Rural Roots Canada

In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada podcast, brought to you by Kubota Canada, hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester focus on two stories shaping the future of agriculture, one about what we're losing and one about where we're gaining. First, a developing story with real impact across southern Alberta: the closure of the Nortera plant in Lethbridge, which has sent shockwaves through the ag and fo...

Fresh snow brings fresh optimism to the Peace. Meteorologist David Spence breaks down this week’s 10–15 cm of wet snow from Peace River and Grande Prairie to Fort St. John and Dawson Creek and why it matters for producers gearing up for seeding.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence says Alberta farmers have a renewed reason for optimism heading into the 2026 growing season, thanks to a late-season snow event that dropped 5 to 15 centimeters across central and northern regions. After three years of lean early-season water supply forecasts, conditions are now the most favorable since 2022. Mountain snowpack at surveyed sites is above normal, and...

Freight rail service has been absent from parts of the B.C. Peace since 2018, shifting grain and other commodities onto trucks and putting added pressure on rural roads. In this update, RRC's Olivia Taylor speaks with Leonard Hebert, Vice Chair of the Peace River Regional District, about why local leaders are pushing to restore the line between Grande Prairie and Dawson Creek and what it could mea...

Alberta's new Chief Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Hussein Keshwani, understands the shortage of animal health professionals is putting pressure on producers, especially in rural communities. "It is a problem that we have a, a lack of veterinary professionals, and that's both veterinarians as well as veterinary technologists in the industry in general," says Keshwani. He says the challenge is even g...

New research from the University of Calgary’s veterinary school aims to tackle a costly and growing problem for livestock producers: parasitic worms in cattle and sheep. Associate Dean James Wasmuth says his team has been working since 2016 to develop new treatments using AI and advanced computational methods.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada Podcast, powered by Kubota Canada, hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester kick things off by talking about Health Canada's decision to allow the emergency use of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan to deal with an infestation of Richardson Ground Squirrels.  Then, we have an in-depth conversation with Alberta's new Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Hussein Kashw...

It's official. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is pushing back on proposed new federal livestock traceability rules. In a statement, the CCA says it does not support moving forward with amendments from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to the Health of Animals Regulations.

The relationship between the Canadian Cattle Association and Alberta Beef Producers remains under the spotlight as discussions continue around a potential withdrawal from the national group. CCA CEO Andrea Brocklebank says it’s a complex issue, but one the industry is tackling together.

Craig Lester is back from Brazil. In this episode, sponsored by Kubota Canada, we dive into what he saw on the ground from +30°C fields in the state of São Paulo. Craig talks about many forms of agriculture in a country that has transformed into a global agriculture powerhouse in just 50 years, a single generation. 🌱 Feature Segment: Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (8:09) RRC’s Olivia Taylor...

A pulse research scientist whose work focuses on practical solutions for producers has been named the 2026 AFSC Women in Ag Innovator. Robyne Davidson has spent years in fields and labs working through the everyday challenges pulse crop farmers face. This year, that work got noticed. Davidson, a pulse research scientist at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alta., has won the 2026 Agriculture Financia...

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.

There is no better way to experience a "taste" of agriculture than Loreto Nardelli and Nicoletta DiAngelu, owners of the popular Italian Cuisine website Sugar Love Spices, are perfect examples of this, bringing their love of creating authentic Italian cuisine by sourcing ingredients straight from the farm. Nardelli says their cooking and blog are all about quality, and that starts with building re...

AgSafe BC has introduced a new Human Resource Toolkit to help agriculture employers in British Columbia navigate hiring and workplace management. With more than 30 documents available for download, the toolkit guides users through each stage of employment. It includes templates for job descriptions, reference checks, exit interviews, and performance evaluations. Another feature is the termination...