Marker 01

Marker 02

The forecast is looking bright for the pork sector in 2026. Farm Credit Canada expects a profitable year as outlined in the 2026 Hog Outlook.

FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says 2025 ended up being a pretty good year for the hog industry in Canada and North America due to lower feed costs and strong pricing. This was fueled by strong demand for meat and higher costs for substitute proteins, whether it beef or chicken, making pork appealing for the consumer.

Shepherd expects 2026 to be much the same.

AND 

A chef instructor with the Culinary Institute of Canada says consumers have become more aware of the cost of groceries. An article circulated through canadianfoodfocus.org looks at how consumers can trim their food costs by using "humble cuts of meat" to prepare nutritious meals at home.

Chef Ilona Daniel says people are paying closer attention to the prices on their food as they balance the cost of groceries, housing, fuel and general living costs.

The forecast is looking bright for the pork sector in 2026. Farm Credit Canada expects a profitable year as outlined in the 2026 Hog Outlook. FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says 2025 ended up being a pretty good year for the hog industry in Canada and North America due to lower feed costs and strong pricing. This was fueled by strong demand for meat and higher costs for substitute proteins, whether it beef or chicken, making pork appealing for the consumer. Shepherd expects 2026 to be much the same. AND A chef instructor with the Culinary Institute of Canada says consumers have become more aware of the cost of groceries. An article circulated through canadianfoodfocus.org looks at how consumers can trim their food costs by using "humble cuts of meat" to prepare nutritious meals at home. Chef Ilona Daniel says people are paying closer attention to the prices on their food as they balance the cost of groceries, housing, fuel and general living costs.

Agriculture through a modern lens. Digging into the topics that matter to you. With Alice Mcfarlane.

Agriculture through a modern lens. Digging into the topics that matter to you. With Alice Mcfarlane.

Agripod

Agriculture through a modern lens.

This podcast is for those topics that need more than a 15 second sound bite.

It's valuable information for the primary producer, and covers sensitive topics like: intergenerational farm transfer, protecting the relationships of farm families, compelling research projects and emerging technologies - designed to make the farm more efficient. Join host Alice McFarlane and industry experts from around the country, weekly.

 

Agriculture through a modern lens.
This podcast is for those topics that need more than a 15 second sound bite. It's valuable information for the primary producer, and covers&nbsp;sensitive topics like: intergenerational farm transfer,&nbsp;protecting the relationships of farm families, compelling research projects and emerging technologies - designed to make the farm more efficient. Join host Alice McFarlane and industry experts from around the country, weekly.
&nbsp;

Hog industry forecast AND A chef's take on the cost of groceries

Ranchers care about the animals they raise. That is why when it's -50 with the windchill - they are on high alert watching out for those newborn calves. Sometimes it means going to any lengths to get them warmed up quickly so they can be returned to their mothers.

One rancher in southern Saskatchewan had several calves born on a very cold day. Those three newborn calves spent some time on a bathroom floor in the home of Chris Lees at Arcola, Saskatchewan. 

Chris will tell us about the busy start to calving season on his farm.



AND

Nearly all forestry biomass pellets are shipped to the European Union, which wants environmentally friendly energy solutions that reduce the need to import oil and natural gas. Work at the University of Saskatchewan is exploring turning canola and oat hulls --along with canola meal into a better biomass pellet. The main work is being done by PhD candidate Tumpa Sarkar, under the supervision of Dr. Ajay Dalai.

The hope is to have a final version of the biomass pellet in one to two years. Dr. Dalai is a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and holds the Canada Research Chair in bio energy.

He will share the research and the ultimate goal of developing a technology that would eventually be adopted by the private sector.

