Think locally, nationally, and globally

Jul 22, 2022

FCC article describes how global markets affect Canadian farmers.

By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Image via FCC

There is an adage people throw around and hope people get: think locally, act globally.

It’s simple enough… what we do locally has the “butterfly effect” on the whole planet, so make sure whatever we do on our farm is in the best interests of the planet.

But it’s a bit more complex than that, especially for farmers who not only have to think locally, but provincially, nationally, and internationally.

That’s the only way to increase the chance of having a successful season.

According to an article written by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), with input from Kyle Burak, an FCC Senior Economist, farmers need to be aware of how supply and demand should drive their production and marketing decisions.

Anyone can have the best yield of a crop ever, but who cares if there’s no demand for it?

The key is to read the market and where it is going.

Read the FCC article HERE.

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?