation Z (born in 1997-2012) has surpassed generation X (born in 1966-1980) to become Canada’s third-largest generation and is projected to become


Opinion: WTO slides into a vacuum, EU slides into nationalism

Opinion: WTO slides into a vacuum, EU slides into nationalism

While farmers are protesting, the WTO continues to twiddle its thumbs

On March 2, the 13th World Trade Organization ministerial ended the same way most previous ministerial gatherings have. Member ministers discussed the burning need to change two key international trade rules (on ag trade and overfishing), and then everyone went home without changing any key international trade rules. This time around, the actionless talkfest carried

Opinion: Why Bill C-282 is an awful idea

Opinion: Why Bill C-282 is an awful idea

Bill would hold nation’s economic future hostage for one small group’s benefit

At the end of February, Bill C-282 sat in the Canadian Senate on the precipice of becoming law. It seeks to bestow immunity upon supply management from concessions in any potential future trade negotiations. In essence, it risks holding all other economic sectors hostage solely to safeguard the interests of a small, privileged group of


Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew addresses attendees at Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon on Jan. 16, 2024.

Opinion: Kinew finds inner Pallister

Manitoba NDP premier Wab Kinew apparently isn’t afraid to borrow ideas, even from Brian Pallister, his one-time foe, former premier and once leader of the Progressive Conservatives. Kinew argues that Manitoba deserves a better deal on the federal government’s carbon pricing scheme, based on how much Manitobans have invested in hydroelectric power. That investment, in

Opinion: It’s OK to be apprehensive about AI

Glacier FarmMedia – I’ve watched with interest in the last few years what’s considered ‘hot’ in the eyes of ag investors – and how quickly that interest fades and moves on to next trend. One exception has been precision agriculture technologies. They remain a popular investment choice, and for good reason. But the alternative protein


New year, new deal in the U.S.?

New year, new deal in the U.S.?

Opinion: The U.S. budget and Farm Bill led to plenty of eyeroll-worthy moves in 2023

The pain I felt late Sunday, Jan. 7, was hard to pinpoint until I realized exactly when it had struck: just moments after hearing news of a tentative, 2024 budget deal between U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives negotiators. As such, it soon became apparent the pain wasn’t physical. Most likely, it was emotional.

It’s worth noting that Loblaw and Walmart currently hold significant power in the industry, which needs to be addressed to benefit consumers.

Opinion: Getting grocers off the naughty list

The federal government should show strong leadership and make the grocer code of conduct mandatory

Canada’s Food Price Report for 2024, released by Dalhousie University, the Universities of Guelph, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, has unveiled a nuanced and complex landscape of the nation’s food pricing. This landscape is underpinned by diverse factors that extend beyond the supermarket shelves. The report predicts that food prices will increase by as much as


The notion of compelling competitors to divulge sensitive pricing data is baffling. Such an approach contradicts the very essence of a competitive marketplace.

Opinion: Let’s give the grocery theatrics a rest in 2024

Grocers made convenient punching bags, but that’s not how solutions are found

In an era when food inflation has become a contentious political issue, it’s tempting for politicians to target the grocery industry. Sadly, that’s exactly what transpired in our country this year, and it was both absurd and embarrassing. The government and Parliament relentlessly hounded grocers, drowning out the opportunity for Canadians to truly comprehend the

Opinion: Gassing up plants

Opinion: Gassing up plants

Research shows exposing seedlings to ethylene gas can boost growth and protect plants from stresses

Just like any other organism, plants can get stressed — think heat or drought. When they’re stressed, plants might not grow as large or produce as much, so many scientists have tried genetically modifying plants to be more resilient. But increasing stress tolerance often results in plants that produce less. It’s a difficult conundrum. I


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