The iconic Canadian brand is expanding south of the border. The decision makes perfect sense and national dithering is to blame
Maple Leaf Foods, the largest pork processor in the country, has opted to build its new meatless plant south of the border. Unfortunately, the decision makes perfect sense. The iconic Canadian food company recently announced plans to spend US$310 million on a 230,000-square-foot processing plant in Indiana, where its Lightlife Burger and other products will…
Canada's diplomatic juveniles have jeopardized the Canadian target of $75 billion in agriculture and food exports by 2025
Two recent cases make Canada’s political elite look like diplomatic juveniles. The SNC-Lavalin debacle refuses to go away, garnering global media attention for weeks. The Meng Wanzhou case in Vancouver has made things much worse. The arrest of Meng – a Huawei vice-president and daughter of the company’s CEO – in December exposed Canada to…
From supply management to food strategy to rural Internet to food processing to export targets, the government got it all wrong
Most people expected an electoral budget from the federal government this week and that’s exactly what Canadians got. But for the agri-food sector, the budget was underwhelming at best and provided little hope for the near future. Let’s start with supply management. The Liberal government opted to do exactly what the previous Conservative government did…
Recent missteps suggest we're run by diplomatic amateurs, casting a shadow on trade. And now a deadly swine disease has hit China
Relations between China and Canada have never been more uncertain, particularly because Canada looks like it’s being run by diplomatic amateurs. And the news may get worse for the agri-food community. The Chinese claim Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in December at the request of the United States. The U.S. alleges Meng…
For years, farmers have tried to tell their stories through social media and elsewhere – and too often failed
For years, farmers have tried to convey their message and explain the agriculture and rural lifestyle to the broader Canadian populace. They’ve taken to social media with touching stories and countless messages, telling Canadians what things are like on the farm. Some have called this “agvocacy.” But the new Canada’s Food Guide and recent policy…
In support of Canada’s resource sector, group wants Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act killed
Kenneth Brown of The Clarion A forum for those who oppose Bill C-69 takes place next week and it will give people the chance to help send an important message to the Canadian Senate. The West Central Saskatchewan Ag & Oil Resources Forum takes place at the West Central Events Centre in Kindersley on Feb.…
After years of celebrating our agricultural know-how, the guide has gone urban – and is more than a little patronizing
Say goodbye to the four food groups. Almost 12 years after the launch of the previous version, the new Canada’s Food Guide celebrates food by displaying a plate filled with greens, fruits, plant proteins and grains. And if you look very carefully, you’ll see a cup of yogurt alongside a piece of beef that looks…
Scientists have found no negative differences in the health of people eating GM and non-GM foods
The changing environment means we face weather patterns that haven’t been seen in generations. And that means new challenges in feeding humanity. But we have the tools. Storms and floods are more frequent and widespread. Changing temperatures affect oceans and lands, wildlife and crops. Because we haven’t seen such changes before, we often don’t know…
There are 27 growing projects in the province, and 15 churches and/or church-based organizations involved
Joan Janzen for The Clarion Kindersley’s Prairie West Growing Project (PWGP) hosted their annual banquet on Friday, Nov. 23, at the Elks Hall in Kindersley. The event was a show of appreciation for all those who have assisted in PWGP’s efforts to raise funds and awareness for the work of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank…
Livestock revenues were up 5.1% in 2017, following a 6.7% drop the previous year
Realized net income for Canadian farmers fell 3.6 per cent in 2017 to $7.0 billion, following three consecutive annual increases, according to a report released on Tuesday by Statistics Canada. The federal agency explained that realized net income is the difference between a farmer's cash receipts and operating expenses, minus depreciation, plus income in kind.…
‘The purpose of this is activities or resources that youth would benefit from’
Kenneth Brown of The Clarion Non-profit community groups in Kindersley and area are now able to apply for an annual grant through the Field of Opportunities (FOO) charity harvest group. Each year a group of local businesses contributes to growing crops on a 100-acre parcel of land north of businesses along 12th Ave. West in…
The further food moves from the farm, the more the profit is diluted. Unless farmers can sell directly to consumers, they'll fall back
Canadians are spending more on food prepared and often consumed outside the home, but our pursuit of convenience may be costing farmers. According to some surveys, about 35 per cent of the average Canadian’s food budget is spent on food prepared outside the home. This is nowhere near what Americans spend on out-of-household food, which…
Why not pioneer an Alberta climate change caravan resettlement program as part of an emerging new west?
“Back to the future!” This thought echoes in my brain as I contemplate the imminent plebiscite on whether Calgary agrees to the omnibus International Olympic Committee, provincial and federal offers to co-fund the Winter Olympic Games again, along with some $390 million in Calgary municipal taxpayer dollars. While most Calgarians who were part of the…
Longtime volunteer Bill Mullock says you need to keep working, putting your skills to good use
Joan Janzen of The Clarion Bill Mullock has been volunteering in some capacity for the past 30 years. During warmer months, he can be found helping his nephew on the farm, where he is the “go for” guy, going for this and going for that. During winter months, Bill helps out at the Salvation Army…
A clear vision and strategy for dairy’s future is imperative, with a forward-looking focus on domestic and foreign markets
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), or NAFTA 2.0, could be the watershed moment Canadian dairy farmers have been waiting for. The federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed to compensating the dairy sector for either lost sales, higher per-unit costs or the loss in value of quotas. The government has been clear on…
Maple Leaf Foods, the largest pork processor in the country, has opted to build its new meatless plant south of the border. Unfortunately, the decision makes perfect sense. The iconic Canadian food company recently announced plans to spend US$310 million on a 230,000-square-foot processing plant in Indiana, where its Lightlife Burger and other products will…
