Agriculture is a global industry, but we think it about it from a very regionalized point of view in many ways.  From region to region, we really don’t know much about each other.   For example, Montana doesn’t understand issues in Missouri or Ontario doesn’t understand all issues in Saskatchewan.  I think this is one of the things that makes agriculture special – but at the same time,  it creates unnecessary misunderstandings.  At a national level, these kind of misunderstandings can have grave consequences when issues arise politically or with trade.

Shaun Haney is the owner of Haney Farms and is the founder of RealAgriculture.com. Shaun was raised on a seed farm and just outside of Picture Butte and continues to work there today managing a seed production, processing and retail business called Haney Farms. Shaun is also the founder of RealAgriculture.com, a website focused on discussing the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing Canadian producers.

The United States is a very important market for Canadian agricultural products.  In some situations, Canadian producers follow the U.S. market just as close as the Canadian market –  such as the cattle market.  When you talk to Canadian and American producers along the border, there’s good understanding because of the commerce between the two.  When we look at the two countries independently, some misunderstandings have developed – this is also to be expected

When I look at things from a one hundred thousand foot level, I see more in common than we might expect.  Sometimes I think we are too hard on ourselves by focusing on what is always wrong or different.  Based on discussions with producers on both sides of the border, I see both sides struggling with:

• access to farm credit
• rapidly increasing land values
• urban sprawl in traditional farming areas
• the battle of trying to increase profitability in a shrinking margin business.

Now there are differences like the Canadian Wheat Board (single desk seller), dairy quota in Canada, high U.S .farm subsidies and the increasing U.S. trade protectionism on imports of Canadian agricultural products (COOL).  I think we need better engagement and understanding at the producer level between both countries.  When I talk to American producers there is a real urge to learn more about Canadian agriculture, just like there is a likewise feeling in Canada.  Lets be honest; Canada and the U.S. need to be on the same page because neither can compete globally as low cost producers against China and South America.

What really does excite me is that social media can play an integral role in improving the dialogue between Canadian and US producers.  Making direct contact is usually better than reading dialogue through bureaucrats.  I know for me personally I have gained a far better understanding of the issues of my American neighbors through tools like Facebook and Twitter.  Whether it’s discussing corn yields in Nebraska or the cotton harvest in Georgia, I am able to talk to other producers to better understand the issues at hand.  Removing the filtration of information by government and media allows for more honest, pure, concentrated, purposeful discussion.

We live in an age where we can access information and enter into dialogue with the click of a mouse or the touch of an iPad.  Gone are the days where we get coverage two weeks after events.  We can now discuss issues with Canadian and American producers to form our own opinions and not just following the thoughts of a few ag media outlets that are left.  We will be farther ahead as North American producers if we get more engaged in dialogue with each other and social media is one of the greatest tools to enable this.

~ guest post by Shaun Haney

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