Agripod

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has a new president. Bill Prybyski was elected to the position during the group's annual general meeting. Prybylski says there are many files the organization is working on but he has one of particular interest to him. Dr. Louis-Pierre Comeau of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been working with Dr. Franck Stefani to lead the Canadian Soil...

We're going to be talking a lot in the next few weeks about 'year-in-review stories'. Two specialists have examined the ten most important variables impacting Canadian Agriculture for 2025. It was compiled by two senior analysts from GrainFox---Neil Townsend and Ranulf Glanville. They will share their thoughts on 2024 and the year to come. Canadian Western Agribition wrapped up with organizers exp...

A professor with Dalhousie University says Canada will need to work with the United States under the new Donald Trump administration to ensure benefits to Canadian agriculture. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says Canada followed the United States in terms of food inflation, but Canada is now higher, the result of Canada's own food policies. Farmers are investing in the next generation of young people by p...

Manitoba Pork is calling for the creation of strategic plan for dealing with trade. General manager Cam Dahl says in the wake of the recent U.S. election, the federal government needs to develop a national strategy for agriculture and food trade particularly as Canada heads into the 2026 review of the Canada U.S. Mexico Agreement. Protein Industries Canada is looking for companies that can blend p...

Donald Trump will return to the US presidency early next year after winning yesterday’s election. What will this mean for international trade as well as imports and exports between Canada and the United States. Trump campaigned on implementing tariffs---specifically against China, which would impact US corn and soybean producers. We spoke this morning to Stephen Nicholson---a global sector strateg...

A well-known Environment Canada Meteorologist will soon be calling it a career. Terri Lang will retire after 36 years at the national weather office. She'll talk about the changes in weather gathering that have occurred over her time and some of the most interesting weather events she has been able to cover. An animal science professor with Colorado State University says when it comes to health an...

A new high-throughput immunogen-screening method developed by the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization will hopefully help reduce the costs associated with developing new vaccines. Haoming Liu, a fourth year PhD student with VIDO, explains immunogens, be they proteins, sugars, or fats, and explains how they help the immune system recognize and fight off infections. The Saskatchewan Pork Ind...

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...

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released a report on the latest recommendations and feedback relating to modernizing the seed regulations in Canada. The process began in 2021 and covers several areas from import to export, seed conditioning, storage, testing and labeling to seed sales. The National Manager for the Seed Section of the CFIA, Wendy Jahn (Yawn) says a number of the regulations...

There are many pieces of legislation introduced during a Parliamentary session—-only a few received widespread media coverage while other bills fly under the radar getting much less public attention. Bill C-293 is a private member’s bill introduced by a Liberal backbench MP from Toronto. Published reports indicate Nathaniel Erskine-Smith was raised as a vegetarian and is now a vegan. Bill C-293 de...

More than ever consumers are curious about how and where their food is produced. Amy te Plate-Church is the Director of the U.S. based Center for Food Integrity. She says consumer trends and developments in consumer perceptions have far reaching implications for farmers. She says some of the factor’s consumers consider when making purchasing decisions are changing. The General Manager of Manitoba...

The Animal Health Canada's Emergency Management Division says the focus of the division right now is planning and preparedness for foreign animal disease. Director Erica Charlton says, at this stage, the main focus is disease planning and preparedness with the big three being African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease and High Path Avian Influenza in poultry. Four cereal-based producer commission...

A program developed by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, to attract veterinary students into swine medicine, is a win for the students, their educators and the swine veterinary practices participating in the program. The Pharmhouse Summer Student Swine Experience Program places veterinary students into swine veterinary practices during the summer. Dr. John Harding says the program was cr...

The Canadian Canola Growers association met with canola crop commissions from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to discuss trade issues with China. The Chinese are promising to launch an anti-dumping case against Canadian canola in retaliation for Canada's decision to impose stiff tariffs on steel, aluminum and electric vehicles coming from China. CCGA President Rick White shares what was discuss...

Canada's own regulatory system is making its farmers less competitive internationally and hampering their ability to provide the world with food. Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl says when the costs imposed on Canadian agriculture as the result of regulations are higher than they are in countries like the United States or Brazil it means that Canadian farmers are less competitive. Farm Healt...

A document released by the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance outlines eleven principles designed to help Canada's trade negotiators achieve fair and sustainable trade agreements that won't inadvertently hinder trade. CAFTA Executive Director Michael Harvey says the document "Principles for Sustainable and Fair Trade in the Agri-Food Sector." - provides a structured approach for governments and int...

It’s a new chapter for Ray Orb, as he is now adjusting to life after being the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) for the last ten years, and twenty overall with the Board. Orb talks about what he has seen in his two decades with the organization, working with different levels of government, the key issues, accomplishments and regrets. Root rot in pulse crops...

The subject is Family Farm succession is complex and emotional. That's why we felt it was topic that was worthy of being the focus of the entire podcast this week. While discussions surrounding succession can be difficult there are strategies available to Canadian farm business families to confidently navigate the paths of transition decision making. My guest is Patti Durand, a certified Family En...

Canadian Western Agribition’s Next Gen Mentorship Program was created to support the next generation of agriculture leaders. The program matches eight young leaders in the agriculture industry with professionals for an 18-month mentorship where they gain skills and experiences to advance their careers. David McTaggart is one of the mentees in the fourth cohort. He has been partnered with Protein I...

Showcasing agriculture innovation - that's the premise behind the Innovation Awards handed out before the start of this year's outdoor farm show Ag in Motion. There were 5 categories – crops, livestock, business solutions, agronomics and environmental sustainability I had a chance to speak to 2 of the winners at Dennis Bulani the creator of the HedgeHog app that allows farmers to quickly hedge die...

Corteva Agriscience announced its new brand, Trusource™ wheat, a high fiber durum that can help meet consumers’ needs for increased dietary fiber through use in high-volume foods such as pasta. Trusource wheat will be available to food companies to trial in product development and evaluation in late 2024, with North American commercialization plans for farmers to be announced in the coming years....

Hunters and wildlife, like bears, add to the challenges of locating feral wild boar. Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Alberta pork and Alberta Invasive Species Council are working together to locate and eliminate wild boar from Alberta's landscape,  Charlotte Shipp is the industry programs manager with Alberta Pork, and she will talk about their joint efforts.    Western Canada's largest outdoo...

Cereals Canada recently released its annual report and announced the national cereal grain value chain organization want a new facility that would serve as the hub for Canada’s grain industry, promoting the use of Canadian crops around the world. That new $100 million facility would be built in downtown Winnipeg and would be branded as the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE.) Cereals Can...

Canadian agriculture needs to focus on adapting to climate change in a manner that will help sustain food security in the world. A policy paper released by Agri-Food Economic Systems, reviewed the effects of climate change on agriculture. Research Lead Dr. Al Mussell says data from Environment and Climate Change Canada indicates Canada is getting warmer and wetter, however, rather than focusing on...

A series of surveys conducted by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine suggests a need to step up the recruitment of veterinary students. In response to a shortage of swine veterinarians, surveys asked how long vets had been in practice, their educational background, what attracted them to the profession and how long they plan to remain active. Dr. John Harding, a professor of swine medicine...