Philip Shaw's work is published across Canada and the United States. He is an accomplished speaker, journalist, commodity market commentator, agricultural economist and farmer from Dresden, Ontario, Canada.
Canada is moving toward a 5% bio-fuels policy by 2010. That’s the word from agriculture minister Chuck Strahl and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose. Think about it. Every time you fill your car in 2010 3 litres will be straight from some type of biological source. The question is will consumers like that in 2010? I…
Continue ReadingOne of my favourite grain analysts always refers to an old market axiom. He says regardless of what happens, “the market is always right.” That’s a pretty tough call for many of us involved in the North American grain business. However, we’re used to it. Not so for others in Canada’s supply managed dairy sector. …
Continue ReadingAre you afraid? Are you very, very afraid? Or is this something to do about nothing. Last week’s terror arrests have sent shockwaves throughout the Greater Toronto Area. For the rest of us, it was a reminder of what may lurk within. Those 12 accused were charged with a series of offences ranging from conspiracy…
Continue ReadingAfghanistan: Confounding Western Powers Again. By Philip Shaw M.Sc. For Canadians and many westerners this is very hard to get used to. That is the on going war on terrorism in Afghanistan. This is what a good friend of mine emailed me the other day. “When we go back to the polls, I will vote…
Continue ReadingNitrogen is one of the essential nutrients for corn production. This is me applying some 28% nitrogen last week in some of those corn fields pictured below. Click on At Issue and Under the Agridome for some great pieces this week. You might wonder about that “bomb” in the field picture by clicking on the…
Continue ReadingCanada is moving toward a 5% bio-fuels policy by 2010. That’s the word from agriculture minister Chuck Strahl and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose. Think about it. Every time you fill your pickup in 2010 3 litres will be straight from your corn or soybean field. That’s if you drive a 22-year old pickup truck like…
Continue ReadingA long long time ago your loyal scribe found himself in the wilds of Australia. I was a young man then. Somebody called Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister. Middle age was something I thought was in the history books. I had a steep learning curve ahead of me. However, I was so young and naïve…
Continue ReadingYou might remember when I wrote these words in the last January 23rd Agridome. “Political change also means putting the past agricultural mistakes behind you. Forget CAIS. Forget APF. Forget it all. Its now up to the Conservatives to put together an agricultural policy that works.” Fast forward to May 2006. Surprise, surprise, surprise, CAIS…
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