Agripod

Ranchers care about the animals they raise. That is why when it's -50 with the windchill - they are on high alert watching out for those newborn calves. Sometimes it means going to any lengths to get them warmed up quickly so they can be returned to their mothers. One rancher in southern Saskatchewan had several calves born on a very cold day. Those three newborn calves spent some time on a bathro...

Prairie barley growers may have dealt with a variety of growing conditions but for the most part the 2020 harvest was a success simply because the dry, warm fall had farmers bringing in the crop in near-record time. With strong feed barley prices producers will have a lot to consider before Plant 2021 begins. Mitchell Japp is the research and extension manager with the Saskatchewan Barley Developm...

What should I make for dinner?  Canada Beef will say...beef.. of course. But what cut of beef should I chose? How do I prepare it? That's why Canada Beef is working towards getting QR codes on every package of beef.  One quick scan with your smart phone and all of those questions will be answered. Canada Beef President Michael Young says when every cut of beef has its own QR code the hom...

It is the first of its kind in Canada. Lakeland College announced the new Bachelor of Agriculture Technology degree program starting in the fall of 2021 at the Vermilion, Alberta campus. Josie Van Lent, the dean of agriculture technology and applied research will tell us about the development of this new program, how students, wanting to stay and learn more at the college played a roll, and t...

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 Cana...

Infectious diseases threaten the health of people and animals and impact the global economy. The University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) works with international partners to study human and animal pathogens and develop solutions. VIDO-InterVac has developed a COVID-19 vaccine which it is preparing to test in humans.  Just before Christmas VIDO-Inte...

Many of us will be missing the numerous farm shows and information meeting this winter and spring.  These events were canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. We always look forward to hearing from World Weather Meteorologist Drew Lerner who provides a glimpse into the weather for the upcoming growing season. Drew is here to share his thoughts on what is to come and look at some of the weather iss...

Several sectors deemed essential services are calling on governments to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are provided to their workers. That includes meat processing plant employees. When the pandemic began disruptions in pork processing resulted in plant closures and impacted North American live hog prices. Sask Pork General Manager Mark Ferguson will discuss the impacts of the pandemic and praised...

CP Rail continues to outperform CN Rail on the percentage of hopper cars supplied to shippers. Those statistics come from the Ag Transport Coalition, which monitors rail performance on behalf of shippers and producer groups. CP supplied 79 per cent of cars ordered in shipping week 18 . . .compared to 68 per cent for CN. Those numbers show a small decline from the previous week. Milt Poirier is wit...

Producers face a number of challenges from drought to disease pressure, unpredictable weather patterns, market volatility, fluctuations in input prices and labour shortages. These are just a few but they are the ones farmers have little to no control over and yet they have a huge impact on profitability and sustainability of farming operations. The Olds College Smart Farm in central Alberta i...

Responsible Grain...it is a national code of practice being developed to show Canadian farmers care about the environment. It will address consumer and customer priorities and provide practical advice for farmers to continue to improve their practices. Committee chair Ted Menzies from Claresholm, Alberta says the draft code, developed by farmers and industry experts, has been completed and is...

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 nee...

There was a lot of excitement at the University of Saskatchewan surrounding the release of a landmark study. The USask led team of roughly 100 international scientists from ten countries generated the first genomic atlas for global wheat improvement. Crop Development Centre director Dr. Curtis Pozniak will tell us how this atlas will enable scientists and breeders to much more quick...

Confidence in Canada's Food System at an all-time high according to new research from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI). Canadians are optimistic about their food supply, even as Canada's food system faces exceptional pressure and public scrutiny due to the global pandemic of COVID-19 in 2020. President and CEO of CCFI John Jamieson will share the results of the latest public Trust Res...

There is nothing light a fresh cover of snow to brighten up your farmyard.  It also covers those unfinished projects and unsightly piles of garbage or old equipment. When the time comes to sell farmland, all of that junk will have an impact on the value of that property. Wayne Lowry with Farm Credit Canada says with time and a little bit of money, even small improvements can make your land mo...

Scientists are continuing to investigate root rot in pulse crops. It was particularly bad in pea and lentil crops in western Canada this year. Extending the crop rotation has been the only way to manage the disease once it is present in a field. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Researcher Syama Chatterton has been studying this issue and is now recommending producers sample the soil for the presen...

Concerns over COVID-19 could result in a higher uptake of flu vaccinations this season. Each year health officials encourage the public to get vaccinated for the seasonal flu. Dr. Susan Detmer, an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says if you get influenza your defences will weaken making you more vulnerable to COVID-19....

Crop diseases can have a serious impact on a farmer's bottom line, that’s why management is an ongoing concern for producers.  Finding the right tools and technologies to help producers get a handle on diseases can be complicated and expensive. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher Kelly Turkington says it all starts with having a basic knowledge of the nature of plant d...

Politics have had a significant impact on agriculture research in Alberta. The government in that province changed hands with the New Democrats taking power in 2015 and then new United Conservative Party winning the election in 2019. It has been a stressful time for those involved in research. A new organization called Results Driven Agriculture Research or RDAR has been given the responsibility o...

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has put more of a focus on the importance of Canadian farmers, farm workers and food production. Many of those conversations play out on Twitter. Michele Austin with Twitter Canada will tell us about a some of the trending topics, like the pandemic, and mental health, we'll run through the top hashtags, and ag twitter accounts and the role social media plays in...

Unprecedented. That's how a senior commodity analyst has described the grain trade. Wayne Palmer is with Exceed Grain Marketing and he says a rally at harvest is unheard of and the first time he has witnessed this in his 40 years in the business. He will explain what's been happening, how it has impacted prices and explains what farmers can watch for in order to cash in on possible grain...

Just sign on the dotted line. I just need your signature. How many times are you asked to do this over the course of a year? We’ve all done it….you read the terms of agreement on your phone you scroll down and click "accept "without really reading the fine details. This has the potential to be disastrous for a farmer, particularly this year when it comes to the eli...

Do More Ag Foundation envisions a culture in agriculture where all farmers are encouraged, empowered and supported to take care of their mental well being. This can only happen through awareness about mental health and breaking the stigma that currently exists while building a community of support and resources for those impacted and affected. Executive Adelle Stewart says producers need to r...

Control your money so it does not control you. Vanessa Stockbrugger is a former investment banker on Toronto’s Bay Street who went on to found and run Womencents . She says having more money does not necessarily fix things – instead, people need a strategy or action plan to achieve their financial goals. But what happens when that business is a farm? To reduce stres...

Rural ratepayers will go to the polls this fall to pick their representatives on their local rural municipal councils. Making the decision to put your name on the ballot should not be taken lightly. It's not an easy job but it can be a rewarding experience according to the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. In my conversation with Ray Orb we'll learn about how these...