Lynda Raffard is responsible for the health and well being of four children, 30-plus dairy cows, two dogs, two horses, a few barn cats, several chickens and a handful of goats. She is not, however, responsible enough to "adopt" a dog from a shelter. Why? Because the dog will not sleep "with the family." Rural... Read More

There's a right way and a wrong way to get rid of treated seed. Using up most of what you have is a logical first step, but even the few kernels left in bins, trucks or augers could cause you major headaches down the line. Canada's grain handling system has a zero tolerance level for... Read More

You see them at election time, in particular -- politicians jockeying to get a photo op with a farmer, diving into a plate of homegrown food or trying to support agriculture in some other camera-friendly way, such as driving a tractor. Politicians should be a friend to agriculture every chance they get, not just at... Read More

The need to help farmers manage the increasing risks associated with farming is a key election issue for the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO). In this Ontario Election 2014 podcast, RealAgriculture.com's Bernard Tobin speaks with Henry Van Ankum, chair of the Grain Farmers of Ontario, about the organization's 'Recommendations for Smart Growth' election platform it... Read More

Having one dark chapter in your life doesn't mean that's how the whole book has to be, says Mary Morrissey, a life coach and motivational speaker, who spoke at last month's Advancing Women — Leadership in Agriculture conference. Morrissey is no stranger to set backs, challenges and being told her dreams were unattainable. But from... Read More

In 1996, Jacob van der Schaaf, a Dutch immigrant to Canada, and his daughter Angela Santiago planted a small, one-acre plot of potatoes just outside Edmonton, Alberta. It was an experiment meant to test the waters of the potential potato market in Alberta, and was obviously an overwhelming success. Today, Jacob runs Tuberosum Technologies and... Read More