Rural Roots Canada

Alberta Open Farm Days continues to grow both in size and impact. The province-wide initiative invites Albertans to step through farm gates and experience agriculture firsthand while learning where their food comes from. The 2025 edition was a record-setter. According to Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies CEO Tim Carson, this year's event welcomed more than 52-thousand visitors, with several farms reporting their best-ever attendance and sales. Nearly a quarter of participating farms were new to the program, a sign of growing interest in agritourism across the province.

From devastating drought to a destructive storm that tore across the Prairies, 2025 was a year that tested Canada's farmers and rural communities. In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada podcast, powered by Alberta Canola, hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester sit down with Rural Roots Canada meteorologist David Spence to unpack the biggest weather stories of the year, from bone-dry fields throughout the west to the monster August storm that caused nearly a quarter-billion dollars in damage. What lessons did we learn, and what could 2026 have in store? David gives his expert insight and perspective, and we share the stories behind the forecasts that shaped a challenging year in Canadian agriculture.

A destructive summer storm that blew through three provinces caused almost a quarter of a billion dollars in insured damage, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada . The August storm brought large hail, strong winds, and torrential rain, and included confirmed tornadoes in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. In all, it's estimated that the storm resulted in over $235 million in insured damage. Alberta saw the largest share of losses, with vehicles making up roughly a third of all claims. The hardest hit communities included Brooks, Alberta; Radisson, Langham, and North Battleford in Saskatchewan; and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. 

Canola growers saw strong yields in 2025, but the year was overshadowed by the trade uncertainty and the financial impact of Chinese tariffs, according to Andre Harpe, Chair of the Canadian Canola Growers Association. 

Prairie Weather reports from RRC Meteorologist David Spence.

Prairie Weather reports from RRC Meteorologist David Spence.

Prairie Weather reports from RRC Meteorologist David Spence.

Prairie Weather reports from RRC Meteorologist David Spence.

Prairie Weather reports from RRC Meteorologist David Spence.

In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada podcast, powered by Alberta Canola, hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester celebrate the season with a look at how Alberta Milk is helping make the holidays a little brighter by partnering with the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation to give back in a big way. Then, Tim and Craig shift gears to the field, catching up with Alberta Canola Chair André Harpe to reflect on the year that was, the challenges producers faced, and what the canola sector can expect heading into 2026. Compassion, community, and canola, all in one RRC podcast. 

Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry is rethinking its reliance on the U.S. as political uncertainty south of the border continues to raise concerns for producers and industry leaders. A new report from the Angus Reid Institute and the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) finds that four out of five agriculture professionals are pessimistic about dealings with the second Trump presidency. Despite those concerns, seven-in-10 say they remain optimistic about the overall future of Canadian agriculture.

At the Advancing Women in Agriculture East Conference, business leader and speaker Anne Miner shared insights on a trait she believes every entrepreneur needs.  “Every entrepreneur has to have grit,” Miner stresses. Miner says it was American academic and psychologist Angela Duckworth who defined grit as passion and perseverance in pursuit of long-term goals and, inspired by that message, prompted Miner to launch Women with Grit, a community, classroom, podcast, and blog that's designed to help women strengthen their determination.

Canadian families can expect to spend nearly $1,000 more on food in 2026, according to the annual Canada Food Price Report. The annual forecast predicts that food prices will rise by 4% to 6% nationwide, pushing the average family of four's grocery bill to $17,571.79, an increase of up to $994,63 from 2025. Prices are now 27% higher than five years ago, and one in four households in Canada is considered food insecure. Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia are expected to face above-average increases, according to the report, produced by a coalition of eight Canadian universities that draw on climate, economic, and geopolitical data to forecast food spending and trends.

Snow and more snow. An active weather pattern this week brings significant snow to the partially buried prairies

Snow and more snow. An active weather pattern this week brings significant snow to the partially buried prairies

Snow and more snow. An active weather pattern this week brings significant snow to the partially buried prairies

Snow and more snow. An active weather pattern this week brings significant snow to the partially buried prairies

Snow and more snow. An active weather pattern this week brings significant snow to the partially buried prairies

Alberta's dairy farmers are turning generosity into action, with Alberta Milk partnering with the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation to support kids and families across the province. Their holiday campaign, which runs until the end of December, is part of Alberta Milk's annual partnership with the foundation. Funds raised will help ensure children throughout Alberta have access to specialized care and support when they need it most.

