Author: Owen Roberts

Brazil swears a blue streak that it has stopped clear-cutting the rainforest to grow crops and raise animals. It admits that practice occurred in the past. But now, it says, much of the grazing that takes place in or around the rainforest is carried out on land that was already cleared. Having cattle on it helps it make a comeback, they say.
Photo credit: Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Another fight is full-on between agricultural technology and the public, this time involving pesticide-treated seeds.

Earlier this month, New York became the first US state to put forward legislation to ban seeds coated with neonicotinoid (popularly called “neonics”) ingredients.
Photo credit: Purdue University

The media – and in fact, society overall — often gets blamed for ignoring farming. The only time the media cares about agriculture is when there’s a crisis, according to this line of thinking. And it goes on: On those rare occasions when the media does try to cover farming, it either sensationalizes the story or gets it wrong.
Photo credit: Ontario Pork

Wildfire danger hit home in a big way this week.

Smoke from wildfires many hundreds of kilometres away, in Quebec and northeastern Ontario, descended on us like a blanket on Tuesday. Outdoor air quality was reported to be among the worst in the world. The situation made outdoor activities challenging, if not downright dangerous.
Photo credit: Genevieve Poirier/The Canadian Press

The nation took notice recently when an alarming new report said that by 2033, 40 per cent of Canadian farm operators will retire. That, it says, places agriculture on the cusp of one of the biggest labour and leadership transitions in the country’s history.
Photo credit: Chris Helgren/Reuters