Sometimes things are not what they seem at all. Never has this been more true than in the debate over what is great tasting food. Two food pranksters attended a high-end food show to show off their newest and greatest organic dishes. The reviews that they got from attendees were great. There was one slight... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Nearly the entire Real Agriculture team gathered in Saskatoon earlier this week to talk content, new features and conference coverage over the next few months. Those who know any of the team personally can likely imagine the decibel level (Lyndsey, shush!), the creative ideas that swirled, and the laundry list of ag topics on the... Read More
Canadian cattle and hog producers welcomed the World Trade Organization's ruling on country of origin labeling (COOL) this week. On this week's ag news podcast, Kelvin Heppner and the Real Ag team discuss the slow process of resolving the COOL dispute through the WTO, as well as A&W's new chicken requirements, research to keep farm... Read More
I never assume anyone knows where my hometown of Mitchell’s Bay (population: 350) is, unless they like to fish or hunt or boat, or come from deep in southwestern Ontario. So I was quite surprised when, on a plane to western Canada earlier this week, the 30-something man beside me from B.C. nodded in acknowledgement... Read More
Earlier this month, Canadian fruit and vegetable processors or wholesalers lost preferred access to the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). "Without PACA access, Canadian companies trying to recover unpaid bills will have to post double the value of what they are trying to recover as bond to make a claim," says Ron Lemaire,... Read More
FP Genetics is offering western Canadian wheat growers a guarantee to prove that newer CWRS varieties are more profitable than older lines. Currently, an estimated 80% of wheat acres are seeded with bin-run seed, says FP Genetics, and the company believes this practice means farmers are leaving money on the table by not upgrading their... Read More
Ottawa may not be everyone's hometown, but Parliament Hill and monuments like the War Memorial belong to all of Canada. An act of violence towards our armed forces and national landmarks is an act of violence towards each of us. Ottawa is also a place where people from across the country are always meeting and... Read More
From October 27-31, farmers in Saskatchewan will have the opportunity to safely dispose of obsolete pesticide and livestock medications. The initiative is organized by CleanFARMS, a not-for-profit stewardship organization with an impressive track record. Last year, Alberta alone contributed 35 800 kilograms of unwanted pesticides for safe disposal, and since the program's 1998 launch, it... Read More
A staggering 80% of contaminants found in water bodies trace back to on-farm activities, according to government figures. Similar concerns in the United Kingdom have meant the early adoption of biobeds, contained areas specifically intended to capture and degrade pesticides. “We can take a lot from the existing models in Europe, but we have to... Read More
Despite criticism from the farm community, the number of items on A&W's menu that require specific animal care practices on farms is growing. After moving to beef raised without the use of growth promotants and eggs from hens fed vegetarian diets without animal by-products, the fast food chain announced Monday that it has switched to... Read More