By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
A Toronto hospital is asking for donations of human placenta to repair and reconstruct damaged eyes. I’m sure most non-doctors would consider this disgusting and give it high marks for the Ick Factor. Superficial communications can often create the Ick Factor and the Ick Factor often influences our opinions. Agriculture and food production can be subject to the Ick Factor too.
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Posted by FFC on January 31st, 2012 :: Filed under
Animal care,
Beef cattle,
Food,
Misconceptions,
Urban MythsTags ::
agriculture,
animal care,
beef,
misconceptions,
sheep
Guest blog: Adele Buettner, Farm Animal Council Saskatchewan
Most reasonable North Americans have always opposed animal cruelty. But if you had said “welfare” to ranchers and farmers 30 years ago most would have thought you meant a government cheque. If you had spoken about farm animal care to most retailers, you would have been met with a blank stare.
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Posted by FFC on January 23rd, 2012 :: Filed under
Activism,
Vegan,
VegetarianTags ::
activists,
agriculture,
animal rights
By Leslie Ballentine, farming and food commentator
This past year, a University of Manitoba student was inspired by a campus talk she heard by the Ontario Farm Animal Council. So inspired, in fact, that she wrote a thought-provoking article in the student newspaper. Titled: Things you should know before criticizing food production, the article is directed to the students on campus. But I think it should be directed to everyone. And it is food for thought to start the year.
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Posted by FFC on January 3rd, 2012 :: Filed under
Environment,
Family vs factory farming,
Food safety,
Housing,
Innovation and technology,
MisconceptionsTags ::
agriculture,
environment,
Farmers,
food safety,
misconceptions,
technology
Guest blog, by: James Bosma, Dairy Farmer and Agriculture Advocate.
Factory versus Family farming has come to the forefront of discussion as of late. But what defines a family farm?
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Posted by FFC on November 14th, 2011 :: Filed under
Education and public awareness,
Family vs factory farming,
Sustainability of the family farmTags ::
agriculture,
Canada,
farm,
Farmers
By Patricia Grotenhuis, Lifelong farmer and agricultural advocate
Fall is a great time to be on the farm. The smells, the colours and the activity of harvest and preparing the seed bed for the winter make every day different.
After months of work, it is finally time to harvest the crops. The animals born during the winter and spring months are also either ready to be sold, or are strong and hardy for winter. Everyone waits expectantly for that first frost (now past) that signals the end of the growing season and the start of harvest. It also serves as a friendly reminder from Mother Nature to begin readying barns for winter.
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Posted by FFC on November 9th, 2011 :: Filed under
Animal care,
Canada,
Farm life,
Harvest,
Sustainability of the family farm,
Weather,
winterTags ::
agriculture,
animal care,
farm,
Farmers,
harvest,
weather
Guest blog by: Gene Gregory, President United Egg Producers
I know that many in agriculture have similar thoughts on the attacks upon our businesses and modern agriculture but sometimes I just can’t take anymore of it. Here are some of my thoughts:
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Posted by FFC on November 1st, 2011 :: Filed under
Consumers,
Economics,
Education and public awareness,
Food safety,
Misconceptions,
Speaking outTags ::
agriculture,
Consumers,
Farmers,
food,
food safety
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
According to the numerous trends lists that I have been reading, the buzz around food sustainability will continue to increase, driven by the food industry and retailers like Wal-Mart. This includes social, economic and environmental sustainability – lower greenhouse gas emissions, smaller carbon footprints, fair(er) trade and pricing policies, and responsible production practices. Food manufacturers and retailers now have whole departments devoted to corporate social responsibility. As buyers of farm products they have influence with their suppliers over how products may and may not be produced.
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Posted by FFC on October 19th, 2011 :: Filed under
Retailers,
Sustainability,
Sustainability of the family farmTags ::
agriculture,
environment,
sustainability
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and Food commentator
A few blogs ago I wrote about a U.S. listing of dirty jobs that no one wants. That list included several that were ag-related. Unbeknownst to me, a study has also been done here in Canada. The results of the Farm Credit Canada survey were recently released. And it is not good news for attracting new entrants to the farming sector.
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Posted by FFC on October 3rd, 2011 :: Filed under
Consumers,
Food,
Speaking outTags ::
agriculture,
Canada,
Consumers,
Farmers,
food
By Leslie Ballentine, Farm and food commentator
The local fair means more than just Ferris Wheels and Beaver Tails- they are also the chance for neighbour to meet neighbour and city to meet country. They are a part of our national heritage and culture. Fairs have been organized in Canada by local Agricultural Societies for more than a century. Though fairs (and farms) do look different than they did 100 years ago, they continue to serve many of the same purposes.
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Posted by FFC on September 26th, 2011 :: Filed under
Consumers,
Education and public awareness,
Food,
RodeosTags ::
agriculture,
Canada,
Consumers,
education
By Leslie Ballentine, Farming and food commentator
It isn’t only wealthy benefactors and government agencies that help with hunger relief. Farmers help in many ways too. On September 30 at 12 noon, Ontario farmers will jump on 100 combines on a Perth County farm to set a world record soybean harvest. Five farmers from the Listowel/Monktonarea have planted a 160-acre field of soybeans with a goal of harvesting all 10,000 bushels it in less than 10 minutes. Their hope is to raise $200,000 by auctioning the soybeans at the site right after the record-breaking attempt.
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Posted by FFC on September 20th, 2011 :: Filed under
Crops,
Faces of Farming,
Feeding the world,
FoodTags ::
agriculture,
farm,
Farmers,
Ontario
