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.

The value of Canadian farmland rose 11.5% in 2023, according to a new report by agriculture lending firm Farm Credit Canada. While, overall it's a slight slowdown from the growth in 2022, it's still a rapid pace given cooling economic conditions overall. The lender's latest report on farmland values found that they increased in every province tracked except for British Columbia. The highest increases in average farmland value last year was in Saskatchewan. Ken Gurney is a senior appraiser with Farm Credit Canada. He'll discuss some of the factors behind an increase in land values on the prairies. The Farm Credit Canada Young Farmer Summit brings farmers under the age of 40 together to dig into the business side of farming, connect with peers, and pass on knowledge to producers that will help them take their operation to the next level. Erica Leniczek is a Masters Counselling Psychology Candidate, Keynote Speaker and Crisis Responder from Marwayne, Alberta. She shares ways to reduce stress and explains psychological safety in agriculture.

Canada ranks number three in the world for herbicide resistant weeds, only behind the United States and Australia. The last extensive survey in Saskatchewan occurred in 2019-2020 and estimated producer losses due to herbicide resistant weeds at $340 million per year. It found that green foxtail, volunteer canola, wild oat, wild buckwheat and kochia were the biggest concerns. The top instance of herbicide resistance in Saskatchewan five years ago was Group 1 resistance in wild oats. Herbicide Resistance wild oat was found in 77 per cent of 250 fields where wild oat was collected and tested. Charles Geddes is a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and will be leading the herbicide resistant weed survey. The federal carbon tax been completely ineffective in reducing fossil fuel use, it has also made it harder for farmers to afford the adoption of new innovations. That from Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl. He says farmers face many challenges as they work to adopt environmentally sustainable green practices while operating in the red. Dahl is calling on government to replace its policy of taxing farmers to stimulate decreased fossil fuel use with one where incentives are offered to stimulate the adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies and practices.

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.

Wild pigs have been an issue in Canada over the last 25 years, but a simple looking trap may be part of the solution to the problem. Called the "Pig Brig", it's big net that is 20-feet in diameter, which can be set up by one person in about an hour. To catch them, a pig simply walks underneath the mesh and once they're in, there is no way out. It's also portable so it can fit into a backpack. Aaron Sumrall is the Director of Outreach, Education, and Research at Pig Brig, the U.S. company that makes the traps of the same name. Aaron will talk about what inspired the creation of Pig Brig and the potential to use it to control other pests. A researcher with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine says the use of AI to assess animal welfare offers an opportunity to eliminate human error and bias during assessments. Dr. Martyna Lagoda says measuring welfare of animals is a complex task but there are animal-based indicators of welfare which are visible on the animal's carcass throughout the pig's life and these are used as the scoring targets of an automated system. She says the indicators tell a story of welfare retrospectively and can be tracked back to different stages of the production chain.

A successful canola crop needs a lot of nitrogen, which is why nitrogen has A-list status. That same successful crop also depends on a strong supporting cast - phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients. Canola council of Canada agronomy specialist Warren Ward says farmers will benefit from soil tests, yield history and economics to determine how much fertilizer their canola needs. Protein is an important component in a person's diet---whether it be animal-based or plant-based. Nationally recognized registered dietician Carol Harrison says protein has many benefits, but questions come up on different the types of protein, how much is enough, are plant and animal-based proteins the same. She will also have some tips on how to extend your meat budget a bit more.

Each year, a survey is conducted in late May through early June to track the movement of pea leaf weevil throughout Saskatchewan. Provincial insect specialist James Tansey says the pest is on the move with northern and eastern Saskatchewan experiencing the worst infestations. A new pulse processing plant is coming to Saskatchewan. Louis Dreyfus Company announced a new pea protein isolate production plant at the same site as its existing canola crush facility at Yorkton. Construction is expected to begin in 2024, with completion projected for the end of 2025. The plant will employ around 60 people. Saskatchewan Pulse Growers executive director Carl Potts talks about the new plant and the importance of having a secure, domestic market for Saskatchewan peas.

