Taxes, trade and tortured “logic”

Taxes, trade and tortured “logic”

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

Regarding the export market, Japan has a new prime minister but nothing has indicated that will appreciably affect their economy. China is reining in tech firms, the property market and other industries. We hope that doesn’t have major impacts on their demand for fed beef but it needs monitoring, given their importance in global beef […] Read more

We are all part of a team, whether it be our work team, family, sports or community group.

Communication and team-building

Communication is a major component of building teams

Years ago, I heard a comment that the most underutilized resource in agriculture is people. The statement still rings true for me today and I believe our people are an area of huge potential. For most of us, in one way or another, we are all part of a team, whether it be our work […] Read more


Fighting vaccination is a declaration of an intention that threatens to collapse our medical system — already in a malaise after a two-year battle with COVID-19.

Being contrary is not caring

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

The Canadian Veterinary Oath states the following: As a member of the veterinary medical profession, I solemnly swear that I will use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society. I will strive to: Promote animal health and welfare, Prevent and relieve animal suffering, Protect the health of the public and the environment, […] Read more

Comment: Keep your pencil sharp

“The most important tool on the farm is the pencil.” That was the best farming advice Mike Buis ever received, and it came from his grandfather. Buis recently conducted a virtual tour of his family’s Chatham, Ont., beef farm for the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation. Coincidentally, a day or two before the Buis Beef tour, […] Read more


China is reshaping the global cow herd with aggressive buying.

China reshapes global beef markets

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

World events have made it increasingly difficult to figure out where the bubble in the level really is. We saw hundreds of Canadians on television protesting the detention of two Canadian citizens by the Chinese Communist Party for 1,000 days. The allegations are supposedly unrelated to political events everyone knows they are connected to. Yet […] Read more

Building resilience

Building resilience

Do you have the tools to recover from or adjust to adversity?

Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, at least it is not as bad as ’02.” Or perhaps, “This is even worse than ’02.” The situations vary in their severity but everyone in Western Canada is experiencing some degree of drought. And nobody in this business wants to think back to what happened after the drought of ’02. […] Read more



The upcoming generation is filled with talent, intelligence, creativity, enthusiasm, passion and a different way of thinking. We need to make sure we are not getting in their way, but helping guide the ship.

Rethinking what we know

“If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom.”

There is a quote attributed to Albert Einstein that goes something like this: “You cannot solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it.” This seems to make a lot of sense, but how does one go about moving to a different level of thinking? The speed of change seems to be […] Read more


California restauranteurs are concerned that a meat staple of many dishes such as the one seen here is going to be gutted from their menus come January.

Disappearing bacon — what’s next?

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

Reality can bite for voters ruled by emotion rather than informed decision-making. But this time, it could take away something to bite into. Restauranteurs in California are getting very concerned that a meat staple of many dishes, especially in breakfast-centred restaurants, is going to be gutted from their menus in January. Beginning then, much of […] Read more

Dittmer: Senate hearing elicits critical facts and logic

Dittmer: Senate hearing elicits critical facts and logic

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

A Senate hearing on your industry is always dangerous. It’s especially dangerous now for the U.S. cattle industry. Two Senate bills would mandate that each major packing plant procure 50 per cent of its cattle weekly by negotiated cash. The furor in the industry about such a drastic move, the remembered pandemic spectre of empty […] Read more