Lies, damned lies… and statistics

Last week began with the latest Canadian farm income outlook delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, a report that by most accounts was pretty bullish on farm income projections for the next 10 years or so. In fact, it was the kind of report that is likely to have the farming community squirming for a

Tyson Foods: High gasoline prices threaten beef demand

washington / reuters / U.S. consumers may try to save money by eating less meat if they continue to feel the pinch of high gasoline prices, the chief executive of Tyson Foods said Feb. 24. “People want meat… but it’s getting pretty expensive,” CEO Donnie Smith told reporters at an agricultural conference in Washington, D.C.


Strategic plan sought to secure future of food and the farm

Late winter was historically the time of the “hunger moon.” The larder of winter food was low and people waited anxiously for the land to produce again. People could only dream of a time when they would not have to worry they had enough. In Canada “Food Freedom Day” a designation of Canadian Federation of

Weeds helped save his farm

Weeds aren’t always a farmer’s enemy. Sometimes they’re an ally. Grant Rigby says weeds helped him tackle soil salinity on his farm near Killarney and led him into organic agriculture. “The fundamental reason I dropped herbicide spraying was to allow plants to live on those areas of the farm where the crops I planted were


Science behind organic systems gains ground

Organic agriculture’s critics routinely claim the practice is more philosophy than agronomy — and the worst cut of all — lacking in “sound science.” Not anymore. Organic is pushing back one peer-reviewed research paper at a time. “We can claim science and we are,” declared Ralph Martin at the opening of the first Canadian Organic

Industry official fights the image of potatoes as fattening

There’s no denying the impact of the image. A morbidly obese woman struggles up a short flight of stairs, while in the forefront of the advertisement are three servings of french fries, growing from modest to mammoth. “Portion sizes have grown, and so has obesity, which leads to many health problems,” reads the headline of


Use coupons wisely

Clipping coupons and saving money has become the subject of TV shows. Yes, you can save money, but be sure that you are able to use the food within a reasonable period of time to ensure you enjoy foods at their safest and highest quality. Consider these tips: Organize your coupons in categories for easy

Recipe Swap, March 1, 2012

“Myth information” When it comes to food, we all have our likes, dislikes, preferences and prejudices. Many of us also live (and eat) by our “food myths.” These can be simple “dietary must-dos” like, “you must take minerals and supplements to stay healthy” or, “you must avoid carbs if you want to lose weight.” Some


Yara eyes new Canada plant in fertilizer expansion

Yara International ASA, the world’s biggest producer of nitrogen fertilizer, is eyeing construction of a new $2-billion plant in Canada, among other options, as it looks to expand its production 40 per cent by 2016. Oslo-based Yara intends to add eight million tonnes to its global fertilizer production capacity, as projected population growth boosts demand

Canadian potato industry faces new challenges: McCain exec

The 1990s were the Good Old Days for Canadian potato industry. The U.S. economy was growing, providing strong markets just to the south — markets that were suddenly available as never before due to NAFTA. The Canadian dollar was in the tank, so you could sell in greenbacks and get 30 per cent more in