CN Rail signed a deal to purchase Iowa Northern Railway. The Iowa Northern operates 275 miles of track that connects to CN's U.S. rail network.  David Przednowek, the Assistant Vice President of Grain for CN Rail, says they are very excited about the transaction as Iowa Northern is a great rail property with a very heavy agricultural focus. The United Kingdom announced the suspension of talks after Canada decided not to extend two temporary trade measures – a special quota on U.K. cheese exports, which expired in December 2023, and country-of-origin rules on products being exported, which is set to expire at the end of March. Those measures were in place since Britain left the European Union. Canadian Cattle Association President Nathan Phinney said the other major issue revolves around Canadian beef. The U.K. doesn’t allow hormone-treated beef and pork imports from Canada but is able to export approximately 40,000 tons of beef to Canada annually. Phinney says he wasn't surprised by the UK's move and discusses Canada's next step.

Researchers are looking at biomarkers as an indicator of animal welfare. Biological markers are observable characteristics that can be measured to determine whether an animal is in a state of good health and well being. Darian Pollock is a PhD candidate in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine. She says the objective of the study was to identify indicators of welfare, and in the case of her work, measuring chronic stress. Seed germination and vigour for the 2024 crop in Saskatchewan is looking quite good at this point. Discovery Seed Labs in Saskatoon compiled a report for the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association in early January. Molecular Lab Manager Sandy Junek says seed germination rates are very close to what they were last year across all crops followed by strong vigour. He says barley and flax were the only crops that dropped of a bit and cereal and pulse crop disease are present . . . but at manageable levels.

Baiting and trapping is proving to be the most effective method for controlling wild pigs. The Coordinator of Squeal on Pigs Manitoba Dr Wayne Lees says this is the best way to eliminate them from the landscape. He says wild pigs are a pest as they can contaminate water sources, damage natural habitats and farm crops, and can spread different diseases to commercial and small-scale livestock. Dr.  Lees will tell us about the program and some of the most common signs there may be wild pigs in your area. The Executive Director of Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan says with an increasing smaller percentage of the population involved in the production of food it's important for those who are engaged in agriculture to be ready to share their stories. Clinton Monchuk says many consumers have a basic idea of what's happening in food production but the not the technologies or practices farmers use. He says the more farmers can get out there and engage with consumers, the more knowledge consumers will have.

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine's three year Foreign-Trained Veterinarian Swine Medicine Residency Certification program is opening more doors for vets. The program, one of four pillars of the University of Saskatchewan's swine medicine advancement, recruitment and training or SMART program, targets internationally trained veterinarians who are working in non-veterinary roles in the Canadian swine industry. Dr. John Harding says this program is designed to retool internationally trained veterinarians as swine specialists initially in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It was a lot warmer than normal in Saskatchewan in December----now we know exactly how much.Terri Lang is an Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist based in Saskatoon. Most centres had warmer December temperatures than during the last major El Nino in 1997. Lang talks about some of the record breaking temperatures and whether we can expect a warmer than normal winter.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women has been focusing on some of the specific issues rural women face on a day-to-day basis. Rural connectivity was discussed at a recent committee meeting. Saskatchewan farmer and rancher Adrienne Ivey had a chance to share her challenges with internet and cell phone service and how it impacts the family and farming operation. Farmer Jake Leguee has been writing a blog for a few years now. It was a way for him to share his thoughts on important topics like GMO's and the use of crop protection products. In his most recent post, he talked about his concern surrounding communication.  He called it Have We Forgotten How to Talk to Each Other. I talk to Jake about his blog and why he is concerned about how we are losing the ability to have conversations especially when we do not agree.

Autosteer is a form of precision agriculture most farmers use . . . but the toolbox is growing rapidly due to new technology. Don Campbell is a Field Smart Agronomist at Western Sales in Rosetown, Sask. He says precision agriculture aims to optimize each region of the field and create maximum return on investment. Campbell says precision agriculture technology is improving every year. It's a brown Christmas for many parts of the prairies. While there has been some snow and rain more moisture is needed across the prairies. Trevor Hadwen an Agroclimate Specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) says its certainly drier than we would like to be. Hadwen shares the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's drought monitoring map.

