Saskatchewan Open Farm Days provides a great opportunity for farmers to interact with and expand the public's understanding and trust of agriculture and to showcase the great agricultural products grown in the province. Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan Executive Director Clinton Monchuk says expanding the understanding of those who do not live on a farm of what farmers do to produce food is becoming increasingly important as we move years and generations into the future. The special announcement was made at Canada's Farm Show about the formation of a partnership between Startup TNT and Farm Credit Canada. Jesse Wiebe, Community Develop Lead with Startup TNT, made the announcement at the Launch Pad event. He says FCC will support their Agri-Food programming with the goal of raising $500,000 for startup companies across Canada.

Preliminary results of research show pigs can be stimulated into engaging in play. The Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the Prairie Swine Centre are exploring the prospects of using play to improve the emotional well being of pigs and improve their resilience and performance. In one experiment the behavior of two groups of pigs provided intermittent play opportunities was compared to a control group. Dr. Yolande Seddon is an Assistant Professor Swine Behaviour and Welfare. She says the objective is to determine whether play could be stimulated and identify the physiological effects of play on the pigs. All internationally trained veterinarians hoping to practice in Canada take their final hands-on test in Saskatoon. Three times a year, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine hosts the clinical proficiency examination process for international veterinarian graduates who want to be license in Canada. It is the only location in Canada that hosts this testing. Dr. Gillian Muir explains the testing process and how this is easing some of the stress of the veterinarian shortage across Canada.

Farmers have a plethora of support available at their fingertips - from apps to websites. But a very important national phone line has been launched to help farmers with their  mental health. The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Well-being (CCAW) announced the launch of the National Farmer Wellness Network Crisis Line, an initiative designed to help farmers, farm families, and agricultural workers address the unique mental health challenges they face related to their operation. It's being funded by Farm Credit Canada's $1.5-million investment over three years to  cover costs associated with running a national phone line. Chief Executive Officer of CCAW Briana Hagen says work on the national line started when the organization was established in 2022. Saskatchewan is known around the world for haskap---and the man largely responsible  will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame this spring. For many years, Dr. Bob Bors was the head of the Fruit Program in the University of  Saskatchewan’s Plant Sciences Department. He retired last year. He introduced nine sour cherries . . . but is best known for the 10 haskap varieties which are grown by home gardeners and commercial fruit producers across Canada, the United States and Europe.

To enhance the ability of pork producers to be prepared to respond to a foreign animal disease outbreak, the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board in partnership with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and the Animal Health Emergency Management project has released a mass euthanasia and disposal producer guide. Sask Pork Producer Services Manager Karolina Steinerova talks about the plan and training that's available. A new University of Saskatchewan study will examine whether pea protein can strengthen bone structure in people over the age of 50. The pea protein will be put into almond milk, which has low protein levels. The study will also include milk and pea milk as comparisons.The one-year study involving as many as 200 men and women will be led by Dr. Phil Chillibeck---a professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Kinesiology. The study will also include strength training in combination with the beverages.

The Research Lead with Agrifood Economic Systems suggests Canadian agricultural organizations and government need to come together quickly and act decisively in response to the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports. Agrifood Economic Systems has released a Policy Advisory Note which examines Canada's one month reprieve on U.S. tariffs and how the agri-food sector should use that time. Dr. Al Mussell says Canadians are suddenly faced with a generational event. The Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association has a new Chief Executive Officer. During its Annual General Meeting, it was announced Christina Betker will be taking over from Grant McLellan, who is pursuing other opportunities. Betker has been with the Association for 10 years as a Policy Manager and has experience in the agriculture sector along with time working in the Canadian and U.S. governments. Her plan for the organization includes dealing with current issues, such as the tariff situation with the U.S. and enhancing their communication with the public AND the organization's decision to change its name.

When it comes to the various cuts of pork, consumer preferences have changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Since COVID consumers have been contending with steadily increasing food prices. Hubert Muckel, a retired southwestern Manitoba butcher-meat cutter who retired in 2023 after working more than 50 years, estimates food prices have approximately doubled over the past four years. The price of medium ground pork has gone from $1.99 a pound to over $4.50 a pound for the same product. There is a growing recognition of the need to address anxiety and depression among farmers. The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program is on on-line support program for farmers, their families and their employees who are dealing with anxiety or depression. Program Vice-chair Roberta Galbraith says the program was a response to a 2016 University of Guelph study that revealed depression and anxiety levels within the agriculture sector, particularly among farmers, were substantially higher than the general population. She says a follow-up 2021 study that showed the needle hadn't moved.

