Balancing act: optimism and realism needed when it comes to agriculture carbon credits

I’m an optimist, but I’m also a realist - and both are important when we discuss generating and actually getting paid for quality carbon credits in agriculture.  I recently returned from the official launch of CANZA in Toronto.  If…

Why agriculture needs to support programs like Ag in the Classroom, sooner rather than later

If there’s one thing the digital world has done it’s make the world a smaller place. Our kids have access to so much information and opportunities, you’ve got to ask - why would they choose a career in agriculture? I think we, as an…

Small towns, big hearts: the power of rural communities

A few weeks ago, we had some tools stolen from one of our service vehicles at the farm in Fairlight. Knowing it is harvest time, with lots of equipment being moved around, some opportunistic thieves decided to walk away with about $5,000 worth…
Lots of kids from Wawota School visiting HGV, standing on equipment

How can we deepen the roots of agriculture education?

As the kids head back to class, our leadership team at Hebert Grain Ventures is revisiting one of our priority areas for 2023 - education. We’ve been supporting local high school students through our Deep Roots scholarships at five Saskatchewan…

Delegation dilemma: When your name is on the sign, how involved should you be?

We recently held our summer staff party and I showed up to the event not having a clue what we’d planned for the day, but knew it was going to be great. And it was. It’s one of many projects and responsibilities on the farm that I’ve learned…

Is Canada a reliable trading partner? Vancouver Port troubles hurt our reputation

The recent strike at the Port of Vancouver highlighted issues at Canada’s busiest port but, let’s be honest, there have been big problems at the Port of Vancouver for a long time. While the on-again, off-again strike captures the current…

Why I mentor promising agtech startups (and you should too)

The future of agriculture depends on innovation. That’s why I get excited every time Cultivator launches a new cohort of companies. This week I'll be in Regina for AGTECH ACCELERATOR's Finale Week and the first-ever Global Agtech Summit. AGTECH…

“Take it to the farmer.” Why farmers’ voices are needed now more than ever

Isn’t it crazy that the more things change, the more they stay the same? The issues that were hot topics during the 1999 WTO riots - dubbed the “Battle of Seattle - are still very much the same issues we, as farmers, are working to overcome…

Focus on the Stanley Cup of International Trade and forget about being the MVP

I was recently invited to speak to the World Trade Organization’s SPS Delegation about the challenges and opportunities facing producers when it comes to international trade.  So, you’re probably asking what’s SPS? Sometimes that’s…

Old MacDonald doesn’t exist – he went bankrupt

I find it interesting that the term “large farm” is seen as a dirty phrase in many agriculture circles. The “big guys” are taking over, buying up land, and putting the small “family” farms out of business. Wait a minute…we run…

Dear Justin, the welcome mat is always down

Like many, I was surprised to learn that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited our province on January 16th and, reportedly, didn’t let our Premier know. I was also dismayed to learn he had no interest in visiting a farm or talking about agriculture.…

How do we send a unified voice to Ottawa?

Love them or hate them, grower groups exist in Canada to represent all kinds of primary producers. In fact, there are so many of them, I lose track - from provincial groups and national groups to sector and crop-specific groups. At HGV, we…