Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

AgVisionTV Online: Kevin Stewart Talks to Dr Patrick Moore, Founder of GreenPeace about Farming and Activism.

AgVisionTV Online: Kevin Stewart Interviews Dr Patrick Moore

Any comments on this show?

Click on the > button on the video player to watch the clips.


For Part One…


For Part Two…

Views: 136

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Colin Lundy on February 19, 2010 at 8:03am
I made reference to this video with respect to another discussion on farms.com. - the one referring to the Greenpeace guide booklet on what to shop for if you want to avoid GMOs. I think you find it on this link: http://ontag.farms.com/forum/topics/greenpeace-promoting-organic?xg.... A few things I would like to add now though: While the Green Revolution made big gains in Asia, it plateaued 20 years ago. Gains now not in GE, which indentures farmers and provides spurious benefits, but are in improved diversified ecological/organic farming (not for price premiums but for farmers' health and ecological sustainability and farm output). Farms in Africa are unproductive in part because of the dumping of cheap surplus corn harvests from North America. This reduces the incentive for farmers to farm in Africa, so farms are left uncared for or abandoned. In other words, there is arable land that is underused because of oversupply elsewhere. Furthermore, we don't have a production output problem, we have a distribution problem. My wife and I recently talked about how much food is wasted in Las Vegas casinos which offer all you can eat 24 hour buffets to entice gamblers to stick around. Can you imagine how much is wasted annually, probably enough to reduce malnutrition for 2 million people elsewhere. Finally, I recently learned that the farmers of India have successfully pressured their government to prevent Monsanto from introducing Bt Eggplant - congratulations. Nice to see that democracy works somewhere.
Permalink Reply by Tom Cox on February 19, 2010 at 10:38am
Kevin,

I had the opportunity several years ago to speak at a FCC sponsored event that you hosted and featured Dr Moore. I found his presentation to be one of the most thoughtful and well done of any I have ever heard. I at times get discouraged at the level of misinformation about conventional agriculture that gets accepted as established fact however to hear some one like Patrick Moore presenting a reasoned cogent science based argument was very encouraging.
Permalink Reply by Colin Lundy on February 23, 2010 at 7:36am
Dr Moore is able to temper misinformed opinionators, but science is also an opinion. It is often politically motivated, despite the assertion of "objectivity". Scientific fact does not necessarily mean it is good. There is bad science in that it is incorrect, and there is also bad science in that it is promoting something that is not actually beneficial.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Why Getting Your Acres Counted Could Put More Money in Your Pocket

Alberta Grains and Fertilizer Canada have launched Make Your Acres Count!, a campaign aimed at getting more Alberta farmers to register acres under the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework. The initiative encourages producers to work with a 4R Designated Agronomist to develop nutrient management plans that improve fertilizer efficiency, crop productivity and environmental stewardship. More than 2.15 million acres in Alberta were self-reported under 4R in 2024. The campaign’s goal is to nearly double that by the end of the 2025 crop year. “This campaign is about celebrating what Alberta farmers are already doing right and giving them a practical path to build on that success,” said Scott Jespersen, Alberta Grains chair and a farmer near Spruce Grove. “By getting your acres counted, you are demonstrating to governments and markets alike that we farm responsibly and with care for the land, while also improving the bottom line.” The 4R framework is based on applying the right source of nu

US Farmer Sentiment Down in August

US farmer sentiment slipped again in August, dragged down by souring expectations about the future. The latest monthly Purdue University–CME Group Ag Economy Barometer – released Tuesday – came in at 125 points, down 10 points from July. The barometer is based on a survey of 400 producers across the country. The August survey noted a marked disparity in optimism between livestock and crop producers, with the crop sector struggling mightily amid continued low prices. On the other hand, beef cattle operations especially are experiencing record profitability as the smallest cattle inventory since 1951 has pushed cattle prices to record levels. On the crop side, the barometer uncovered increasingly dire financial circumstances. Every January, the barometer survey includes questions on farm operating loans, but given rising concerns about farm income in 2025, the same questions were added to the August survey. The results underscored farmers’ financial stress. Twenty-two percent of

US Spring Wheat Harvest Nears Three-Quarters Finished

The US spring wheat harvest is approaching the three-quarter pole, slightly ahead of the average pace. According to Monday’s USDA crop progress report, 72% of the national spring wheat crop was in the bin as of Sunday. That is up from 53% a week earlier and ahead of both last year and the five-year average at 67% and 71%, respectively. In the largest production state of North Dakota, the harvest advanced 22 points from a week earlier to reach 62% complete as of Sunday, 4 points ahead of last year and 1 point ahead of the state average. The Minnesota harvest gained 16 points to 89% complete, compared to 72% last year and 76% on average, while Montana climbed 15 points to 73% done, behind 74% last year and 79% on average. At 91% complete, the South Dakota harvest advanced 7 points from a week earlier but was still behind 92% last year and 95% on average.

Alberta Boosts Loan Program to Support Beef Industry

The Alberta government is stepping up support for its livestock producers by raising the cap on the Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee Program to $225 million from the current $150 million. Announced last week, the move comes as international demand for Alberta’s beef continues to climb, pushing prices higher and creating greater financing needs for producers. The loan program provides government-backed, low-interest financing through 45 locally run feeder associations, enabling farmers to buy cattle and sheep and expand their operations. Since its creation in 1936, the program has issued more than $12 billion in loans and now finances between 17 and 24 % of Alberta’s calf crop each year. Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson said the increase will help ensure Alberta remains competitive in global markets. “Increasing the limit will ensure thousands of producers have access to the capital they need to keep producing Alberta’s world-renowned beef,” he said in a statement. “With

Keeping farmers’ voices heard in tariff and trade challenges

By Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service