Rural Roots Canada

This week we will learn who will be named the National Environmental Stewardship Award winner. One of the cattle operations in the running is Barnett Land and Cattle owned by Duncan & Jane Barnett from the Williams Lake area of B.C. They were named the B-C Cattle Association's nominee for this year. The VBP+ operation has 100 Angus-influenced cows. The farm also does some custom feeding and sells hay.

Alberta Grains and Fertilizer Canada have launched Make Your Acres Count!, a campaign encouraging Alberta farmers to register their farmland under the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Framework. The initiative is designed to expand sustainable farming practices, strengthen environmental outcomes, and improve productivity while highlighting farmers' leadership in responsible agriculture. The campaign is part of a larger effort to grow Alberta's leadership in sustainable agriculture. Last year, more than 2.15 million acres in Alberta were self-reported under 4R. The campaign aims to nearly double that number by the end of the 2025 crop year.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence gives insight into this week's weather in Southern Alberta.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence gives insight into this week's weather in central Alberta.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence gives insight into this week's weather in northeast Alberta and northwest Saskatchewan.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence gives insight into this week's weather in the Vegreville and Bonnyville area.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence gives insight into this week's weather in the BC Peace.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a series of new, strategic measures to help sectors most impacted by tariff and trade disruptions, including Canada's canola sector. Canola growers can expect expanded financial support with plans to temporarily increase the Advance Payments Program interest-free limit to $500,000 for canola advances. The government says this temporary expansion will give producers greater flexibility to manage risk and cash flow. Another $370 million has been earmarked for biofuel production incentives over the next two years,  designed to keep Canadian biodiesel and renewable diesel producers competitive as U.S. subsidies reshape the market.

Ranchers John Smith and Laura Laing, who own Plateau Cattle Company near Nanton, have spent their lives improving their cattle herds' health and welfare. Which is why the ranch has been named as the recipient of the Alberta Beef Producers' 2025 Environmental Stewardship award, an honour that recognizes exceptional commitment to sustainable ranching practices and contributions to the beef industry.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence provides farm weather reports for northeast Alberta and northwest Saskatchewan.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence provides farm weather reports for Lakeland region of northeast Alberta.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence provides farm weather reports for Central Alberta.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence provides a farm weather report for the B.C. Peace region.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence provides a farm weather report for the southern Alberta region.

Sheep shearing is an ancient tradition dating back to the earliest days of agriculture and in the 21st century, Reba Fajnor is keeping the tradition alive. Fajnor, from Saskatchewan, recently showcased her sheep shearing skills at Chatsworth Farm in Vermilion, Alberta, for Open Farm Days, giving a few sheep a much-needed haircut.

A powerful storm near Brooks, Alberta brought golf ball-sized hail and fierce winds, leaving crops devastated and farmers facing tough losses. Brad Niznik shares what it was like to ride out the storm and the impact it's having on his farm and neighbours.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe met with federal government officials on Thursday to discuss the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and China over canola. Standing alongside Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Moe said he wants the PM to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve the dispute that has led to hefty tariffs on Canadian canola products. Earlier this month, China announced a preliminary anti-dumping duty of 75.8% on canola seed, on top of the 100% tariffs already hitting canola oil and meal announced in March. Moe said the provinces need to work collaboratively with the canola industry and the federal government to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Moe is planning a trade mission to China and wants Carney to join him.

Do More Agriculture's AgTalk - Canada's online space in the agriculture sector for mental health connection has been renewed thanks to the support of BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada, the RBC Foundation and the McCain Foundation.  Executive Director Merle Massey says AgTalk is an agricultural community within the online site Togetherall, where anyone over 16 can anonymously and safely connect, share, and receive support from a community of peers.

RRC talks with AgSafe Alberta's Jody Wacowich about safety during harvest season.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the weather forecast for Northeast Alberta for the week of August 18th.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the weather forecast for Northeast B.C. - Northwest Alberta for the week of August 18th.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the weather forecast for Central Alberta for the week of August 18th.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the weather forecast for Southern Alberta for the week of August 18th.

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the weather forecast for northeast Alberta and northwest Saskatchewan for the week of August 18th.

