New Ag Minister A Good Choice For Albertans

Jun 28, 2012

Alison Redford Premier of Alberta appointed Verlyn Olson for the Agriculture and Rural Development ministerial portfolio. Olson is a lawyer by trade and has some background in agriculture.

“I know that there would be people that would say, ‘Huh, a lawyer as agricultural minister,’ but my roots are in rural Alberta” says Olson.

Although, not a farmer himself Olson is not far removed from agriculture as his father was a Massey Harris dealer and the majority of his relatives are also farmers. But there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to get up to speed. There are over 600 stakeholder groups that have been competing for his attention. Not only will he have to meet with stakeholder groups but he will also have to connect with primary producers. But Olson isn’t going to let his lack of on-the-farm experience stop him from learning the issues that are important to farmers. Fortunately, his background as a primarily rural-based lawyer will give him a step up on the legal side of agricultural policy. Olson is not only interested in the policy side of agriculture, but has a vision to encourage more young people to get involved in farming and the agricultural industry as a whole.

“I think we do need to engage in that conversation. It’s a pervasive problem. The average of a farmer is getting older. We need to spend time to encourage young people to get into the business” says Olson.

There is a lot that needs to be done so there is no time to be slacking off. The agriculture portfolio will be one to watch in the upcoming months.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.