There has been a lot of discussion surrounding a pesky weed called kochia. Wind helps spread the tumbleweed longer distances and there are more reports of herbicide resistant kochia. The seed banks are only viable for three years, but it has been discovered forages can compete with kochia in low-lying marginal areas. Ducks Unlimited Extension Agrologist Jodie Horvath says DU sponsored research projects last year using drones that seeded forages on 14 farms covering a total of 560 acres. She says there were promising results with more drone seeding projects coming up this year. Saskatchewan farmer Todd Lewis got the call from the Prime Minister himself and will be accepting an appointed to the Canadian Senate. Lewis is the former president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and current Vice president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. For the farmer from Gray near Regina, Sask. the title of Senator is something he's still getting used.

With global politics, tariffs and uncertainty - canola prices in Canada would likely be higher, Marlene Boersch spoke to farmers and agronomists at a recent meeting sharing her thoughts on the canola market and the impact of impending tariffs. She says she's angry that Canada's most important trading partner is ignoring trade agreements that were signed. Plant growth regulators are synthetic compounds that can modify plant growth, development and function by altering hormonal activity. In western Canadian cereal crops, PGRs can work to produce shorter stems, reduce lodging and maintain grain yield. Moddus is a plant growth regulator from Syngenta that can be used on multiple crops There is a new research project in Saskatchewan that is looking specifically at barley. Mitchell Japp is the Research and Extension Manager for the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission. He'll share the very early results of a study of PGR's in Barley.

A southwestern Manitoba farmer is calling on government and industry to explore the feasibility of establishing a processing facility that would extract medical compounds from the byproducts of hog processing. Heparin is a blood thinner that prevents the formation of blood clots. Jim Downey says he became interested in the medical side of production about three years ago when he was contacted by a Chinese company looking to find out what was being done with the mucosa from the guts of the hogs being slaughtered in Manitoba. The July heat did a number on 2024 crop yields in Saskatchewan, but it did prevent major disease outbreaks. Sandy Junek, the Molecular Lab Manager with Discovery Seed Labs in Saskatoon says seed germination levels range from good to very good.

Farmers get a lot of direction from agronomists, accountants, bankers and lawyers. All have a direct impact on their business. But one area they often neglect is their closest personal relationships.Our guest, Sean Brotherson, a professor and extension family science specialist from North Dakota State University says a farmer’s highest priority should be their spouse or partner. Today we talk about how healthy relationships can improve the farm business. And, the cattle industry has been hit particularly hard during the pandemic. Low prices and reduced processing capacity have devastated the industry. We have Saskatchewan rancher Adrienne Ivey here to talk about how livestock producers are coping, why two large players in the meat packing industry in Western Canada hold the monopoly on processing and why its so difficult for small meat processing facilities to make a go of it. Adrienne discusses why she chooses to share her personal story on social media, the positives and the disappointments, and how she is committed to working not only with farmers and consumers but with the entire value chain.

The Federal Government needs to make changes to policies on illegal immigration and the illicit sale of drugs to avoid imposition of a 25 per cent US tariff on Canadian and Mexican pork imports. That comes from Florian Possberg, a partner in Polar Pork. He says 2025 looks positive for pork producers but a tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports could change all of that. A farmer and agricultural input dealer from West Central Saskatchewan has written a book for the average grocery shopper. Denis Bulani, the CEO of the Rack, is the author of What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food. He was inspired to write the book after attending a major entrepreneurs conference in Arizona, where one of the speakers made several remarks denigrating food production. Belani wrote the easy-to-understand book using facts backed up by 199 footnotes.

Researchers with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are using radio-frequency identification technology to track the feeding behavior of pigs to provide an early warning of disease. Dr. Raj Sharma says the development of autonomous technologies are designed to capture data 24-7 to monitor and track individual pig feeding behavior to provide early disease detection. He says it provides real-time insights on what an individual pig eats and drinks and will help them identify sick animals more quickly. It's been said a lot that cattle prices in 2024 have been strong all year, but will they continue in 2025 and moisture improved for pastureland especially in areas where there’s been multiple years of drought. CEO of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association Grant McLellan will discuss these and other important issues for producers in 2025.

