Issues & Insights

By Sheri Hathaway, The Western Producer In 1951, the world was recovering from the Second World War, financially and emotionally. People looked for new ways to get ahead. Willi Bruntjen, a 29-year-old farm worker, left his homeland of Germany on Oct. 15 and came to Canada seeking a new life. He wore his only clothes,…

Recycling agricultural plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and under – a familiar practice to many Alberta farmers – is being updated. At the request of the Agricultural Service Boards (ASB) that have been offering jug collection services in Alberta, Cleanfarms is moving recycling collection locations from municipalities to local ag retailers. The process is…

The Canadian beef industry breathed a collective sigh of relief to learn a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank is on the horizon. As part of the 2023 Federal Budget, $57.5 million over five years was designated to create the FMD vaccine bank within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and to develop an emergency response plan….

After twenty years of trade restrictions, the last barrier to Canadian beef exports to Japan has been removed. The federal government announced Monday the opening of processed beef into Japan, removing the country’s last BSE-era restriction against Canadian beef and fully restoring Canada’s access into this market. “Cattle producers are grateful for the removal of…

The wise King Solomon suggested “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity…” The Byrds song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” in the 1960s famously alluded to Solomon’s words as a way to draw attention to switching mindsets from focusing on war to focusing on peace. Within Solomon’s verses are also the phrases:…

Origin labelling claims on meat and poultry products are once again up for discussion in the U.S. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially submitted a proposed amendment to the voluntary “Product of the USA” labelling regulations. This amendment would only allow products from livestock born, raised, harvested, and processed in the U.S….

This is the second article in a two-part series. The first part is available here. <*link to first article once published> Sustainability and affordability aren’t the only consumer demands that Canada’s food system stakeholders need to be mindful of. According to Nourish Food Marketing’s 2023 Trend Report, customers are looking for individualized wellness options, shared…

By Brittany Ekelund, Alberta Farmer Express Nearly three years after the province tried, and failed, to open the Eastern Slopes to coal mining, this iconic piece of Alberta is still under threat, say those who live and work there. “We have to make sure that this land is going to continue for generations,” said Laura Laing,…

This is the first article in a two-part series. The second part will be posted on ABP Daily mid-February. There’s plenty of consumer trends for the beef industry to keep an eye on, according to Nourish Food Marketing’s latest trend report. This year’s trends were presented by Nourish President Jo-Ann McArthur in a webinar hosted…

Despite growing awareness of mental health in the agriculture community, stigma is still a barrier to finding support. The 2019 Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food found that 45 per cent of Canadian farmers were experiencing high levels of stress. However, 45 per cent stated that even if they needed help they…