As the ag sector sprints toward the end of 2025, there's no shortage of energy, innovation, and conversation shaping the year ahead. In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada podcast—powered by Alberta Canola—host Tim Parent and RRC's Craig Lester recap some of the highlights from Grow Canada in Calgary, where industry leaders gathered to discuss Canada's role in global agriculture and how to unlock the sector's full potential. Plus, hear insights from MP John Barlow at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference, and find out how you can have your say at Alberta Canola's upcoming grower engagement meetings.

Canada's largest food rescue organization is turning farm surplus into food for families in need and is looking to build relationships with Alberta potato growers. Second Harvest, a national nonprofit focused on reducing food waste, works directly with farmers, manufacturers, and processors to redirect perfectly edible food that might otherwise be tossed away. 

In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada Podcast, Craig Lester sits down with fellow 2023 Nuffield Scholar Claire Taylor, a Scottish agricultural journalist now based in Australia. Fresh off a global Nuffield journey that took her to 16 countries, Claire shares her insights on agricultural policy, food security, curiosity-driven learning, and why the pressures facing farmers today demand better leadership, stronger mental health support, and more global connection. The pair reflect on their first meetings at the Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference, overcoming imposter syndrome, learning from farmers around the world, and the value of listening deeply. Claire also shares the origin story of Unstoppable World, her new global initiative focused on mental wellness, leadership, and immersive international learning experiences. It's a rich, candid conversation about resilience, perspective, and the shared challenges that connect agriculture across continents.

Alberta's Perry Family Farm has been named the 2025 Farmer of the Year award at PepsiCo's first-ever Global Farmer Awards. The Perry Family Farm was recognized for its leadership in regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and sustainable food production. 

The first week of December will bring everything from snow to chinooks on the prairies, and cold weather for Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The first week of December will bring everything from snow to chinooks on the prairies, and cold weather for Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The first week of December will bring everything from snow to chinooks on the prairies, and cold weather for Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The first week of December will bring everything from snow to chinooks on the prairies, and cold weather for Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The first week of December will bring everything from snow to chinooks on the prairies, and cold weather for Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

It's common to see a lot hay, grain, cattle and farm equipment amongst other things being transported at this time of year. Taking the time to properly secure loads such as bales, grain or farm equipment is critical to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. AgSafe Executive Director Jody Wacowich says the consequences could be bad if the loads aren't secured properly.

Seventy 4-H members from across Canada are heading to Calgary for five days packed with career workshops, mentorship circles and practical life skills training.  The 93rd annual 4-H Canada Members Forum will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4. It brings together youth aged 15 to 21 from all provinces for programming focused on preparing them for life beyond 4-H. 

On this special edition of the RRC podcast, Craig Lester joins Tim Parent from the Advancing Women in Agriculture East conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The conference empowers and promotes the importance of women in Canada's agriculture sector. Craig has a conversation with Lauren Van Ewyk, CEO of the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance, about blending the balance of work and life into your day-to-day (1:50). Craig also has a conversation with a trio of future leaders in the ag sector and their goals as they begin their agricultural career journey (5:14). Rural Roots Canada is also a proud sponsor of the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference.

Only a few days until the weather changes, bringing colder weather, and much needed snow to the southern prairie provinces. Until then, it remains seasonably warm and dry.

On this episode of the Rural Roots Canada podcast, brought to you by Alberta Canola, Craig Lester and Tim Parent are talking potatoes. Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, put ‘em in a stew, the versatile potato was in the spotlight at the annual Potato Growers of Alberta conference. Potatoes had a spud-tacular growing season according to Chair Allison Davie who joins the conversation (3:07), while Tony Kirkland, vice-chair and owner of Sandhills Seed Potatoes, talks about the strong potato market (4:15). We also catch up with Emily Owen from Second Harvest, who's helping ensure potatoes make their way from fields to families in need across multiple provinces (7:52). And to top it all off, we spoke with Chris and Harold Perry, PepsiCo's Global Farmers of the Year, about what it takes to stand out on the world stage (12:20).

With the crop nicely tucked away in the bin, it's the time of year when checks become regular. AgSafe Alberta's Jody Wacowich says staying on top of safety while climbing on the bin is important.