What happens when you put an agronomist and a meteorologist in the same conversation? That's what we find out in this podcast as Beyond Agronomy's Steve Larocque joins Meteorologist David Spence and Craig Lester for a chat about the 2025 growing season in Alberta. They chat about the 'feast or famine' precipitation situation that different regions of the province have experienced during the growing season. They conclude the podcast looking ahead to harvest, which may be pushed back for many farmers. It's an in-depth discussion of the 2025 Alberta growing that you don't want to miss.

Canadian canola farmers are bracing for fresh economic pressure after China announced new duties on Canadian canola, a move industry leaders say underscores the need for more diversification, both at home and abroad.  On Tuesday, China announced a preliminary anti-dumping duty of almost 76% on Canadian canola imports as part of an ongoing trade dispute following Canada's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Back in March, China also imposed a 100% levy on Canadian canola oil and meal, along with other levies on other sectors. 

Vermilion's Chatsworth Farm is preparing to welcome visitors for Alberta Open Farm Days on August 16, offering a full lineup of tours, demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. Alberta Open Farm Days, now in its twelfth year, is a chance for producers, agri-food operators and many others province-wide to open their doors and welcome the public in to show what they do day in and day out. Charlotte Wasylik from Chatsworth Farm is one of the many farmers who are excited to take part in this weekend's festivities once again.

For nearly a decade, Farming Smarter has been one of southern Alberta's strongest ambassadors of Alberta Open Farm Days, the province-wide initiative that brings the farm to consumers to help them understand the origins of their food. Held every August, Alberta Open Farm Days is a chance for producers, ag organizations, and food processors to give the public a behind-the-scenes tour to learn, ask questions, and get a hands-on feel for the realities of modern agriculture. Farms, agriculture businesses, and organizations will open their gates and doors to the public for the two day event on August 16 and 17 this year. For Farming Smarter, that means transforming its Lethbridge-area research site into an interactive learning hub on Saturday, August 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On this week's podcast, Rural Roots Canada travels to Stavely, Alberta, to take in the Cudlobe Cattle Field Day, hosted by Cudlobe Angus and Cudlobe Angus West. From community to cattle science to cow patties, we round up the sights, sounds, and stories from the pasture.

As we head into harvest season, the Do More Ag Foundation, which champions the mental well-being of people in Canadian agriculture, is reminding farmers to make sure they keep their mental health top of mind when bringing in the crop. 

Amid ongoing discussions on bringing down provincial trade barriers, some direct-to-market cattle producers are calling for changes to slaughter regulations. Barry Doerksen, co-owner of Gemstone Grass-Fed Beef in Gem, Alberta, says they can only sell within the province unless they switch from provincially to federally inspected facilities.

Alberta is marking a milestone that few jurisdictions on the planet can claim: 75 consecutive years without a breeding population of rats.  Alberta's Rat Control Program launched in 1950 after the province first declared the Norway rat a pest when the rodents crossed the Saskatchewan border. The program was a way to keep the rats from spreading disease and damaging infrastructure and agriculture. Armed with new legislation, a dedicated "Rat Control Zone" stretching 600 kilometres along Alberta's eastern edge, and a network of municipal pest inspectors, the province halted the rats' advance within three years.  "It's something that's been decades of work," says Alberta Ag Minister RJ Sigurdson. "It's not a task we take lightly." 

The Alberta government is calling for the reversal of a federal ban on strychnine as the Richardson's ground squirrel population booms.  In an open letter posted on X, RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, says farmers and ranchers are in crisis as the rodent, also called gophers, tears up crops, jeopardizes animal health, and destroys native grasslands. 

This week on the podcast, Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on some of the province's most pressing ag issues. From celebrating 75 years of being rat-free to the ongoing fight against Richardson Ground Squirrels and the call to bring back strychnine, Sigurdson shares his thoughts on pest management. He chats about pressing the federal government to make agriculture more of a priority. We also examine several counties and municipal districts that have declared agricultural disasters, with the Minister outlining the tools available to help them navigate these issues.

In this week's chat, Tim and Craig delve into Canada's Food System a new national, sector wide initiative led by Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI), which aims at elevating the conversation about what goes into producing food in our country. Executive Director Lisa Bishop-Spencer provides insight into the initiative. We journey out to Brooks, Alberta to see the evolution of the Crop Diversification Centre - South, which is now being headed up by the County of Newell. The County sees the facility formerly run by the Government of Alberta has an economic opportunity. The county's Director of Agricultural Services Todd Green shares his excitement about the project. Finally we head to Lexington, Kentucky where we talk about Ag extension with Alltech's Dr. Anne Koontz, who takes the company's fascinating research turns it into easily consumed information for the company's marketing and communication teams.