Do More Ag Foundation says more and more farmers are reaching out and asking for help because of the devastating effects of drought. The dry and hot conditions have impacted both the cattle and grain side. Executive Director Adele Stewart says farmers need to be supported and encouraged to take care of their mental well being now and, in the days, to come. I talked to Adelle last fall about the work of the organization and the importance of producers needing to know they are not alone, and they have an entire industry behind them. Dominican Republic is experiencing an outbreak of African Swine Fever. Dr. Paul Sundberg is the Executive Director of the Swine Health Information Center. Sundberg says he is confident the first outbreak of African Swine Fever identified in the Western Hemisphere in more than 40 years will not alter the level of risk for North America. Sundberg explains the outbreak was identified through a cooperative surveillance program where banked tissue samples from sick, dying, and dead pigs as well as feral pigs collected in the Dominican Republic are sent to the USDA's Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture released its 2023 Grasshopper Survey. While parts of west-central Saskatchewan seemed to be a hot spot there was significant and damaging grasshopper populations seen in Central, Southwest, and far Southeastern regions. Dr. James Tansey, provincial Insect/Pest Management specialist talks about population density, concerns about the unusually warm fall and its possible impact on grasshopper populations in 2024. The federal government and the canola sector will team up for another five-year research cluster. The feds are putting up $9 million in funding. The 2023–2028 Canola AgriScience Research Cluster follows a similar program from 2018. Canola Council of Canada vice president of crop production and innovation Curtis Rempel will talk about how the model supports projects intended to address significant national priorities like increasing canola productivity, helping the canola sector meet global demands, and improve the industry’s competitiveness globally, all with an eye to sustainability.

A Saskatchewan teenager was able to share her love for the sport of cutting horses during a recent livestock show in Regina. The sport involves a horse and a rider trying to separate one animal from a herd of cattle. Zoe Schellenberg not only participates in the sport but is also the youth director for Saskatchewan, for the National Cutting Horse Association. She was instrumental in getting virtual reality goggles for their booth at Agribition. She talks about the things she loves about the sport. Producer voices are needed at the table when there are discussions around sustainability and agriculture. Farmers for Climate Solutions have put a call out for farmers and ranchers to part of select Forums across the Prairies in early 2024. Recommendations coming out of the forums will be included in a report to be released later in the year. Gordon Bacon is a co-lead for the forums. He says they want to sit down and have an open and frank discussion about sustainability, carbon emissions, and solutions going forward while still focusing on profitability.

Manitoba Ag Days is a three-day show held in January in Brandon that highlights agriculture production, technology, and equipment and attracts exhibitors and visitors from across Canada and the United States. The Keystone Centre is the home to the trade show that showcases new and unique products and guest speakers. Terese Vallotton is the media coordinator for AG Days.She shares what's new at this year's event and explains why those face-to-face conversations are so important in the ag industry. Online hackers are becoming more sophisticated, so, there is a need for stepped up awareness and heightened cybersecurity. Cathy Lennon, the General Manager of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, explains cybersecurity is about protecting any of your assets that are attached to the internet, be it a cell phone, an iPad or anything in your tractor or your barn that is potentially vulnerable to attack through the internet.

An Edmonton based veterinary consultant believes by improving the design of the loadout, pork producers can improve the biosecurity of their farms and reduce the risk of disease transmission. Dr. Julia Keenliside says the loadout is the area of the barn where finisher pigs or cull sows or isoweans or sometimes deadstock are loaded onto the truck. Sometimes animals will enter the barn through the loadout. She says the project was inspired by a large outbreak of PED in Manitoba in the spring of 2022. Protein Industries Canada has released “The Road to $25 Billion,” an updated roadmap for Canada’s ingredient manufacturing, food processing, and bio-products sector. It includes a goal of $25 billion in revenue by 2035. Bill Greuel, the CEO of Protein Industries Canada, says the country's agriculture and food sector has long been undervalued as an economic driver with trading partners importing raw commodities. He says its time to generate value through ingredient manufacturing, food production, and bio-product development. Greuel will discuss the steps required to meet its target, including investing in infrastructure, trade, and domestic processing.

The Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon was the location of an award-winning film on regenerative agriculture. Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association hosted the premiere of the documentary "Common Ground" earlier this month. Derek Axten is the president of SaskSoil. He says the film examines the benefits of healthy soil and its impact on climate AND he hopes it is the jumping off point for meaningful discussion on regenerative agriculture. A new cull sow processing facility in Saskatchewan is expected to generate economic spin offs for the next 30 to 40 years. North 49 Foods is ramping up operations at its new state-of-the-art sow processing facility at Moose Jaw. The federally inspected plant is on the site of the former XL beef plant and has the capacity to process up to 225 thousand sows annually. North 49 Foods industry relations manager Neil Ketilson says the project has received tremendous support from producers and industry leaders across Western Canada.

I’m away this week.  Here’s one of my favourite episodes to tide you over until I’m back. Agriculture technology is helping to fight COVID-19 and play a role in preparations for future pandemics. A recent article in Nature Biotechnology said the current pandemic shows the need to mobilize efforts on a large scale to ramp up diagnostics and testing. The lead author is Steve Webb, chief executive officer of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan. Webb will explain how the tools used in plant breeding—like genetic testing and sequencing, are the same as those use in the pharmaceutical and health care fields. The Canadian Beef Industry Conference usually attract hundreds of cattle producers, as well as the other players in the beef industry to Calgary, Alberta. But instead the conference was held entirely on-line due to COVID-19. The opening keynote speaker was from London, England. David Hughes is an Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College. He is considered an expert in global food issues and opportunities. He spoke about food trends and the steps the cattle industry needs to take in order to be sustainable and strong.

The federal government has announced $219 million for its 60 per cent share of an AgriRecovery payment targeted at livestock producers in areas of Western Canada impacted by drought. Saskatchewan committed its 40 per cent two months ago. The “Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program” will cover 70 per cent of extraordinary costs related to feed purchase and transportation costs, as well as pasture rentals. Funding will provide eligible producers an initial payment of up to $150 per head to help maintain the breeding herd in the drought regions. Jeff Morrow is the Acting President and CEO of Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation who will administer the program. He will provide details on what producers will need to to do to apply. Some very enthusiastic school aged children took a field trip to a farm near Norquay, Sask. to participate in a program called Food Farm. Food Farm aims to teach children about Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry. It has been hosted by Jennifer Lindgren and her family for a number of years. Jennifer will share what the students learned during the tour and her family feels its an important to share the good news story of agriculture.

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan wants direct discussion among farmers and consumers saying it is a key step toward building trust. Executive Director Clinton Monchuk says this organizations’ goal is encourage more farmers to get out there and talk to others about what they do. He'll share what some of the consequences are for not sharing those stories. Fifteen farm families have worked through the year to grow 120 acres of canola that was harvested with all the proceeds to going to assist children in India, Cambodia and Brazil. Harvest for Kids has been active in the Saskatoon area for more than a decade----highlighted by a 2012 event in the Dalmeny area that set a Guinness Book of World record for the most combines harvesting simultaneously on the same field. It took 249 combines less than five minutes to harvest a single field. The new world record of 303 combines was established six years later at Winkler, Manitoba. The current focus is on smaller harvest projects. There are four in the Saskatoon region. One of this year's projects cleared $75,000 from a wheat crop. Art Thiessen with Harvest for Kids tells us about the event in Hepburn and explain where all the proceeds go.

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan wants direct discussion among farmers and consumers saying it is a key step toward building trust. Executive Director Clinton Monchuk says this organizations’ goal is encourage more farmers to get out there and talk to others about what they do. He'll share what some of the consequences are for not sharing those stories. Fifteen farm families have worked through the year to grow 120 acres of canola that was harvested with all the proceeds to going to assist children in India, Cambodia and Brazil. Harvest for Kids has been active in the Saskatoon area for more than a decade----highlighted by a 2012 event in the Dalmeny area that set a Guinness Book of World record for the most combines harvesting simultaneously on the same field. It took 249 combines less than five minutes to harvest a single field. The new world record of 303 combines was established six years later at Winkler, Manitoba. The current focus is on smaller harvest projects. There are four in the Saskatoon region. One of this year's projects cleared $75,000 from a wheat crop. Art Thiessen with Harvest for Kids tells us about the event in Hepburn and explain where all the proceeds go.