It was during very dry conditions that a retired soil scientist sent a message out on social media telling farmers they need to soil sample to understand what the nutrient carryover will be for the next crop. Smaller yields likely mean the fertilizer applied in the spring was not used up and could be available for the next crop. Ross McKenzie explains how the soil test could save farmers money at seeding. In part two of Agripod...Ross will explain why it’s important to sample at the right time, give some guidelines for sampling and gives a list of labs that can provide that analysis.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has a new president. Bill Prybyski was elected to the position during the group's annual general meeting. Prybylski says there are many files the organization is working on but he has one of particular interest to him. Dr. Louis-Pierre Comeau of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been working with Dr. Franck Stefani to lead the Canadian Soil Biome Survey. More information was released on Dec 5th which is World Soil Day. Dr. Comeau will share some thoughts on data that has been gathered so far

We're going to be talking a lot in the next few weeks about 'year-in-review stories'. Two specialists have examined the ten most important variables impacting Canadian Agriculture for 2025. It was compiled by two senior analysts from GrainFox---Neil Townsend and Ranulf Glanville. They will share their thoughts on 2024 and the year to come. Canadian Western Agribition wrapped up with organizers expecting attendance to be near the record set one year ago. Agribition President Michael Latimer will talk about some of the highlights of the event and particularly the purebred and commercial cattle shows and sales.

A professor with Dalhousie University says Canada will need to work with the United States under the new Donald Trump administration to ensure benefits to Canadian agriculture. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says Canada followed the United States in terms of food inflation, but Canada is now higher, the result of Canada's own food policies. Farmers are investing in the next generation of young people by participating in the Acres for Education program. A voluntary donation of 10 cents an acre goes to help Ag in the Classroom and its many programs both inside and outside school. Some farmers also participate by allowing students to come to their farms on tours and learn more about what modern agriculture is all about. McArthur Ag Ventures in the Watrous, Sask. area have participated in both programs

Manitoba Pork is calling for the creation of strategic plan for dealing with trade. General manager Cam Dahl says in the wake of the recent U.S. election, the federal government needs to develop a national strategy for agriculture and food trade particularly as Canada heads into the 2026 review of the Canada U.S. Mexico Agreement. Protein Industries Canada is looking for companies that can blend pulses AND cereals to create new food products and ingredients. PIC Senior Director of Programs Lisa Campbell says the purpose of calling for Expression of Interests (EOI) is to meet the consumer demand for more innovative ways to incorporate protein and fibre into their diets.

Donald Trump will return to the US presidency early next year after winning yesterday’s election. What will this mean for international trade as well as imports and exports between Canada and the United States. Trump campaigned on implementing tariffs---specifically against China, which would impact US corn and soybean producers. We spoke this morning to Stephen Nicholson---a global sector strategist for grains and oilseeds with Rabobank in St.Louis. Farmers are celebrating the passage of Right-to-Repair Legislation Grain Growers of Canada said passage of Bills C-244 and C-294, an important step forward and significant victory for Canadian farmers. Executive Director Kyle Larkin says the bills provide farmers the ability to repair their own equipment, ensuring the continued functionality of the advanced technology essential to modern agriculture.

A well-known Environment Canada Meteorologist will soon be calling it a career. Terri Lang will retire after 36 years at the national weather office. She'll talk about the changes in weather gathering that have occurred over her time and some of the most interesting weather events she has been able to cover. An animal science professor with Colorado State University says when it comes to health and welfare, aggression and animal handling, genetics is a key factor to consider. Dr. Temple Grandin is the keynote speaker at the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium.Grandin explains animal handling has improved dramatically over the past 40 years, one factor that plays a role is genetics.

A new high-throughput immunogen-screening method developed by the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization will hopefully help reduce the costs associated with developing new vaccines. Haoming Liu, a fourth year PhD student with VIDO, explains immunogens, be they proteins, sugars, or fats, and explains how they help the immune system recognize and fight off infections. The Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium features an impressive list of speakers and great opportunity for networking. The event is scheduled for Saskatoon November 5th and 6th. Sask Pork Communications and Marketing Coordinator Steve Seto says the symposium is the perfect opportunity to hear about the latest in the industry and technological advances.

The Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health located at the University of Saskatchewan has received an anonymous, $1.5-million donation to fund the purchase and operating costs of a new mobile unit that will travel around rural Saskatchewan. Centre Director Dr. Shelly Kirchuk and Kendra Ulmer, the manager of the Agricultural Health and Safety Network will talk about the work of the rural and agricultural centre and the significance of the donation. Often people have a certain vision of what a conventional farm looks like. It usually involved a tractor or combine and a field of golden grain. John Cote and his wife Barb Stefanyshyn Cote did the unthinkable and sold the family farm and then they embarked on a completely different experience...making gin and selling flowers. Barb will talk about their journey to the creation of Black Fox Farm and Distillery and how they've never worked harder in their lives.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released a report on the latest recommendations and feedback relating to modernizing the seed regulations in Canada. The process began in 2021 and covers several areas from import to export, seed conditioning, storage, testing and labeling to seed sales. The National Manager for the Seed Section of the CFIA, Wendy Jahn (Yawn) says a number of the regulations, policies and programs interact with each other and rather than making changes one at a time it makes more sense to take a holistic approach to modernizing the system. Animal Health Canada has been awarded 13 million dollars to further its efforts to improve conditions for farmed animals in Canada. AHC will continue its collaborative work to advance animal health and welfare in Canada. Executive Director Colleen McElwain says the goal is to build a more resilient and responsive industry that can meet both current and future challenges.

There are many pieces of legislation introduced during a Parliamentary session—-only a few received widespread media coverage while other bills fly under the radar getting much less public attention. Bill C-293 is a private member’s bill introduced by a Liberal backbench MP from Toronto. Published reports indicate Nathaniel Erskine-Smith was raised as a vegetarian and is now a vegan. Bill C-293 deals with governmental powers in the event of another pandemic covering a wide variety of topics ranging from food to vaccines. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax and is a well-known figure in food circles. He published an opinion piece expressing serious concerns about Bill C-293 and its contents. Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan celebrated its 10th anniversary with a social event in Saskatoon. Executive Director Clinton Monchuk says it was an opportunity to share what has been accompished and the future direction for the organization.

More than ever consumers are curious about how and where their food is produced. Amy te Plate-Church is the Director of the U.S. based Center for Food Integrity. She says consumer trends and developments in consumer perceptions have far reaching implications for farmers. She says some of the factor’s consumers consider when making purchasing decisions are changing. The General Manager of Manitoba Pork is calling on governments to adopt an incentive rather than regulatory based approach to achieving environmental targets and sustainability goals. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's has completed consultations on a new sustainable agricultural strategy. Cam Dahl wrote an article for Manitoba community newspapers and Manitoba Pork's Chop Talk newsletter looking at the issue of sustainability. He says we are at a crossroads in terms of government policy, especially when it comes to the whole question of sustainability and environmental impact.

The Animal Health Canada's Emergency Management Division says the focus of the division right now is planning and preparedness for foreign animal disease. Director Erica Charlton says, at this stage, the main focus is disease planning and preparedness with the big three being African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease and High Path Avian Influenza in poultry. Four cereal-based producer commissions in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario have announced plans to contribute $13.4 million to the proposed Global Technology Exchange in Winnipeg. The project---known by the acronym GATE---will contain state-of-the-art equipment for milling, baking, pasta and noodle making, malt and brewing as well as processing. It will cover services provided in the current Cereals Canada facility. GATE’S total cost will be $102 million—which includes a site in downtown Winnipeg, construction and the cost of housing advanced milling equipment. Sask Wheat director Rob Stone farms in the Davidson area.  He says with the producer funding in place . . . along with $5 million from Cereals Canada . . . the next step will be to approach government entities and other potential funding partners.

A program developed by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, to attract veterinary students into swine medicine, is a win for the students, their educators and the swine veterinary practices participating in the program. The Pharmhouse Summer Student Swine Experience Program places veterinary students into swine veterinary practices during the summer. Dr. John Harding says the program was created to help overcome the shortage we face in livestock veterinary medicine, particularly in the swine industry. We'll talk to Dr. Harding and two vet students that participated. In the wake of the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC) revocation of the grain dealer license for Purely Canada Foods, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is urging for an immediate review of the CGC's bonding and licensing system to better safeguard producers in the grain industry. APAS President Ian Boxall says the cancellation marks the fourth instance in recent months where grain companies have had their licenses revoked, signaling a troubling trend that requires rapid and resolute responses to protect the interests of hardworking farmers.