FarmFair International is an event which brings together livestock producers from around the world. For some, the livestock competitions have been a family tradition for decades. Jackie Payne from Greenwood Cattle, located near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, says the family has been attending since 1978.

In the latest RRC podcast, harvest has wrapped up, but ag conference season is just getting started. Hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester chat about Craig's upcoming trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario, for the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference, plus his recent stop at Farmfair International in Edmonton. We also hear from Jackie Payne of Greenwood Cattle near Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, who shares her family's long-time connection to Farmfair (4:25). And with harvest behind us, there are still some key safety reminders to keep in mind. Jody Wacowich from AgSafe Alberta joins us to talk about staying safe around grain bins (7:37).

A new tool to help farmers, agronomists and crop stakeholders map their crops with greater precision is close to becoming a reality. SwarmBox, an invention of Alberta company Threshold UAV, uses multiple sub-250-gram micro drones to map fields, for things like pests, diseases, soil health, among others. Mac Hunic is the founder of the company, he says using multiple drones to map crops takes things to the next level.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares his insight on this week's farm weather report.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares his insight on this week's farm weather report.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares his insight on this week's farm weather report.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares his insight on this week's farm weather report.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares his insight on this week's farm weather report.

On this special edition of the RRC podcast, Craig Lester joins Tim Parent from the Agri-Trade Equipment Expo in Red Deer, Alberta. The Expo, now in its 41st year, has been off to a great start and show manager Krissy Fiddler breaks down the successes from the show floor (3:02). Agri-Trade is also the host of the Ag Innovations Competition, showcasing the ingenuity and creativity of manufacturers and marketers of agricultural products and services. Mac Hunik, CEO and founder of Threshold UAV, was one of this year's finalists and discusses his company's unique drone technology (4:54). And with harvest over, RRC meteorologist David Spence talks the Alberta clippers that have been blowing through the Prairies (10:09).

One of Canada's largest ag equipment shows is underway in Red Deer. Agri-Trade, which brings together approximately 32,000 farmers, ag industry reps and stakeholders over the three days, is off to a great start.  Show Manager Krissy Fiddler says they are pleased with how the first day went. 

The BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is launching a new event designed to bring together farmers, government officials and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of agriculture in the province. The inaugural BC Agriculture Forum will replace several existing events that the council has hosted in recent years. These include the BC Young Farmers Farm Fest and the BC Agrofood Industry Gala, which ran for more than two decades.

A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been detected in a small domestic poultry flock in the Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville, in northeastern Alberta.  The MD confirmed the detection this week, describing it as a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain capable of causing severe illness and high mortality among birds. The risk of HPAI rises during the fall migration season. 

The Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) says farmgate milk prices - what farmers are paid for their milk - will rise by 2.3% starting February 1, 2026. While Canada's inflation rate stayed within target through 2024, producers continue to face higher costs, particularly for animal feed and labour. The CDC says the adjustment reflects a balance between keeping dairy affordable for consumers and helping farmers manage rising expenses.

In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada Podcast, hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester have a conversation with RRC meteorologist David Spence about all things weather-related. The discussion kicks off about the drought experienced by Alberta this past growing season, and a review of the crop hail report for the summer (5:50). David explains what role the mountains play when it comes to Prairie weather (7:02). The hosts also talk about the harvest weather this year and a look ahead to the winter and spring seasons (9:47). Finally, we're experiencing a La Nina again, the second in two years. David explains the difference between La Niña and El Niño and what it means for the growing season. (12:46) 

Alberta Farmers will gather in Edmonton this January for the Crossroads Crop Conference. This year's theme is "Grow Boldly." It's about encouraging farmers to think bigger and embrace change in an ever-evolving industry.

For the first time since 1999, the Alberta Government is updating the water act - allowing for more flexibility for license holders. Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson says The Bill 7 Water Amendment Act is vital to the irrigation districts, farmers, ranchers and the agri-food processors so they can feed the world.

The agriculture stewardship organizations CleanFarms and the Peace River Regional District are renewing a successful agricultural plastics recycling program. Since 2021, a recycling partnership between Cleanfarms and the PRRD has diverted more than 55 tonnes of used grain bags and baler twine from local landfills.