Genesis Fertilizers is a partnership that will be majority owned by Western Canadian farmers to build a urea production and distribution facility to be located at Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan, and a network of seven storage and distribution facilities across the three Prairie provinces. One of those distribution centers will be in Northeast Saskatchewan at Tisdale. This proposed project, if completed, will be new investment in, and will create jobs at, the newly established agricultural industrial park in Tisdale. Terry Drabiuk is the Vice President of Business Development for Genesis.He'll talk about the company's plans and how farmers can get involved. Four provincial farm organizations want the Saskatchewan government to examine the proposed merger between Bungee and Viterra. Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, along with crop commissions SaskCanola, SaskWheat and SaskBarley have sent a joint letter to Agriculture Minister David Marit making the request. Farmers are worried about less competition. A recent poll of farmers found that well over 80 percent were concerned about a lack of competition if the Bunge/Viterra deal is approved. APAS President Ian Boxall shares those concerns and points to the province's examination of the 2012 Glencore-Viterra merger as a precedent . . . along with a 2010 proposed merger between Potash Corp and BHP Billiton, which eventually fell through.

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. Saskatchewan Agriculture is telling farmers to watch for anthrax after one confirmed case in the eastern part of the province.Two additional cows in the same herd are also suspected of contracting the fatal disease. Dr Wendy Wilkins, a disease surveillance veterinarian with the Ministry of agriculture says anthrax is caused by a bacterium which can survive in spore form for decades in the soil. Changes in soil moisture from flooding and drying can lead to a buildup of spores on pastures. Those spores tend to concentrate in slough and pothole and become exposed in drier years. She'll explain which animals are susceptible and what should be done if you suspect anthrax on your farm.

Disease transmission is always a risk when transporting livestock around Canada, and it can have devastating consequences not only on individual farms, but entire industries. But the CEO of Farm Health Guardian is tackling the issue of biosecurity head-on to reduce the risk of disease spread. Rob Hannam explains the new bio-security system. A cattle producer from Piapot, Sask.  says she wasn't expecting to be a finalist of the Canadian Cattle Association's Young Leaders Program. Brooke Martin is one of 16 finalists from across the country, after participating in the annual CYL Selections competition August 15th during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary. She talks about some of the topics that were covered during the judged roundtable discussions.

A report released by Agri-Food Economic Systems suggests the declining number of mid-sized farms in Canada jeopardises the rural institutions that have traditionally supported farms and farm families. The report explores the potential consequences of the decline in the number of small and, especially, medium-sized farms. Research Lead Dr. Al Mussell will share the results of the report how it impacts rural communities and consumers. The RCMP is advising producers to take precautions against theft from their farms. There is often a focus on larger items or equipment, but those small portable items are expensive and easy to steal. Staff Sergeant Devin Pugh will share some tips for protecting those important items, large or small, and why its important to report all thefts immediately.

Saskatchewan's sheep breeding flock is the fourth largest in Canada. There are approximately 800 producer members across the province with a breeding flock totaling approximately 60,000 breeding ewes. Sask Sheep Executive Director Gordon Schroeder shares more on the industry in the province and potential for growth.  Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation paid out $60.4 million under the Forage Rainfall Insurance program this year. Over 90 per cent of the three million plus acres enrolled under the program received a payment. The insured area was a bit lower than the record set last year, following the widespread drought in 2021. SCIC Acting President and CEO Jeff Morrow says about 80 per cent of insured forage acres this year were in the very dry southwest and west-central regions of the province.

The Swine Health Information Center has five new research projects approved for funding under the $2.3 million 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.

I’m away this week.  Here’s something to hold you over until I get back. Farmers and ranchers are wanted to participate in a mental health project. Saskatchewan Polytechnic wants to identify exactly what is needed for a mental health support system for the agriculture sector. Michelle Pavloff is the research chair for rural health and principal investigator with Sask Polytech. She will explain what they are looking for and how producers can participate. Fertilizer Canada estimates 60 percent of forage crops are under fertilized. Imagine, each ton of dry matter harvested from a hayfield removes 35-50 pounds of nitrogen and about 10 pounds of phosphorous. Nutrient removal through grazing is substantially less, but there is still a net loss of nutrients from the grazing system. Replenishing these nutrients can help to improve forage productivity. But it can be a tricky process. Dr. Jeff Schoenau is a professor and strategic research chair at the University of Saskatchewan’s Soil Science department. He will talk about some strategies to get the most out of those valuable forage stands.

