open i

The inspiration for the open i is Bob Edward who published a succession of weekly newspapers between 1897 and 1922, mainly from various small town Alberta locations. The most famous of these was the High River "Eye Opener."

Bob's humour and independent editorial style soon earned him a reputation that resulted in this copy being syndicated to other newspapers and his weeklies being sold across Canada. He is reputed to have been a remittance man and, therefore, of limited but independent means.

His challenge lay with gaining and maintaining advertizing revenue. He did not appear to allow the sensitivities of his sponsors to stunt unduly his copy. Bob's most celebrated sponsor was Jerry Boyce, owner of hotels in which Bob lived and where his successes were celebrated.

The Internet would have suited Bob. Too bad that it came a hundred years to late to benefit from Bob's copy.

Reference: "The Best of Bob Edwards," edited by Hugh A. Demsey, Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton, 1975, ISBN 0-88830-096-4.

The purpose of the open i is provide background to and an independent analysis on UK and EU agricultural issues. And at the same time to promote the work of the author, David Walker. Opinion will tend to be limited to those topics that have market implications and where the author believes he has expertise worth sharing.

Presentation will be simple, perhaps even stark. Emphasis will be on content rather than display. This should ensure that information can be speedily published, accessed and retrieved.

The opinions expressed at open i are those of the author unless otherwise cited. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure the information is accurate, the author is unable to provide any guarantee in this respect, or to be liable for the consequences of action taken on the basis of any information which proves to be inaccurate. You are welcome to use any information provided you quote the source. See copyright and disclaimer information.

(Click here for a 200Kb .GIF mug shot)

David Walker is an agricultural economist freelancing from his home in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He worked for the UK Home Grown Cereals Authority's Market Information Department for a year when he first returned to the UK from Canada in 1997.

He then worked from his home at Postwick in England until 2005 when he returned to Edmonton, AB.

He has over thirty-five years experience in agricultural market and policy analysis, holding positions at various times with Alberta Agriculture, the Alberta Grain Commission, the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council. the Canadian Food Prices Review Board and Anti Inflation Board. He has a B.Sc.(Hons) in Agriculture from the University of Nottingham at Sutton Bonnington and an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph.