Author: Owen Roberts

Farmers face a unique set of challenges every day – challenges over which they have little to no control. Weather, disease, commodity prices, the list goes on. Who better to receive targeted mental health programs than those who may need it most, but are least likely to ask. It’s long overdue and we owe them our support.

Precision agriculture employs technology to more efficiently use land and so-called inputs such as water, fuel, fertilizer and crop protection products. In fact, farmers who use precision agriculture equipment use appreciably less of almost everything to grow more food. Photo: openaccessgovernment.org

We’ve gained a new appreciation for the role of food workers during this pandemic, especially in farm and food processing jobs. Their essential positions are filled mostly by offshore workers and new Canadians, and their plight has become a human welfare issue, not just here but in agriculture abroad. Photo: thestar.com

Argentina, a major global grain supplier, announced it was going hold back corn exports, citing fears of a domestic shortage. Most lately, it’s talking about reconsidering this decision. But even if it does, it’s a reminder that planning for food security in Canada might be a very good idea.

Mexico has decided to ban GMO corn by 2024 and halt the use of the herbicide glyphosate, which gained notoriety as RoundUp. Some farmers there fear production yields will drop, and that they’ll be challenged to find enough corn to stay competitive in the beef export market. And how about impact on corn exporters, like the US? The ripple effect of decisions like this one is huge. Photo: ecowatch.com