RealAgriculture's Podcasts

Navigating Canada’s agri-food innovation system can feel like a maze for early-stage entrepreneurs. In the fifth episode of the Unlocking Innovation: A National Call to Action podcast, the discussion centres on a critical barrier: the often-fragmented landscape of supports available to founders across the country. Led by RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney, the conversation brings together Dave... Read More

On this episode of the Wheat Pete’s Word podcast, host Peter Johnson blends safety tips, agronomy advice, and some hard-earned patience. From bin safety and conference deadlines to corn stalk residue and the eternal yield monitor debate, this episode is packed with timely updates and thoughtful reminders for winter planning and spring prep. Oh—and remember:... Read More

Welcome to this mid-week RealAg Radio show! For today's show, host Shaun Haney is joined by: Amanda Richardson of the Centre for Agrifood Benchmarking on the four pillars of sustainability; Drew Spoelstra of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture on last year and the upcoming year; and, Dr. Trey Malone of Purdue University on embracing uncertainty... Read More

In an era of relentless market volatility and policy ambiguity, many farm businesses are searching for certainty, but that may be the wrong goal altogether. Instead, the best way forward might be embracing uncertainty itself, says Dr. Trey Malone, agricultural economist at Purdue University. In this episode of the Mind Your Farm Business podcast, Malone... Read More

With a 20-year track record in agricultural construction, Ontario's Wolf System Canada is looking to expand to the U.S. market. In this report from the American Dairy XPO in Burlington, Vermont, Wolf System's Theresa Lanz says the company is committed to quality construction and design. Barns are built using laminated wood and galvanized steel posts... Read More

Thanks for tuning in to RealAg Radio for this Tuesday edition of RealAg Radio! Shaun Haney is joined for today’s show by: Meteorologist Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions to discuss what’s to come for weather to round out the calendar year with a look to conditions in early 2026; and Political Journalist Althia Raj... Read More

After a notably mild autumn across much of North America, a powerful shift in the jet stream is ushering in widespread cold and wintry weather — and it may be here to stay for a while. Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien's weather wizard, breaks down the atmospheric setup behind the chilly conditions. “There’s a very, very large... Read More

With bins full heading into winter, grain handling can shift quickly from routine to risky if safety slips. Full bins are a welcome sight, but icy ladders, heavy clothing, and the rush of the season can increase the chance of accidents. Jody Wacowich, executive director of AgSafe Alberta, joined RealAgriculture's Amber Bell to discuss these... Read More

Traditional plant breeding is still the foundation of bean variety development, but the ability to analyze massive amounts of data is revolutionizing how new varieties are identified and developed to meet grower and market needs. On this episode of RealAgriculture Edible Bean School, University of Guelph assistant professor Dr. Mohsen Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi shares how new... Read More

On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jason Voogt of Field 2 Field Agronomy and Horst Bohner of OMAFA to discuss seed-placed and starter fertilizer for soybean and canola. What goes into the decision? What's the role of equipment capability? What's the risk of too much phosphorus, S or N?... Read More

Welcome to today’s Agronomic Monday edition of RealAg Radio with your host Lyndsey Smith! On today’s show, Smith is joined by: Jonathon Driedger of LeftField Commodity Research on making the call on sales in an uncertain market; Jon Cressman of Syngenta Canada for a spotlight interview about weed spectrums; and, Peter Johnson of RealAgriculture on... Read More

Trying to figure out nitrogen rates can be a real head scratcher but critical thinking and discipline will help growers find the most profitable rate for their farm, says MooseAg agronomist Aaron Breimer. On this episode of Farming Forward, Breimer looks at the rules and tools he applies to determine profitable nitrogen rates and strategies... Read More

Right-to-repair discussions in agriculture are tied to two federal bills — C-294 and C-244 — which address interoperability and the right to repair and allow provinces to develop their own related legislation. For farmers, the focus is on gaining access to the diagnostic information needed to understand equipment error codes and communicate repair needs. At... Read More

Welcome to this week's instalment of RealAg on the Weekend with your host Shaun Haney! On today's show, Haney is joined by: Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research on pulse markets and adversity in trade; Michael Harvey of CAFTA on the benefits of free trade and how Canada can complement the U.S. Economy; and, Jay... Read More