The Canadian Canola Growers association met with canola crop commissions from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to discuss trade issues with China. The Chinese are promising to launch an anti-dumping case against Canadian canola in retaliation for Canada's decision to impose stiff tariffs on steel, aluminum and electric vehicles coming from China. CCGA President Rick White shares what was discussed and the calls for a swift resolution to a dispute that's threatening Canada's canola exports. Saskatchewan's Water Security Agency is putting its Agriculture Water Stewardship Policy to the test through a series of pilot projects. Krystal Tendler is the Executive Director of Agriculture Water Management with the WSA. She says those pilot projects are in areas where drainage is common, such as the east-central and northeast regions.

Canada's own regulatory system is making its farmers less competitive internationally and hampering their ability to provide the world with food. Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl says when the costs imposed on Canadian agriculture as the result of regulations are higher than they are in countries like the United States or Brazil it means that Canadian farmers are less competitive. Farm Health Guardian is looking to test its digital biosecurity technology with farms and food companies across Canada. The ideal project participants are farms or food companies with multiple connected sites, such as pig production systems; transport or feed companies looking to verify vehicle biosecurity; and veterinarians who oversee a group of farms with shared biosecurity protocols. Rob Hannam, CEO of Farm Health Guardian, says it automates biosecurity to send biosecurity breach alerts, stop unauthorized entry, and verify requirements to protect against disease transmission.

A document released by the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance outlines eleven principles designed to help Canada's trade negotiators achieve fair and sustainable trade agreements that won't inadvertently hinder trade. CAFTA Executive Director Michael Harvey says the document "Principles for Sustainable and Fair Trade in the Agri-Food Sector." - provides a structured approach for governments and interested stakeholders as they engage in policy discussions related to trade and sustainability. The beef industry hosts a major get-together with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Saskatchewan. It'll be the first time Saskatoon is hosting the conference, which includes meetings and presentations by numerous important figures in Canada's beef industry. Canadian Cattle Association Nathan Phinney talks about the pressing issues facing the cattle industry and how the U.S. election can impact producers.

It’s a new chapter for Ray Orb, as he is now adjusting to life after being the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) for the last ten years, and twenty overall with the Board. Orb talks about what he has seen in his two decades with the organization, working with different levels of government, the key issues, accomplishments and regrets. Root rot in pulse crops has grown to be a devastating issue for growers across Western Canada, so a team of University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers and colleagues at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the National Research Council(NRC) led by Dr. Sabine Banniza (PhD) of USask’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) is searching for ways to beat it. Banniza, a professor with the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, received more than $4.2 million from the Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) to uncover solutions for root rot in pea and lentil crops. As Banniza puts it, root rot in pea and lentil has become so prevalent in Western Canada it has caused growers to stop planting the crops in some areas.

The subject is Family Farm succession is complex and emotional. That's why we felt it was topic that was worthy of being the focus of the entire podcast this week. While discussions surrounding succession can be difficult there are strategies available to Canadian farm business families to confidently navigate the paths of transition decision making. My guest is Patti Durand, a certified Family Enterprise Advisor, with Brightrack Consulting. Over the past six years she's guided 350 farm families through transition and succession conversations.As a speaker and workshop leader, Patti provides relatable, thoughtful ideas to help business families move ahead, together and with certainty. I'll talk to Patti about nine habits worth adjusting and shifting to in the conversation of the future of the family farm.

Canadian Western Agribition’s Next Gen Mentorship Program was created to support the next generation of agriculture leaders. The program matches eight young leaders in the agriculture industry with professionals for an 18-month mentorship where they gain skills and experiences to advance their careers. David McTaggart is one of the mentees in the fourth cohort. He has been partnered with Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel. I'll talk to David about what he has gained from being involved in the program. The aging demographic of producers may be the most significant issue facing the future of the livestock sector . . . but is only one of several areas of concern. Representatives from cattle, sheep and bison organizations participated in a Livestock Summit sponsored by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.  A young cattle producer from eastern Saskatchewan Levi Hull talked about some of the challenges including access to capital for new producers, improving business risk management programs and preventing the ongoing conversion of pastures into cropland. 

