Articles Written by Laura Rance

As farmers head into spring seeding and livestock is raised and brought to market, it’s comforting to see that Ottawa is recognizing the importance of their efforts.

Opinion: The changing conversation around food

Stating that food security is critical during the COVID-19 crisis means farm issues won't be sidelined

By Laura Rance April 6, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes On one hand, the federal government stated the obvious when it identified the food system as one of the 10 critical infrastructures supporting Canadians during the pandemic crisis. After all, who can survive without food? Nevertheless, the guidance document issued by Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair this week sent an important signal, […] Read more

Crops

VIDEO: Measuring how crop rotations affect soil health in Ontario

By Laura Rance August 29, 2017

Reading Time: < 1 minute A unique facility at the Elora Research Station operated by the University of Guelph digs deep to quantify soil ecosystem services.

SeedMaster’s Norbert Beaujot sees DOT technology as one solution to a shortage of skilled operators.

Machinery

Not just a driverless tractor, but no tractor at all

A global launch at Ag in Motion could change the way you farm

By Laura Rance June 28, 2017

Reading Time: 4 minutes While farmers have been waiting impatiently for equipment designers to commercialize the driverless tractor, Prairie inventor and entrepreneur Norbert Beaujot has found a way to ditch the tractor altogether. And he’s rolling it out for the first time in July 18 to 20 at Ag in Motion (AIM), Western Canada’s outdoor farm show now in […] Read more

Crops, Weather

New alliance to focus wheat research in Saskatoon

By Laura Rance May 18, 2013

Reading Time: 3 minutes The federal government has joined with the Saskatchewan government and University of Saskatchewan to form a new Canadian Wheat Alliance, dedicated to improving yields and profitability of wheat. “The Canadian Wheat Alliance will improve the quality of Canadian wheat, and enhance Canada’s competitive position in the growing world market,” said federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

Clubroot found in Manitoba soils

By Laura Rance March 1, 2013

Reading Time: 2 minutes Testing has confirmed levels of clubroot capable of producing disease in two soil samples collected from Manitoba canola fields last year, provincial officials say. "It is significant in that we can no longer consider ourselves free of clubroot in Manitoba," said Holly Derksen, a plant pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives’ soils and […] Read more

Crops, Markets

WFP hails Canada for leadership role in food security pact

By Laura Rance February 7, 2013

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada has won high praise from a senior official with the United Nations’ World Food Programme for becoming one of the first countries to make its minimum pledge to annual food aid up front in a new international treaty. "Canada is one of the strongest supporters of the World Food Programme," said Pedro Medrano Rojas, […] Read more

Crops, Markets

CWB says controversial ad met its objective

By Laura Rance January 31, 2013

Reading Time: 2 minutes The chief strategy officer for CWB says the agency stands by its controversial ad depicting a cowgirl stuck on a fence, saying most people like it. "We’ve got more feedback than I ever expected," said Dayna Spiring about the ad that has been running in farm newspapers in recent weeks. Spiring acknowledged there have been […] Read more

Livestock, Markets

Man. beef processor moves on federal upgrade

By Laura Rance January 28, 2013

Reading Time: 2 minutes If Calvin Vaags has his way, Manitoba will have a federally inspected ruminant slaughter plant capable of handling 1,000 head per week up and running within a year. After three years of preparation, work has started on a $13 million expansion at Plains Processors, a small processing plant with a capacity of 80 head per […] Read more

Livestock

From Ethiopia: Aid agencies focus on helping others to help themselves

By Laura Rance February 21, 2012

Reading Time: 4 minutes It was a gift with strings attached, but that was just fine with Bekelech Basa. The single mother of six children from this small community about five hours southwest of Addis Ababa was given a goat on the condition that she give up its first-born kid. It’s just one example of how aid is changing. […] Read more

Livestock

In Ethiopia: Pivotal to survival, donkeys get no respect

By Laura Rance February 8, 2012

Reading Time: 2 minutes If author Anna Sewell were alive today, chances are she’d be writing a follow to her best-selling novel Black Beauty about the plight of Addis and Ababa — donkeys in Ethiopia. Her 1877 story about a horse raised awareness of the inhumane treatment of horses in England and sold 50 million copies worldwide. It is […] Read more

After blast, Lebanon has less than a month’s grain reserves

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn futures firm

COVID-19 and the farm: Stories from the GFM network

GFM Network News