Welcome and thanks for tuning in to this Black Friday edition of RealAgRadio! On today’s show, host Shaun Haney is joined by John Stackhouse, the senior VP to the office of the CEO at RBC Royal Bank. Haney and Stackhouse discuss what Stackhouse does in this role, break down current economic activity, and discuss matters... Read More

AGI territory sales manager Blake Taylor says growers across Western Canada saw bumper crops for 2025, but the challenge has been storing those big yields in a year of softer commodity prices. “A good problem that they had this year were phenomenal yields," he says, "the not-so-good problem? Commodity pricing.” Transport limitations vary by province,... Read More

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) will enter 2026 under the continued leadership of Drew Spoelstra who was elected to his third consecutive term as president of the farm lobby organization at its annual meeting in late November. A dairy and cash crop farmer from Binbrook, Ont., Spoelstra says keeping agriculture at the forefront of... Read More

Welcome to this U.S. Thanksgiving edition of the Farmer Rapid Fire on RealAg Radio brought to you by Pioneer Seeds Canada! On this edition of the Farmer Rapid Fire, host Shaun Haney is joined by: Chris Moore of Kinburn, Ont.; Aaron Stevanus of Bloomingdale, Ont.; Murray Froebe of Homewood, Man.; Colin de Moissac of Biggar,... Read More

In this episode of The Truth About Ag, co-hosts Kristjan Hebert and Evan Shout sit down with Nutrien president and CEO Ken Seitz for a deep dive into trade turbulence, farm-level strategy, and leadership lessons from the global agri-food front. Seitz shares his journey from a Saskatchewan dairy farm to leading one of the world’s... Read More

The canola market is dealing with a wide range of trade and political uncertainties this season, as growers navigate large supplies in Western Canada and slower movement into export and crush channels. Tariffs on seed, oil, and meal going into China, along with unclear U.S. biofuel policies, are creating added volatility at a time when... Read More

Commodity markets often shift between bullish (rising market) and bearish (falling market) trends, driven by supply and demand. Ed Broschinski, commodity risk manager with Cargill, says that there's another market type, one that doesn't get discussed nearly as often — a foundational market. Understanding current market dynamics, he says, comes at a critical time as... Read More

While canola often dominates headlines, Canadian pulse growers are also weathering a challenging stretch of market headwinds. Between tariffs, shifting global demand, and large domestic supplies, questions are mounting about how many acres of peas and lentils will be seeded in 2026. Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research outlines how both India and China have... Read More

Hoses coming loose from openers or manifolds during seeding can lead to misplaced product and extra trips under the drill, a problem many growers continue to face in challenging field conditions. At Agritrade in Red Deer, Alta., Airguard Inc. highlighted its Sabre Clamp, a modified gear-style clamp designed to increase holding strength and keep hoses... Read More

Grain handling is essential—but hazardous—work. On this episode of Farm Safety Roundup, host Shaun Haney digs into grain safety blitzes with Bruce Christianson of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Jay Remsik of Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS). Together, they break down what these inspections mean for federally regulated grain operations and how... Read More

Welcome to this mid-week edition of RealAg Radio with your host Shaun Haney! On this edition of the show, Haney is joined by: Ed Brochinski of Cargill to discuss the markets and focuses on what’s happening in the oilseed sector; Lyndsey Smith joins Haney for a mini RealAg Issues Panel covering topics including the Campbell’s... Read More

Canadians have witnessed remarkable change across the country's political landscape over the past year as the Liberal government miraculously shed the weight of the Trudeau years to ride the leadership of Mark Carney to another federal election victory. At the Ontario Federation of Agriculture's annual general meeting this week, political journalist Althia Raj looked back... Read More

As margins tighten and production challenges evolve, Canola Week 2025 offers a timely forum for those focused on the future of this critical Prairie crop. Taking place the first week of December, the event brings together researchers, agronomists, and industry stakeholders to share new findings, identify knowledge gaps, and ask tough questions about where canola... Read More

Farming has always been a risky business. Regardless of how carefully chosen a variety or fertility rate, Mother Nature always gets the last laugh. Now, with globally-integrated supply chains, market disruptions, and ever-higher stakes for input costs, Canada’s business risk management (BRM) programs are being pushed to evolve. But is the current public delivery model... Read More

