Today Marks First Ever Agriculture Day

Feb 16, 2017

Today, February 16 marks Canada's first ever Agriculture Day.

It's a time to celebrate and draw a closer connection between Canadians, our food and the people who produce it.

In the 1930's, more than 90 per cent of Canadians had a connection to agriculture. Today that number is less than three per cent, according to Statistics Canada.

Candace Hill, manager of Agriculture More Than Ever, said Canada's Agriculture Day complements the industry-led initiative that has attracted over 470 partner organizations and 2,100 individuals committed to creating positive perceptions of agriculture.

Launched more than four years ago, Agriculture More Than Ever's goal is to encourage those involved in agriculture to speak up and speak positively about the industry.

"It's all about showing our love, pride and passion for an industry that puts food on our tables," said Hill. "We want to give everyone the opportunity to have a voice in the conversation and celebrate the industry that feeds the world."

Events to mark the occasion are being held Thursday across the country, with a major celebration taking place in Ottawa.

Source : Portageonline

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.