by Patricia Grotenhuis, Lifelong farmer and agricultural advocate
Growing up, I always heard about the family vacations my friends were going on. Trips to Florida to escape the snow, flights to other parts of Canada or the world for a relaxing escape, and weekend getaways were talked about on a regular basis, but the conversations were always hard for me to join.
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Posted by FFC on May 31st, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal health,
Family vs factory farming,
Farm lifeTags ::
agriculture,
animal care,
animal welfare,
animals,
Canada,
farm,
Farmers
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
Many of us have air purifiers in our homes or workplaces. They seem to be a big seller in the city where I live. Well here’s a news flash. This technology is now moving to the barn.
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Posted by FFC on May 29th, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal care,
Animal health,
Housing,
Innovation and technologyTags ::
agriculture,
farm,
Farmers,
Housing
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
I’ve never met Alice Stuart, but she isn’t unique to me. I’ve met lots of farmers who feel exactly the same way she does. And I would like to meet her too. Alice is from Edam, Saskatchewan and was one of many farmers and ranchers across Canada who submitted essays to the Farming Is My Life contest. The contest was an opportunity for farmers and ranchers to write about their profession and what drives them to choose the rewarding, yet often challenging, lifestyle of the farmer in Canada. Alice’s winning entry appeared in Cattlemen’s Magazine in January. Here it is in her own words…
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Posted by FFC on May 20th, 2011 :: Filed under
Beef cattle,
Canada,
Farm lifeTags ::
agriculture,
animals,
Canada,
Farmers
by Patricia Grotenhuis, Lifelong farmer and agricultural advocate
Farmers see some strange things on their farms. Sometimes things will happen that are completely unexpected – yet absolutely beautiful reminding us, first-hand, what nature can do.
One day, while I was at university studying agricultural science, I got a call from my mom at home on our farm. The call wasn’t unusual - but the story she was about to tell me certainly was.
One day, while out checking the beef cattle, they noticed a young fawn in the same pasture as the cattle. Over the next few days, my family noticed the fawn was always within sight of the cattle – but never too close. They never saw a doe, and were wondering who was caring for this little fawn.
Bambi in the field with the cows.
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Posted by FFC on May 19th, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal care,
Beef cattle,
Family vs factory farming,
Farm life,
Uncategorized,
Wildlife,
winterTags ::
animal care,
beef,
cattle,
Farmers,
wildlife
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
I just finished reading some more animal science studies out of Europe (a sure cure for insomnia) on what “free range” and “free run” laying hens are up against. And it’s a bit of a buyer-beware scenario too. Although it is a small niche market here in North America, so-called “cage-free” egg production in the UK has steadily grown in the last 20 years. That is where egg laying hens can move around within the confines of a pasture or barn. But the health and animal welfare news isn’t all good.
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Posted by FFC on May 12th, 2011 :: Filed under
Chickens,
eggs,
Housing,
Poultry,
ResearchTags ::
animal welfare,
eggs,
free range,
Housing,
Research
by Patricia Grotenhuis, Lifelong farmer and agricultural advocate
Storms have always filled me with awe. I love sitting, safe and secure, in my house or in the barn while the wind howls around us, snow or rain coming down with no end in sight. There is always one big fear with storms, though: what if the power goes out?
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Posted by FFC on May 10th, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal care,
Farm life,
Farm Safety,
Innovation and technology,
Uncategorized,
Weather,
winterTags ::
animal care,
animal welfare,
Canada,
Farmers,
Research,
weather
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
When it comes to food marketing, I’m starting to believe that both consumers and farmers may be getting the short end of the stick.
Perhaps farmers have been too focused on what they do best; producing an abundant and generally safe supply of food at a reasonable price to consumers, to worry about misleading advertising. Perhaps consumers don’t know enough about farm practices to see past the marketing hype to be able to make an informed purchasing choice.
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Posted by FFC on May 5th, 2011 :: Filed under
Chickens,
Consumers,
Misconceptions,
Poultry,
Sustainability,
Urban MythsTags ::
chicken,
Consumers,
diet,
food,
Poultry
Guest Blog by Jeanine Moyer Jeanine was raised on a pig, beef cattle and crop farm in Ontario
Growing up on our farm meant that quality time spent with dad was ‘seasonal’. Cold winter days would keep dad in the house where my siblings and I could play and spend time with him. But as soon as spring came we knew our time with dad would be limited to those short hours at mealtimes and on rainy days.
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Posted by FFC on May 3rd, 2011 :: Filed under
Crops,
Family vs factory farming,
Farm life,
springTags ::
crops,
farm,
Farmers