Ranchers care about the animals they raise. That is why when it's -50 with the windchill - they are on high alert watching out for those newborn calves. Sometimes it means going to any lengths to get them warmed up quickly so they can be returned to their mothers. One rancher in southern Saskatchewan had several calves born on a very cold day. Those three newborn calves spent some time on a bathroom floor in the home of Chris Lees at Arcola, Saskatchewan. Chris will tell us about the busy start to calving season on his farm. 
AND Nearly all forestry biomass pellets are shipped to the European Union, which wants environmentally friendly energy solutions that reduce the need to import oil and natural gas. Work at the University of Saskatchewan is exploring turning canola and oat hulls --along with canola meal into a better biomass pellet. The main work is being done by PhD candidate Tumpa Sarkar, under the supervision of Dr. Ajay Dalai. The hope is to have a final version of the biomass pellet in one to two years. Dr. Dalai is a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and holds the Canada Research Chair in bio energy. He will share the research and the ultimate goal of developing a technology that would eventually be adopted by the private sector.

Calfs in the cold AND A better biomass pellet [REPOST]

What should I make for dinner? Canada Beef will say...beef.. of course. But what cut of beef should I chose? How do I prepare it?


That's why Canada Beef is working towards getting QR codes on every package of beef. One quick scan with your smart phone and all of those questions will be answered.


Canada Beef President Michael Young says when every cut of beef has its own QR code the home cook will have the information they need to make a decision on the type of beef to buy, how to cook it, access to recipes and videos and even a grocery list, at their fingertips. Eventually the QR code will be part of the retail meat case, print or digital flyers. While beef will be the first to do this, Young believes other commodities like chicken and pork will soon follow.

AND 

Better brome....better beef.


The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan will receive $332,000 from the Agriculture Development Fund to find ways to make genetic improvements in bromegrass, an essential forage crop for cattle.


GIFS Director of Genomics and Bioinformatics Dr. Andrew Sharpe will explain how the research being done will produce a catalogue of genetic variations for bromegrass.


He says it will have a direct impact on the ability of breeders to select the most nutritious varieties of bromegrass that produce the largest yield.

What should I make for dinner? Canada Beef will say...beef.. of course. But what cut of beef should I chose? How do I prepare it?
 That's why Canada Beef is working towards getting QR codes on every package of beef. One quick scan with your smart phone and all of those questions will be answered.
 Canada Beef President Michael Young says when every cut of beef has its own QR code the home cook will have the information they need to make a decision on the type of beef to buy, how to cook it, access to recipes and videos and even a grocery list, at their fingertips. Eventually the QR code will be part of the retail meat case, print or digital flyers. While beef will be the first to do this, Young believes other commodities like chicken and pork will soon follow. AND&nbsp; Better brome....better beef.
 The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan will receive $332,000 from the Agriculture Development Fund to find ways to make genetic improvements in bromegrass, an essential forage crop for cattle.
 GIFS Director of Genomics and Bioinformatics Dr. Andrew Sharpe will explain how the research being done will produce a catalogue of genetic variations for bromegrass.
 He says it will have a direct impact on the ability of breeders to select the most nutritious varieties of bromegrass that produce the largest yield.

QR Codes on beef AND Genetically improving bromegrass

A company based in Edam in northwest Saskatchewan is getting ready to launch a pilot testing program for a new cattle ear tag.

Company owner James Babcock says the Ori-tags take basic health data from the cattle and use artificial intelligence to benefit the producer's operation.


While there's room for pork producers to be optimistic heading into 2026, that optimism is being tempered by tariff threats and global political uncertainty.

Manitoba Pork General Manager Can Dahl says, on the positive side, there was profitability in 2025 due to strong demand for both pigs and pork, on the flip side of the coin there is significant international market volatility and an uncertain relationship with the U.S., as well as tariffs on pork going into China.

A company based in Edam in northwest Saskatchewan is getting ready to launch a pilot testing program for a new cattle ear tag. Company owner James Babcock says the Ori-tags take basic health data from the cattle and use artificial intelligence to benefit the producer's operation.
 While there's room for pork producers to be optimistic heading into 2026, that optimism is being tempered by tariff threats and global political uncertainty. Manitoba Pork General Manager Can Dahl says, on the positive side, there was profitability in 2025 due to strong demand for both pigs and pork, on the flip side of the coin there is significant international market volatility and an uncertain relationship with the U.S., as well as tariffs on pork going into China.

Hog industry forecast AND A chef's take on the cost of groceries

In 1 playlist(s)

Agripod

Follow podcast

Recent clips