Agripod

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...

The farming industry is constantly changing. New innovations are being developed to make farms more efficient. A research project involving a Saskatchewan consulting company and the University of Regina is looking for a way to reduce environmental impact and save money. Cory Willness of CropPro Consulting will talk about SWAT BOX, a data collection sensor and how information from it will be u...

Intergenerational farm transfer is viewed as one of the most complex and difficult decisions that a farmer must make in his lifetime. How do you make it work so every member of the family is happy? Is that an impossible dream OR is it the process and not the end result that's important. In part two of our series on transitioning the family farm from one generation to the next,  MNP farm and f...

The process of transitioning the farm from one generation to the next is a long and difficult process. What makes it so difficult is each family farm business is unique and no single approach works for everyone. Bob Tosh a farm and family advisor with MNP will discuss the roadblocks, the importance of being heard, the difference between succession planning and estate planning and&nb...

Agriculture through a modern lens, this is the Agri-Pod. Digging in to the topics that matter to you. With Alice McFarlane. Farmers get a lot of direction from agronomists, accountants, bankers and lawyers. All have a direct impact on their business. But one area they often neglect is their closest personal relationships. Our guest Sean Brotherson, a professor and extension family science speciali...