Canadian farmers have at their disposal new options for gopher control after strychnine was deregistered. However, farmers need to use the same care in the use and where they store these new products, according to Dr. Vanessa Cowan with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. She says there have been cases this year of livestock that have come into contact with zinc phosphide. Way back when...if you were looking at farmland and wanted more information of the soil component of it you would have to get a hold of a hard copy of a soil survey map. Now the Saskatchewan Soil Information System is available on-line. Angela Bedard-Hahn is the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan. She says the website has historical soil information on land in the province.

International travelers entering North America are reminded to report visits to farms in regions infected by transboundary diseases such as African Swine Fever to customs. Those travellers are also asked to notify the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) of incidents where visitors to foreign farms were not diverted for secondary screening. SHIC Executive Director Dr. Paul Sundberg says it's all about preventing the introduction of foreign animal disease. A research scientist with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan is working on a project to determine if too much serotonin is connected to a respiratory disease in feedlot cattle. Most people are familiar with serotonin and its use as a sleep aid in humans. Too much serotonin is believed to be a contributor to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Dr. Emily Snyder is now trying to see if there are any similarities between this and atypical interstitial pneumonia or AIP in feedlot cattle. AIP causes inflammation in the lining of the lungs but little is known about the cause and treatments are limited and not effected.

North America is a role model when it comes to reducing the environmental footprint of livestock production. Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor with the University of California Davis. He told delegates at the recent Saskatchewan Swine Symposium the public needs to recognize the contributions of livestock agriculture to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. He said the most pressing need is to get the countries that are not efficient in producing animal sourced food to change, and that objective can be met while, at the same time, minimizing the carbon footprint. Shelby Corey wears many hats.  She is a wife and mother.  She is a rancher, a rural municipal councillor, and a development officer with 4-H Saskatchewan. Life is hectic. Shelby will share how balancing the farm, kids, career, and everything else can be overwhelming but there is a way to find balance. She will share some of the things she has learned to avoid burnout.

I’m away this week.  Here is an episode from our archives to tide you over until I get back. The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association continues its effort to fight Ottawa's proposed fertilizer emission reduction policy. The federal government wants to reduce those emissions by 30 percent by the year 2030. Wheat Growers President Gunter Jochum believes it could result in a food shortage Over the last several years, there have seen more cow/calf producers try their hand at direct-to-consumer marketing. Mark Hoimyr and his wife Laura own Box H Farm near Gladmar, straight south of Regina, Sask. near the U.S. border. Box H Farm has 250 head of breeding stock---plus replacements. There is about 5,000 acres of tame grass and native prairie---with a heavy emphasis on rotational grazing. Mark Hoimyr is here to talk about selling his grass-fed beef direct to consumers.

Researchers with the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization expect to be ready to begin field trials of new bovine tuberculosis vaccines within the next couple of years. Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection, primarily of livestock but it also affects other mammals like wildlife species, and it can spread from mammals to humans. Dr. Jeffrey Chen, a Research Scientist with VIDO at the University of Saskatchewan says because TB is highly transmissible and poses a serious risk to the public, Bovine TB is reportable and if Canada was to be affected it would shut down the cattle industry resulting in disastrous economic consequences. It's going to take weeks to clear the backlog of traffic as a result of the B.C. port strike. A lot of cargo is sitting waiting to be loaded onto vessels and moved out of the port. CN's assistant vice president of grain, David Przednowek says the strike caused a number of delays for traffic flow but the focus now is on implementing an orderly plan to resume carloads and intermodal movements. He says there's all kinds of traffic that was stalled in the port that's got to move inland east, and traffic that's loaded that wants to move west. He says for every day that the supply chain was shut down it will take many days to get back to normal.