We’re rolling into meeting season, Ontario’s wheat acres are way up, and Wheat Pete has residue on the brain. In this jam-packed episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson dives into plot data, soil compaction, and residue trials with some surprising findings. Plus, he answers listener questions on nitrogen, economics, and whether seed-to-soil contact... Read More

With global markets shifting and input costs squeezing producers, policy decisions at the top levels of U.S. agriculture are being closely watched across North America. In this interview with RealAgriculture, USDA deputy secretary Stephen Vaden outlined the administration’s stance on trade, affordability, and the potential for a “Golden Age” in agriculture. Vaden pushed back on... Read More

Thanks for tuning in to this Tuesday edition of RealAgRadio! On today’s show, host Shaun Haney is joined by: Michael Harvey of CAFTA on the future of North American trade; Stephen Vaden, Deputy Secretary of USDA, on U.S. trade deals and the affordability crisis; and, Jay Whetter of Canola Digest on where canola goes from... Read More

Canada's hemp sector is closely watching several policy files domestically and in the U.S. that could unlock new demand and value for the highly-regulated crop. Stakeholders from the hemp industry gathered at the historic Met Theatre in Winnipeg last week for the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA)'s 2025 convention. After six years of research and... Read More

On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Anne Kirk, cereal specialist for Manitoba Agriculture and Dr. Aaron Mills, researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada PEI, to discuss crop sequence — what do we know about the impact of order crops are grown in? How is crop sequence different from rotation?... Read More

Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) is setting a new direction forward with the formation of a new board of directors. The new board and new vision marks a new milestone, too, as the organization celebrates its growth, now reaching more than two million students annually across Canada. In this interview, hear from Dar­cy Pawlik,... Read More

A comfortable cow makes more milk. It's a simple concept that began shaping dairy cow management in the late 1990s and continues to evolve, says Agri-Comfort product manager Martin Folkema. "The better the cow feels, the more productive she is," says Folkema. "Cow comfort started on the floors, but now it's the stalls, it's everywhere.... Read More

Welcome to this edition of Agronomic Monday on RealAg Radio with host Lyndsey Smith! Today on the show, Smith is joined by: Gerard Grubb, a farmer from Mildmay, Ont., to discuss using on-farm trials to identify the most profitable nitrogen rate; Dr. Adam Foster, of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on the surprising benefit of sorghum-sudangrass;... Read More

Last week, Canadian agri-food exporters descended on Washington, D.C., with a key message for their counterparts in the U.S. and American lawmakers: integrated supply chains make food more affordable for everyone. Michael Harvey, executive director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, and 11 of 12 CAFTA members met with U.S. lawmakers, USDA officials, and agri-food... Read More

Understanding how pulses are graded can help clarify marketing decisions and avoid surprises at the scale. It can also help inform management practices for next year, if quality issues are due to handling or storage, for example. In this episode of RealAgriculture's Pulse School, Joey Vanneste, operations supervisor with the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), walks... Read More

Welcome to this week’s edition of RealAg on the Weekend with your host Shaun Haney! On today’s show, Haney discusses: What he learned from talking to farmers during his busy week of travel; Farm management and business planning, Transport Canada regulation changes impacting the future of drone spraying; and, Duane Briand of CANTERRA joins Haney... Read More

Welcome to this Friday edition of RealAg Radio! On today’s edition of the show, your host Shaun Haney is joined by Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock Exchange for a Beef Market Update. Haney is also joined for the RealAg Issues Panel with Kelvin Heppner and Lyndsey Smith of RealAgriculture. Don’t miss the RealAg Radio podcast-exclusive... Read More

About 90 per cent of dairy cows will suffer from lameness in their lifetime and each incidence will cost producers an estimated $336, according to Penn State University research. HoofStrong hoof specialist Joey Aldana says lameness isn’t just a welfare issue, it’s also a bottom line issue and there's no silver bullet when it comes... Read More

North American cattle markets have entered a new phase of uncertainty, with prices falling on both sides of the border and growing concerns over demand and trade disruptions compounding the pressure. “This week was a tough one,” said Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange, in this Beef Market Update. “The market certainly has had... Read More