Rural Roots Canada

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. 

AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health network, is looking to the agriculture industry to provide feedback on their latest assessment of the mental health environment for farmers and the ag industry in the province. Director Linda Hunt says this white paper assesses the needs in the community as well as the ability of the mental health and health care providers to connect with farmers. "Looking for what are the barriers for people getting help, and how can we build capacity within the Alberta health and mental health system to support farmers and their families and veterinarians," says Hunt.

Fires on farm equipment are a known risk, especially during the busy harvest season, however, a Canadian agtech start-up believes they have developed a solution to help farmers spot problems before they spark. Chariot Command, co-founded by CEO Andrew John Leaman, uses camera-based technology to monitor the mechanical health of farm equipment, with a sharp focus on combines, where fire risk is often highest. “At Chariot Command, we use cameras to understand the mechanical health of farm equipment,” Leaman explains. “We are visual people. We are a vision company, so we use cameras to see things, whether they're cameras that we install or the cameras on a phone. We're taking that information to help farmers understand what's going on with their machinery. We're helping them understand what their machine is thinking and feeling using cameras.” The company's hardware mounts directly onto the machine and includes both a high-end regular camera and a thermal imaging unit. Together, they monitor critical hotspots like chopper bearings, the engine bay and gearboxes. “These are ideally for combines,” says Leaman. “So we're actually looking for heat, potential fire risk, temperature changes.”

Building a strong relationship between a producer and a veterinarian is important for your herd's health and the economical sustainability of your farm.  Dr. Tommy Ware from Veterinary Agri-Health Services says that the relationship starts with the first phone call between the producer and the veterinarian.

As technology continues to evolve in agriculture, Canadian livestock producers are embracing new ways to connect with their veterinarians—without ever setting foot in the clinic. Tele-medicine is gaining ground as a practical tool, allowing producers to consult with their vets remotely using phone calls, photos, and video. Dr. Tommy Ware of Veterinary Agri-Health Services near Crossfield, Alberta, the key to making it work starts with trust. "A lot of it starts with having a good relationship with your veterinary, because we can't just willy-nilly go about just answering phone calls and taking videos," says Ware.

“I wish I didn't have to deal with these dryland corners on my fields. They are more trouble than they are worth.” This offhand remark from a farmer has led to a full-fledged research initiative at Farming Smarter to explore how farmers manage these tricky, often-overlooked portions of irrigated fields. The new project is entitled No Cutting Corners: Realizing the Sustainable Potential of Dryland Corners. Ashley Wagenaar, Conservation Agronomist at Farming Smarter, is super excited to explore farms' different strategies for managing these areas. She believes they can provide value to anyone interested in changing their approach or seeking advice on managing these areas differently.

An upcoming event in Airdrie aims to help livestock producers build stronger relationships with their veterinarians, an important but sometimes overlooked part of a successful operation. Organized by Ashley Nicholls of REACH Agriculture Strategies, the session will explore effective communication strategies between producers and veterinarians and highlight how technology is reshaping animal health management. Nicholls says two featured speakers will offer diverse insights into the field.

Like crops weathering droughts and downpours, women in agriculture are rising through uncertainty and leading with resilience. At the recent Advancing Women in Agriculture conference, Dr. Cami Ryan, Senior Business Partner for Industry Affairs and Sustainability at Bayer Crop Science Canada, spoke with Rural Roots Canada about her talk, "The Heat is On! Resiliency and Leadership in Ag." Ryan said she never planned for a career in agriculture, but stressed that we all have to grow where we're planted. "I would have been the least likely person to end up in this space, but I did," she said. "So, really, the message is, if I can do it, anybody else can do it, too."