Founded in 1968, the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) is a North American organization dedicated to advancing and coordinating all segments of the beef industry. From the start, the BIF sought to connect science and industry to improve beef cattle genetics. At its annual research symposium in Calgary, two Canadians received a continuing service award. We talk to one of the recipients Bruce Holmquist about the group and the great strides made in beef cattle genetics. Manitoba dairy farmer David Wiens has been elected to serve as the president of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC). He farms together with his brother Charles at Grunthal, Man., milking 230 cows and farming 1,600 acres of cropland. Wiens, who has served as vice-president of DFC since 2011, succeeds Pierre Lampron in leading the national dairy producer organization. We'll hear more from the new president about the organizations annual meeting, issues of concern and the new collaboration with Farm Credit Canada on a sustainability initiative.

The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan, has completed the construction and commissioning of its new on-site pilot scale vaccine manufacturing facility. VIDO Director and CEO Dr. Volker Gerdts says it's one of the most versatile vaccine manufacturing facilities in the world. He explains having access to inhouse manufacturing will speed up the development and testing of new vaccines. AND A global leader in agricultural origination and processing and supply chain management, has purchased a pulse crop cleaning, milling, and packaging facility in Saskatchewan. With the acquisition of Prairie Pulse, Archer Daniels Midland or ADM will double the company’s processing in the region. Aaron Brown is ADM's Western Canada Commercial Manager. He'll tell us about the how the pulse dehulling and splitting facility transforms lentils, chickpeas, and peas into shelf- and food-ready products for domestic and international consumption.

The Canola Council of Canada is supporting the federal government as it joins the dispute settlement consultation with Mexico on agricultural biotechnology. The consultation was initiated by the United States under the Canada-United States-Mexico-Agreement, and Canada joined as a third party. Chris Davison is the Vice President of Stakeholder and Industry Relations for the Canola Council of Canada. He will share why groups like his support the governments actions. New technology designed to help detect when cattle are ready to breed was tested at a field day. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association hosted a SenseHub Cow-Calf Field Day, at D&N Ranch, just south of Peebles. Dr. Samuel Wauer is the Associate Director of Cattle Veterinary Services with Merck Animal Health, the company that owns the technology. He explains how the SenseHub Cow Calf Monitoring System works.

Hiring new agriculture researchers ensures progress continues. New scientists also bring new knowledge, skills, perspectives, and energy. But having a PhD doesn’t automatically make someone a good researcher, just like a Class 1 license doesn’t automatically make someone a good trucker, or an agriculture degree doesn’t necessarily make a good farmer. It’s often better if a new, fresh-faced recruit has a chance to work with a grizzled veteran before they retire. Dr. Reynold Bergen is the Science Director for the Beef Cattle Research Council. He says succession planning in research is as important as succession planning on the farm and having experienced researchers available to mentor new researchers helps shorten the runway to productivity and success.  - A 24/7 agricultural mental health forum launched was launched at Canada's Farm Show in Regina. Do More Agriculture launched a new peer-support mental health platform, Ag Talk. Do More Ag Executive Director Megz Reynolds says the platform, which is powered by Togetherall, provides a safe and anonymous space where anyone over 16 can connect, share, and receive support from a community of peers who relate to their unique experiences. 

Identifying forage efficient cattle was the focus of a study conducted by Dr. Greg Penner at the University of Saskatchewan. The study focused its work on individual operations to compare cattle within a herd instead of across herds. it involves a comparison in their owned herds by weighing the cattle, assessing the body condition, and recording the day of calving. Dr. Penner shares some of things things he learned through this process. CN Rail reported a continued slowdown in grain movement for the month of May as farmers' focus shifted to seeding. David Przednowek, the assistant vice president of grain for CN Rail says it's not a surprise adding that the majority of grain has already moved through the system. He'll discuss grain movement, the impact of wildfires and how changes to labour regulations will impact the company.

