Agripod

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 i...

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 virtua...

  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...

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 l...

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 meaningfu...

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 of...

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...

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...

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...

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 complete...

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...

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 e...

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 impa...

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 R...

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,...

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 wha...

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 wit...

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...

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...

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   Ove...

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 VI...

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 Holmqu...

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 th...

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...

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 rec...