Canada's Food System believes it's time to rethink what it really takes to get food on our plates, and recognize the people and the work that goes into every bite.  That's the goal of a new national campaign, positioning our food system as a critical part of our country's identity, economy, and future. 

How much water do you think it takes to produce a Stampede breakfast, consisting of 5 pancakes, a sausage and a cup of coffee - from farm to fork? According to a new study from the Simpson Centre for Food and Agriculture Policy  at the University of Calgary.. it's a whopping 652 litres of water.  Research Associate Juhi Huda says it varies depending on where it is produced and what is included in the meal.

Summer storms are taking their toll on Prairie crops. According to the Canadian Crop Hail Association, farmers across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have filed well over 1,600 crop damage claims since the start of summer. But is it a particularly unusual hail season so far? RRC's Tim Parent talks to Meteorologist David Spence about the storms we have seen.

In our latest podcast, we discuss our recent ag learning journey in the Yukon, where Nuffield Canada marked its 75th Anniversary in Canada's North. We chat with Leona Watson, a Nuffield Scholar and one of a small but determined group of farmers looking to redefine what farming looks like in the Yukon's stunning, rugged landscape. We also hear from Hanna Fish, Executive Director of the Yukon Agricultural Association, about both the opportunities and challenges of farming north of the 60th parallel. RRC specializes in sharing local stories from the agricultural community.

There's a new owner of the the Crop Diversification Centre - South (CDC) near Brooks, Alberta. The County of Newell is the new leaseholder for the research facility and fields after securing a ten-year lease from Alberta Infrastructure and they have wasted no time in hitting the ground running. This is one unique example of the evolving agriculture research landscape in Alberta, after the province decided to divest itself of many agriculture research projects in 2020. County of Newell Director of Agricultural Services Todd Green speaks on the potential for success this project has for the region.    "We saw a relatively underutilized facility, and an economic development opportunity, and we think there's value in having management of this facility be local. We're able to be very nimble in our decision-making abilities and our use of the facility," says Green.  Green says they are now busy upgrading facilities with an arbitrary deadline of September 1st, when they will welcome in tenants.    “We have some wonderful partners already on board, people utilizing the Ag research lands. We have people that are interested in utilizing other facilities. We just need to inject a little capital funding into them to bring them up to 2025 standards.” 

“The arena is pretty much the hub for the winter. If you want to see someone in the winter, you go to the rink.” Brad Dundas, President of the Hussar Agricultural Society, beams with pride as he speaks of his hometown of Hussar and its arena, situated in Wheatland County in southern Alberta. The tight-knit agricultural community has been selected as the Alberta winner of BASF's Growing Home program. The award recognizes rural organizations that strengthen the fabric of their communities, something Hussar residents take seriously. As a result, the Hussar Agricultural Society has secured $25,000 to support repairs for the community's arena, including the Zamboni room. For this small village of around 180 people, agriculture is more than a livelihood; it's the foundation of the community. With young families returning to the farm and raising their children, Dundas says the arena has become a focal point for activities like hockey, skating, 4-H, and curling. The Growing Home program, now in its third year, has seen substantial growth across Canada. Leta LaRush, Vice President of BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada, says it's designed to support the very organizations that make rural life vibrant.

Youth from across the province put agriculture front and centre at the Youth Agriculture Speaking Championships, put on by the Calgary Stampede in partnership with the Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture. The youth were competing for $15,000 in prizes as well as money to travel to Toronto to compete in the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Finals at the Royal Winter Fair in November. The competitors delivered speeches on one of five agri-tech and agri-food related topics that were five to seven minutes in length. The preliminary competition was held at Olds College and Stampede Park on July 11. The top five from the Junior and Senior divisions were selected to participate in the final on July 12th at the Calgary Stampede.  