I’m away this week.  Here is one of my favourite episodes to hold you over until I get back. The farming industry is constantly changing. New innovations are being developed to make farms more efficient. A research project involving at Naicam, a Saskatchewan consulting company and the University of Regina is looking for a way to reduce environmental impact and save money. Cory Willness of CropPro Consulting will talk about SWAT BOX, a data collection sensor and how information from it will be used to generate maps that will help farmers selectively apply herbicides Everyone needs to eat. That's why Canadians and Canada’s governments should not take farming and food for granted. That was the message from Kerri Holland with 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 country. She says there will be dire consequences if farmers don't get the support they need.

California Proposition 12 is an initiative that sets new standards for space allowance for raising of animals that produce the pork sold in that state. It has raised concerns in Canada because not only will this apply to farmers in California but to all farmers in North America who sell pork into that state. Manitoba Pork general manager Cam Dahl says the issue is now being brought to the attention of the Canadian government concerning the impacts of that ballot on the pork sector. Most people are aware of how important agriculture to the entire Canadian economy. In fact, Economic Development Regina (EDR) decided to take that thought a step further and quantify its significance. EDR President and CEO Chris Lane says the report is called Saskatchewan’s Annual Megaproject: Spring Seeding, which uses data from a range of sources to understand the impact of this investment and examine the economic factors at play for producers as the crop year progresses. Lane will share the significance of the $11-billion spent during seeding season alone.

Hundreds of Canadian scientists and researchers were in Saskatchewan for a conference marking the conclusion of the seven-year Global Water Futures program. Global Water Futures was established with a $78 million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The University of Saskatchewan was one of four leading institutions with the others including Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier, and McMaster; all located in Ontario. Dr. John Pomeroy is the Global Water Futures director and the Canada Research Chair in Climate Change and Water Resources at the University of Saskatchewan. He will talk about the water research that was agriculture related. Tracking grain movement across Canada is now easier than ever. This month Statistics Canada released the Grain Supply Chain Dashboard, an interactive map that details, among other things, segments of the railway network, the number of cars, and a car's last known location. The Dashboard was developed in partnership with the Ag Transport Coalition. Greg Northey with Pulse Canada, one of the members of the Coalition, says it's all about transparency.

Healthy feet and hooves are extremely important for bulls, especially heading into breeding season. Dr. Chris Clark at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan talks about what to look for to prevent hoof problems in bulls and cows and the ground-breaking equipment being used at the Vet College to trim cattle hooves and treat foot problems. The Do More Agriculture Foundation announced the launch of its 2023 campaign to raise awareness about mental health in agriculture. The campaign addresses the stressors in agriculture such as weather uncertainty, market instability, and financial pressures. Executive Director Megz Reynolds will share the details of the ‘Talk It Out’ campaign that encourages conversations about mental health, promotes resources and support for those struggling with mental health challenges, and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

The first revision of the Prairie Nutrient Removal Calculator in more than 20 years is now available online for producers and agronomists. The updated version covers more crops, 15 in total, as well micro-nutrients boron, zinc, and copper. It was a three-year process covering 2020, 2021 and 2022 Dr. Fran Walley, along with Dr. Rich Farrell are the research scientists with the University of Saskatchewan leading the effort. They'll talk about their work. Several government departments, consultations, and decisions are converging to clear a path for gene-editing technology to be approved as a breeding technique for conventional crops. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency would move forward with Part 5 of the Seed Regulations, in line with Health Canada’s decision a year ago. That decision set out that gene-editing was considered “non-novel” and would be treated as such through the regulatory system. Jim Everson with the Canola Council of Canada will talk about the updated guidance and how this will be beneficial to farmers.

Wild pigs are an invasive species that damage crops, and the environment. As well they are at high risk for the spread of disease. That's why the Governments of Canada and Manitoba, in collaboration with Manitoba’s agricultural sector, launched the Squeal on Pigs campaign to inform the public about the damage caused by wild pigs and what to watch for in order to report sightings. The coordinator for Squeal on Pigs Dr. Wayne Lees says the response from the public has been exceptional. Farmers are being advised to make sure their agricultural insurance is up to date. Farm equipment and out-buildings have been appreciating in value recently, and replacing them in the event of a loss, could become costly for those who don't have proper insurance. Blair McClinton is the Farm Segment Director for SGI Canada. He'll talk about importance of reviewing those insurance policies.

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.