Ignatieff and Bob Rae: Getting Ready to Take on Stephen Harper
It was a cold day last December when I left my farm one Sunday morning. I had been invited to meet and have breakfast with James Harris, leader of the Green Party of Canada. Clearly, I was out of my element. I abhor politics but participate in a genre where I’m almost always asked to…
Continue ReadingStaying Ahead Of The Competition We Cannot Yet See May Be Our Greatest Challenge.
I like to tease a younger farmer in the neighourhood. He’s a very successful organic soybean and wheat farmer. Typically he sells his crops for triple or quadruple what the rest of us do. However, he doesn’t use commercial fertilizer, the whole nine yards. Beating the weeds is his annual challenge. I have often thought…
Continue ReadingFeeling Uncomfortable: If You’re Paid Six Figures, Get Over It
Last week farmers from across Ontario but mainly Chatham-Kent gathered at the Debot farm west of Wallaceburg. The feature speaker that day was former Solicitor General Wayne Easter. Also at the microphone were former Liberal International Cooperation Minister Susan Whelan and former Wallaceburg mayor and former Chatham-Kent councilor Jeff Wesley. Also present that day was…
Continue ReadingFarmers Rally Near Wallaceburg and My Friend With HIV/AIDS Calls
Last Sunday I was emcee at the Farm Rally on the Debot farm west of Wallaceburg. The feature speaker at the event was Wayne Easter, former Liberal Solicitor General and present Liberal agricultural critic. Also present were Susan Whelan, former Liberal International Cooperation Minister and Jeff Wesley former Mayor of Wallaceburg and former Chatham-Kent council…
Continue ReadingIs There Enough Corn To Satisfy Future Demand?
It is the eve of the big USDA August 11th crop report. The experts are saying 10.8 billion bushels of corn, 3 plus billion bushels of soybeans and good weather ahead. It seems with all those triple stacked bt-corn seeds, yields just keep climbing. However, maybe I’m wrong. That’s why we have a market and…
Continue ReadingThe International AIDS Conference and My Friends With HIV/AIDS
Last week two famous “Bills” made their way front and centre to the International Aids Conference in Toronto. Former President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates spoke at the conference. Each has made significant contributions to the world’s fight against HIV/AIDS. And a fight it is. According to AVERT.org, an international AIDS charity, in…
Continue ReadingFarmers Feed Cities, Farmers Fuel Cities: In 2006 and Beyond Which Is It?
If you live in Western Canada you know them well. If you are in Eastern Canada, you probably don’t know them. Last week fertilizer producer Agrium reported a record profit of $142 million US in the second quarter of this year. It was a reminder to me that all is not necessarily doom and gloom…
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