Showcasing agriculture innovation - that's the premise behind the Innovation Awards handed out before the start of this year's outdoor farm show Ag in Motion. There were 5 categories – crops, livestock, business solutions, agronomics and environmental sustainability I had a chance to speak to 2 of the winners at Dennis Bulani the creator of the HedgeHog app that allows farmers to quickly hedge diesel fuel prices for up to two years in advance and Deans Scrivens with CropScan Ag with its on-combine grain analyzer, the winner in the agronomics category. The Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada officially unveiled their mobile skills lab at Western Canada 's largest outdoor farm show. The lab is designed to encourage people to consider a career and ag. I had a chance to talk to AMC president Donna Boyd about the mobile lab. She said it has been 3 years since they first started to notice the ag manufacturing industry was having challenges attracting new talent despite a boom period for the sector.

Corteva Agriscience announced its new brand, Trusource™ wheat, a high fiber durum that can help meet consumers’ needs for increased dietary fiber through use in high-volume foods such as pasta. Trusource wheat will be available to food companies to trial in product development and evaluation in late 2024, with North American commercialization plans for farmers to be announced in the coming years. Tyler Groeneveld is the North American Director for value added ingredients at Corteva Agriscience. He says its important because fiber is the most under-consumed macronutrient and there is a direct correlation between low fiber and chronic inflammation, leading to many human health issues. Hot summers may be great for your time at the lake but very hot temperatures can cause stress in crops, especially flowering canola. Curtis Rempel, vice president of crop production and innovation with the Canola Council of Canada says when the temperatures are in the 30's, it's especially hard on flowering canola plants. The crop at flowering is when the pollen is produced, the canola gets pollinated and seeds start forming. When you have high heat levels, when the crop is starting to flower, you get the pollen dying because of the heat. Then the flower does not get pollinated and it gets blasted off or falls off, and the farmer loses that yield potential they would have otherwise had.

Hunters and wildlife, like bears, add to the challenges of locating feral wild boar. Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Alberta pork and Alberta Invasive Species Council are working together to locate and eliminate wild boar from Alberta's landscape,  Charlotte Shipp is the industry programs manager with Alberta Pork, and she will talk about their joint efforts.    Western Canada's largest outdoor show is celebrating its 10th anniversary at AG in motion Prairie farmers have a chance to see what's new in agriculture and connect with others in the industry. AIM has over 100 acres of trade show exhibits, company share products and new technology at the three-day event and there are live infield demonstrations, ride and drives and a showcase of over 550 exhibitors  Show manager Rob O'Connor says the show in 2023 reached a record attendance of over 31,000 guests and they anticipate a similar crowd in 2024.   

Cereals Canada recently released its annual report and announced the national cereal grain value chain organization want a new facility that would serve as the hub for Canada’s grain industry, promoting the use of Canadian crops around the world. That new $100 million facility would be built in downtown Winnipeg and would be branded as the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE.) Cereals Canada CEO Dean Dias will talk about the report and share why this new building is needed. Farmers and agronomists scout for signs of sclerotinia in canola fields following a wetter than normal spring and early summer. The challenge is determining the economic threshold for spray treatments. The Canola Council of Canada has developed a new online tool to assist with the decision. It is available at CanolaCalculator.ca, Chris Manchur with the council says the sclerotinia risk assessment tool offers both a recommendation about whether or not to spray a canola crop based on information provided by the user and rating sclerotinia severity at maturity.

Canadian agriculture needs to focus on adapting to climate change in a manner that will help sustain food security in the world. A policy paper released by Agri-Food Economic Systems, reviewed the effects of climate change on agriculture. Research Lead Dr. Al Mussell says data from Environment and Climate Change Canada indicates Canada is getting warmer and wetter, however, rather than focusing on adapting to those changing conditions, policy makers have prioritized mitigating the effects of climate change. Demand for beef is expected to stay high even though the cattle herd has declined in Canada and the United States and beef prices are relatively high. Anne Wasko is the president of Cattle Trends. She says the U.S. beef cow herd has declined 2.5 per cent to 28.2 million head so far this year.

A series of surveys conducted by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine suggests a need to step up the recruitment of veterinary students. In response to a shortage of swine veterinarians, surveys asked how long vets had been in practice, their educational background, what attracted them to the profession and how long they plan to remain active. Dr. John Harding, a professor of swine medicine with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says the five surveys focused on different topics including the swine profession and its needs, swine medicine education, swine medicine curricula, swine veterinarian clinical competency and swine continuing education and advanced certification. The president of the Wheat Grower says its time for the federal government to re-think its climate change policies.  In his Wheat Beat June newsletter to Wheat Growers, Gunter Jochum shared his frustrations with government's emphasis on climate change- which he sees as a misplaced priority. Jochum aslo questioned if farm groups have been buying into the government's climate action programs and too anxious to accept government subsidies for things like cover crop programs.