We kick off our first podcast, wrapping up our coverage of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, including our coverage of the vintage tractor pull. David Spence weighs in on the drought situation and provides a bit of insight into the recent hailstorms we have seen across the prairies. (7:00) How much water do you think it takes to produce a Stampede breakfast (5 Pancakes, Beef Sausage and a cup of coffee)? It's more than you think! We have insights from an interesting study from the Simpson Centre at the University of Calgary. (11:25) We wrap up the program by talking to BASF VP Leta LaRush about BASF's Growing Home Program and this year's Alberta winner – Hussar Agricultural Society. Brad Dundas from the Hussar Ag Society shares a bit about the community. We also talk about the 2nd and 3rd place finishers, Buffalo Coulee Community Hall and Eaglesham & District Agricultural Society.(14:50) Rural Roots Canada informs and celebrates the agriculture community by sharing real stories and information about rural life across the Prairies and the country.

Amidst the pancake breakfasts and rodeo fun at the Calgary Stampede, canola farmers were looking for updates on tariffs with China. Andre Harpe, Chair of Alberta Canola and the Canadian Canola Growers Association, met with Prime Minister Mark Carney face-to-face, and trade with China was top of mind. "It was a great opportunity to have," says Harpe. "It's not every day you get the chance to chat with the prime minister. All we did was share our concerns about what's going on right now with China and the tariffs, so it was a good conversation." Earlier this year, China slapped retaliatory tariffs on canola and other ag products in response to trade restrictions imposed by Canada on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum products. It has created considerable concern among canola growers.

Farm families across southern Alberta have been recognized for their hard work and dedication to the agricultural community at this year's Calgary Stampede. The 2025 BMO Farm Family Awards honour farm families who exemplify the values of the family farm and the spirit of rural life. This year, 19 families were recognized for their leadership in agriculture, community roots, and commitment to preserving and promoting Western heritage.

Leona Watson is helping redefine what agriculture looks like in Canada's North. The Yukon-based farmer and former Nuffield Scholar is welcoming past Nuffield Scholars to the Canadian territory for Nuffield Canada's 75th-anniversary celebration, a region that, for many of them, is uncharted territory, which is kind of the point. “It's the first time in the Yukon for a lot of these folks,” Watson says. “We're just excited to feature what the Yukon has to offer. It's a growing population, and we offer a lot of diverse things up here, including a small but growing agricultural sector.” Watson, who earned her scholarship in 2011, brings more than just her planning skills to the event. She's an example of what can happen when opportunity and dedication collide. A decade ago, she and her husband moved north to literally and figuratively break ground in a place where agriculture is not foremost on people's minds.

75 Years of producing travelling scholars and leaders in the agriculture community. Nuffield Canada celebrates the milestone by touring farms and agriculture businesses in the Yukon. Chair Steve Larocque says it's an amazing accomplishment—and it was a great place to celebrate it. “What better place than the Yukon on the solstice. It was fantastic,” says Larocque

Twelve applied research associations across Alberta will share $3.2 million in provincial funding aimed at strengthening agricultural research and improving producer competitiveness. The one-time grant from the provincial government will be used for equipment upgrades, facility improvements, and infrastructure enhancements. RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation for Alberta, says the investment reflects the province's ongoing support for practical, science-based innovations in farming. "Applied research associations play a vital role in supporting farmers and ranchers with top-notch research that helps improve and advance agriculture," says Sigurdson. "This funding helps ensure associations can concentrate on providing research and extension to help our producers adopt new technologies and practices and improve their competitiveness by addressing their most pressing capital equipment issues.”

The application deadline for the 2026 Nuffield Scholarships is looming- June 30th. The Nuffield Canada Scholarship is a prestigious, rural, thought-leadership program available to Canadian citizens who are involved in any aspect of agriculture. Its goal is to attract mid-career men and women who are ready to challenge themselves by doing 10 weeks of self-directed international travel study to examine and research an agricultural topic they are passionate about. Once travel is completed, Scholars sum up their findings in a written report (approx. 10,000 words) and presentation to Nuffield Canada at their annual general meeting.    This $20,000 scholarship allows its recipients to travel the world. This helps them to cultivate bonds with peers involved in similar fields internationally, bring valued information back to their hometowns to positively benefit themselves, their communities, and their respective agricultural industry as a whole. It's considered the opportunity of a lifetime for those with a passion for agriculture.  

Rural Crime: Wire Theft From Irrigation Pivots On The Rise by RRC soundbites

Canada is beefing up its defence against foot-and-mouth disease, one of the most dangerous livestock diseases in the world.