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 | An episode of Oprah, a hard-hitting Time magazine cover story, a film called Food Inc. – farming is under increased, often one-sided scrutiny leaving many people to wonder whether modern agriculture is on the right track. Rob Hannam, President of Synthesis Agri-Food Consulting, believes it encourages everyone to do more to address public perceptions of farming, he told a meeting of the Guelph Partnership for Innovation I attended last week. Continue reading Is farming on the right track? 
I went to www.howwheatworks.com and signed myself up so I could get started. Faced with several different wheat types I could plant, I chose durum as I am totally addicted to pasta – and the majority of our pasta contains this particular kind of wheat. This post is a continuation from yesterday’s H1N1 topic that explored Alberta Pork’s experiences at the centre of the H1N1 media storm earlier this year. The information is based on a presentation I attended by Lee Funke of Torque Communications at the recently held Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation conference in Edmonton. He outlined some of the challenges facing Alberta Pork’s response team – and their responses – at the height of the H1N1 crisis that struck Alberta when a herd of pigs was found to be infected with the influenza strain this past spring. Continue reading Alberta Pork’s H1N1 challenges, responses Growing numbers of farmers are turning to alternative agriculture and agri-tourism initiatives to help them earn a living. That message was illustrated by several speakers at the recent Canadian Farm Writers Federation annual meeting in Edmonton, Alberta earlier this month. Ron Hamilton, Mary Ellen Grueneberg and Doug Livingstone have each found a different niche for themselves, but they are bound by a common love of the land, passion for food and dedication to farming. Here are snapshots of their stories I heard while attending the conference. Continue reading Farmers turn to alternative agriculture There’s always someone looking to make a buck off someone else’s misfortune. But in this case, I didn’t think it would be the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC). One of the agencies at the head of the global response to H1N1 influenza, the CDC is reported to be selling a toy version of the microbe in the gift shop of its headquarters in Atlanta. Continue reading Whatever will they think of next?!?
And especially right now, after hog farmers have taken a beating over the unfortunately named “swine flu” which was actually really H1N1 influenza, I’m supportive of any efforts to promote it and develop new market opportunities. So I was intrigued when I stumbled across the “10 craziest products inspired by bacon” list on the internet yesterday. Continue reading Ten craziest products inspired by bacon
We’re generally not known for being edgy, sexy, funky or any of those other adjectives that make people sit up and take notice. Continue reading Here’s a side of farming you haven’t seen before… |   | ||||
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When I came across a website that mentioned it would let me grow my own wheat online and follow it through right to my dinner plate, I have to admit I was intrigued.
I love bacon – in fact, I’m a fan of pork in general.
As farmers, we tend to be a rather conservative bunch.