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan, through its canadianfoodfocus.org web site, has released the first of a series of videos to help non-farming consumers relate to farmers and life on the farm. Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan Executive Director Clinton Monchuk says Canadian Food Focus was viewed as an opportunity to get out of our agriculture bubble. Shaping sustainability standards and what it means to the agriculture sector. This was the focus of a presentation at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association annual meeting by Dr. Tammy Nemeth, is a U.K.-based Energy Security Analyst. Nemeth, originally from Saskatchewan, says the requirements the International Sustainability Standards Board would impose on agriculture would be onerous and detrimental to the industry.

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) launches a new strategic plan with a new focus on priorities with the greatest impact to pulse growers in Saskatchewan, looking ahead to 2030. SPG Executive Director Carl Potts explains the plan is built on direction from its nine-member Board of Directors-made up of farmers. The new plan highlights four key focus areas. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities is urging rural residents to run for municipal council and truely make a difference in their communities. SARM President Ray Orb says many RMs have vacancies on councils, and this presents an opportunity for individuals to get involved with the issues that directly affect daily life for the people in rural Saskatchewan and SARM has created a new video to discuss some common misconceptions around rural representation.

The introduction of new technology has helped revolutionize the application of livestock manure fertilizer to cropland. This is an important topic as we examine the influence of modern agriculture on the environment and calls for the creation of a provincially appointed task group to develop solutions to the algae problem in Lake Winnipeg. Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl says the modernization of agriculture is making the application of manure more precise. A mid-sized chicken farm in Saskatchewan needs to heat the barns to above 30 degrees the entire year-round. In 2023, this chicken farmer paid $23,000 in natural gas heating bills. Of that bill, about a third, or $7,500 is just carbon tax and GST on the carbon tax. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released Leger polling showing 70 per cent of Canadians support a carbon tax exemption on propane and natural gas for farmers. CTF Prairie Director Gage Haubrich said this shows Canadians know that keeping costs down for farmers helps lower costs at the grocery store for all of us.

The world is closely watching the situation in the United States surrounding   Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza that has appeared in US dairy herds. HPAI was detected in milk and in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas, while the virus has been confirmed in dairy herds in other states, in baby goats and one dairy farm worker has tested positive for the virus. Veterinary pathologist  Dr. Susan Detmer with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine suggests biosecurity procedures in place on Canadian swine farms to protect against the introduction of foreign animal disease will help protect against other infections, including HPAI. Detmer will talk about how the infection virus has been traveling through wild birds returning to North America. A new opportunity this summer for anyone wanting to learn more about Saskatchewan agriculture and food. Saskatchewan will hold its first Open Farm Days August 10 and 11 which will bring people from across province together through educational and agricultural-based initiatives all designed to create an opportunity to learn about where food comes from. Sask Open Farm Days cooordinator Ashley Stone says many other provinces have enjoyed success hosting this event and they are hoping to build on that success.

The subject of Family Farm succession is complex and emotional. That's why we felt it was topic that was worthy of being the focus of the entire podcast this week. While discussions surrounding succession can be difficult there are strategies available to Canadian farm business families to confidently navigate the paths of transition decision making. My guest is Patti Durand, a certified Family Enterprise Advisor, with Brightrack Consulting.Over the past six years she's guided 350 farm families through transition and succession conversations. As a speaker and workshop leader, Patti provides relatable, thoughtful ideas to help business families move ahead, together and with certainty. I'll talk to Patti about nine habits worth adjusting and shifting to in the conversation of the future of the family farm.

A Farm Credit Canada report shows farmland rental rates are keeping pace with farmland values. FCC has been comparing rental rates to the price of farmland and the data shows the national rent-to-price ratio in 2023 was 2.52 per cent, reflecting a decline from the previous year. FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says in 2023 we saw some fairly strong farmland value growth across the prairies, especially in Saskatchewan as well as Manitoba, while Alberta had a little bit slower growth, but it was still positive. Seeding is underway in Manitoba.  While other parts of the prairies started the season on the dry side, its a different story in Manitoba. Rain has slowed spring seeding but will give this year's crops a good start. Dennis Lange is a pulse and soybean specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and the editor of the provincial crop report. He'll tell us about seeding progress and where that number compares with previous year.

