Agripod

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...

With a lack of temporary foreign workers are higher food prices and fewer food choices on the horizon for Canadians? University of Calgary research associate Robert Falconer has released his second report on the role of temporary foreign workers in the Canadian agriculture sector. He said if there was any attempt to manage the food supply without these workers it is a strong possibi...

Technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect weeds and other crop pests while passing over a field could reduce pesticide use by up to 95 per cent, maintaining crop yield, saving farmers roughly $50 per acre per growing season. A $26.2 million project is being led by Precision.ai, Sure Growth Solutions, Exceed Grain Marketing, and the Global Institute for Food Security at the Univer...

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....

There has been much more attention focused on the mental health of Canadian producers. Many suffer in silence. We continue our conversation with Gerry Friesen a Stress & Conflict Management Specialist and mental health advocate. On the last episode he shared his story on being diagnosed with depression and how he brought his illness into the open and made the decision to seek help. A...

Gerry Friesen calls himself “The Recovering Farmer.” He grew up on a farm and he took over the family farm in 1983. Then financial issues led to the decision to sell the hog operation in 2007. Gerry openly shares his struggles with his mental health and how he has now spent several years working with farm families on a variety of topics including effective comm...

Crop rotation plays a key role in sustainable production practices. There are many factors for growers to consider in their short and long-term crop planning. Western Ag professional agrologist Edgar Hammermeister says long-term crop planning is necessary for pest management and soil health. Edgar will discuss the costs and benefits of crop choices based on a number of factors that...

Farmers have shortened up crop rotation for a number of reasons. Oilseed agronomy research scientist Patrick Mooleki is with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Saskatoon Research and Development Centre. He said there are numerous issues popping up because of this practice including herbicide resistance in weeds and increased disease pressure including blackleg and fusarium head blight. Patric...

Richardson Pioneer will be implementing a new Oat Procurement Program next year. The company does not want growers to use pre-harvest desiccants. This is not a new concept. Grain Millers stopped buying pre-harvest glyphosate treated oats five years ago. Jenneth Johanson is President of the Prairie Oat Growers Association. She talks about how this will impact oat farmers decisions in the next growi...

Herbicide resistance is a growing problem around the world. Dr. Charles Geddes with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based out of Lethbridge, Alberta specializes in the discovery, monitoring, and management of herbicide-resistant weeds in western Canada with a special interest in the management of glyphosate-resistant kochia. He will explain just how widespread the problem is and wh...

When its time to spray crops, either for weed or insect control, there is nothing more frustrating then poor weather especially strong winds. At times a farmer will make the decision to spray in those high winds which can lead to spray drift damage on a neighbouring field. That's when forensic agrologist George Lewko is called in. George will talk about diagnosing spray drift damage and the proces...