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.

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.