This week I was reading themonthly edition of the Synthesis - Network E-Newsletter and I was intrigued. Not only was it the first list for what will happen in 2011 in agriculture, but it also was quite good. In the list Rob Hannam and his team covered sustainability, cattle markets and economic volatiliity. This is... Read More
Category: Video
You can look at volatility in two ways. Volatility in the cattle markets means that you may be exposed to risk that you did not plan for. For example, earlier this decade when the CDN dollar moved from the low 70's to par in a violent upward fashion which caught many people off guard. The... Read More
By Shaun Haney Due to the demand for canola acres this fall, canola seed is in high demand from growers across the prairies. For some reason some farmers are asking questions about the quality of carry over canola seed from last year. The assumption is that whether bare or previously treated, the carry over seed... Read More
In case you haven't noticed, equipment is getting bigger every year. Bigger is always relative depending on where you farm. As farms become larger, farmers need to make sure that they are operating with the most ideal efficiency. Getting bigger equipment is not always as easy because it requires larger trucks, larger tractors and more... Read More
If you are interested in politics and economics like I am there is no more interesting fodder every night on the television than in the United States. I love debates and conflict on topics and the US has no shortage of them right now. Whether you are right, left or moderate you cannot deny the... Read More
Earlier this week we ran a story on solar energy project in Ontario taking place on many farms from the perspective of Saturn Power (a manufacturer). In the summer I visited the farm of Steve Twynstra who has invested in solar power and is selling it back to the power grid in Ontario. Steve... Read More
At one time the farmer mainly used horses, then motorbikes, then quads and now the Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) has become a common tool on the farm. For many ranchers and farmers these utility vehicles have created a real sense of versatility and handiness. I must admit that when the UTV first was introduced I... Read More
In this weeks episode of the Beef Market Update, Anne Dunford discusses the need for cattle feeders to see feed prices and Canadian Dollar go lowr based on the calf placement prices. The reality is that this will probably not happen in the short term, which will lead to losses in this turn of cattle... Read More
On so many levels solar energy seems to make sense. You would think that this would really be the case on farms as well. In Ontario farmers sell solar power back to the grid while in Western Canada most farmers use the solar panel power to fuel the electricity in shops or for pivots or... Read More
It's no secret or will it shock you if I told you that I think farmers are terrible at succession planning. If most of you reflected on your own personal situations I would assume you would say that you agree. The question that arises is, if we know this to be true, why do we... Read More