The Western Canadian Animal Health Network (WeCAHN)  is keeping a close watch on H5N1 Avian Flu in the United States. Network coordinator  Dr. Barbara Wilhelm says industry, the provinces, the federal government, veterinarians, regional surveillance networks like WeCAHN,are planning for, as much as possible, prevent the opportunity for Avian Influenza to enter Canadian farms. Grain movement on CN Rail lines has been fairly consistent with strong demand April. CN's Assistant Vice-President of Grain David Przednowek says we haven't seen that seasonal drop-off that ususally happens during seeding, but that could be because spring seeding has been slow to develop. Going forward, he expects that we'll start to see demand tail, with just the amount of grain that's able to come into the supply chain as farmers are in the field.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was disappointed to see insufficient investment in agriculture in the 2024 budget. President Keith Currie said farmers continue to struggle under the weight of high-interest rates, a price on carbon for essential farming activities, and an increased risk of extreme weather events. He said these challenges are testing the limits and effectiveness of risk management programs.But he said there were also some positives in the budget. The Competition Bureau has stated the proposed acquisition of Viterra by Bunge would have ‘substantial anti–competitive effects in agricultural markets in Canada. The Bureau’s concerns are outlined in a report submitted to the Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez.The Bureau determined that the transaction is likely to harm competition in markets for grain purchasing in Western Canada, as well as for the sale of canola oil in Eastern Canada. Saskatchewan Wheat development commission chair Jake Leguee said its a concern of many farm groups. Leguee will also responds to the appointment of the new Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.

The farming industry is constantly changing. New innovations are being developed to make farms more efficient. A research project involving a Naicam Sask. Consulting company and the University of Regina are looking for a way to reduce environmental impact and save money.  Cory Willness of Crop Pro Consulting will talk about SWAT BOX, a data collection sensor and how information it collects can be used to generate maps that will help farmers selectively apply herbicides.   Everyone needs to eat. That’s why Canadians and governments should not take farming and food for granted. That’s the message from Kerri Holland with the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy who prepared a report on Canada’s Food Security.  Holland says food security is vital and government policy must reflect the essential service agriculture provides for the entire country. She says there will be dire consequences if farmers don’t get the support they need.  

Computer based artificial intelligence is offering new insights into animal welfare. A new tool being developed by the University of Saskatchewan is using A.I.at the abattoir. The University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed an automated swine welfare assessment system consisting of a digital security camera linked to an A.I. processor. Dr. Seokbum Ko explains how cameras record animal movement along the processing line and condensed AI models extract and assess images indicative of animal welfare. The 10th Annual Saskatchewan Beef Expo was recently held in Saskatoon. Kirk Stierwalt, a long-time cattle operator and clinician from Leedey, Oklahoma has been conducting show cattle clinics for 37 years. He worked with the 4-H members at Beef Expo providing guidance on clipping, grooming and showmanship. He'll talk about some of the tip and tricks he shared with the young 4-Hers.

A new study from the Environmental Working Group has determined that 80 per cent of Americans are regularly exposed to the plant growth regulator chlormequat. It is used to control growth in grain crops such as oats, wheat, and barley in order to make them easier to harvest. Terry Tyson is the General Manager of Grain Millers Canada in Yorkton, Sask.  He provides his take on the situation and shares how this work aligns with the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society's Interpretive Station. The main export market for Canada's malting barley is China. Peter Watts, the managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre in Winnipeg, says the industry wants to see the customer list expand to Mexico and various countries in central and South America. But, this comes with several challenges.

The Swine Health Information Center has five new research projects approved for funding under the 2.3 million dollar Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program. The initiative was launched to enhance biosecurity during the wean-to-harvest of phase of pork production. Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says five institutions, including Lowe Consulting, Pipestone Research, Texas Tech University, the University of Missouri and the University of Montreal, were awarded funding. It is a canola disease that is moving east across the Prairies . . . starting in Manitoba and now gaining a foothold in eastern portions of Saskatchewan. The ideal time to scout for verticillium strip is at harvest when symptoms are most obvious. Courtney Boyachek is an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada based in western Manitoba.Verticillium stripe is also similar in appearance to two other well-known canola diseases---blackleg and sclerotinia stem rot.