Farms can be noisy workplaces, from running equipment to livestock and ventilation systems. All may be unavoidable, but all are loud. If hearing protection is neglected, hearing loss can jeopardize worker safety. And that’s not to mention the mental health problems that can arise when conversations aren’t heard or well understood.
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Climate change is transforming the geography of agriculture in Ontario. Increasing temperatures mean farming may be feasible further north than ever before. Farmers across the province may have differing views on that, but a united voice will be more helpful for all of us. Photo: OMAFRA
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Bonfire on Queen is a cool new pizzeria in beautiful downtown Paisley. Businesses like that help to keep our towns and villages on the map, and their owners work 24/7 to make sure they succeed. ‘Buy local’ isn’t just a slogan, but a vote of confidence for our rural centres and their future.
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Trump’s massive buy-off of U.S. farmers has not helped the American farm economy, and it’s done even more damage in Canada. But U.S. Black farmers still report difficulty in gaining access to capital, though they may have found a sympathetic ear in Joe Biden. Photo: CNN.com
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A national agricultural policy developed just over a year ago no longer supports Canada’s agri-food industry, say a group of agricultural analysts. They cite COVID-19 and recent geopolitical conflicts as having such profound implications that the policy status quo isn’t acceptable.The onus is on Canada’s agri-food industry and government to ensure policies are current and adaptable, as market changes continue to evolve.
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Owen Roberts is a faculty member in the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications program at the University of Illinois. As an agricultural journalist, he is the past president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and a lifetime achievement award recipient from the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation. His programs and research papers have been recognized nationally and internationally through awards from the Journal of Applied Communications, the National Agri-Marketing Association, the Association for Communications Excellence, and others.