Canadian farmland rental rates remained relatively stable in 2024, despite another significant rise in land values, according to a report from Farm Credit Canada (FCC). Nationally, the average rent-to-price ratio, which measures the return on rented land relative to its market value, dropped slightly to 2.50%, nearly unchanged from 2.52% in 2o23. This indicates that rental rates haven't kept pace with the 9.3% increase in farmland values recorded over the previous year. The report, which focuses on cash rental agreements, shows regional differences in rental markets across Canada. In Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, rental rates have adjusted more quickly to land value increases. Other provinces saw little to no change in rental prices.

An updated Canadian drought monitor has been issued, and for most of Alberta, conditions have eased. West Central Alberta, from Olds to Nordegg, is no longer in drought thanks to recent rain. Southeastern Alberta received between 85 and 200% of normal precipitation in April. But the news was not as good for Southwestern Alberta, where conditions worsened, and part of the region is now considered to be an extreme drought. That region, the Southern foothills, the snowpack there, below average, soil is dry, surface water levels are low. According to the drought monitor, the St. Mary Reservoir is only at 64% capacity, the Old Man, 57%, and Waterton, just 40%. After a dry April, parts of the Lakeland region are considered abnormally dry, but not yet in drought. Now, conditions could improve between now and the end of the month with up to 90 millimeters of rain, projected by some computer models to fall between now and the end of the month in the southwestern foothills, the area hardest hit by drought.

Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – Canadian Road Safety Week is underway, and throughout rural Alberta, drivers are being urged to stay alert for farm machinery when travelling along the province's roads. “Those are large pieces of equipment on the highway, and being aware of them and driving safely around them is critical,” says Jody Wacowich, executive director of AgSafe Alberta. “Right now, all of our farmers are out there moving seeders and other big equipment, trying to get the job done in between rainstorms and whatever else happens.” Wacowich says patience goes a long way when you're stuck behind slow-moving machinery. “Yeah, they're moving slow, but they're not going to be on the road for that long. Just be patient with them and let them get to where they're going, especially if the conditions aren't allowing you to pass or get around them very easily. Take a breath, give it a minute or two.”

Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) has launched the 2025 Right by You Ag Society Grant, a community initiative that awards $10,000 each to four agricultural societies across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Cory Flett, Marketing and Communications Manager for RME, says the company is committed to giving back to the communities where employees and customers live and work. “We feel these ag societies are a large part of the fabric in these communities, and often are the social hubs with rodeos and various other events that they host,” says Flett. “We feel it's important to keep those alive.”

A new agriculture event is making its debut in southern Alberta in June. The Cypress Farm and Ranch Show will take place June 12–14 in Medicine Hat, coinciding with the World Professional Chuckwagon Races, which are being held in the city at the same time. Krissy Fiddler, part of the event's organizing team, says the region is overdue for a show that brings together both the farming and ranching communities.

In this Prairie Weather this Week report, we take a look at the forecast for NE Alberta.

In this Prairie Weather this Week report, we take a look at the forecast for Central Alberta.

In this Prairie Weather this Week report, we take a look at the forecast for Southern Alberta.

Lightning....friend or foe?   Both. Thunderstorm season has begun across the prairies, bringing with it danger, and a great benefit to growing crops. How to Stay Safe Safety is paramount, so we'll deal with the danger first.   Lightning is generated by the attraction between the negative charges at the bottom of a thundercloud and the positive charge of the surface of the Earth.   Similar to a magnet, the opposite charges are drawn to each other, and when the connection is made, a lightning flash results.  The danger is obvious.  The consequences can be deadly.   Besides holding n enormous electrical charge, A lightning bolt is hotter than the surface of the sun.  You don't want to be struck. Lightning is attracted to the tallest object in contact with the ground.   That's why tall trees or tall buildings are often struck.  When you're out working a field, you are quite possibly the tallest object - a target for a lightning stroke.   You don't want to be the tallest object.   Crouching down isn't good enough.

With the federal election in the rearview mirror, agricultural groups across the country are letting the minority Liberal Government know what they need immediately and in the coming months. Several of them issued statements in the last week.

Seeding is progressing across Alberta, and with it, a number of farmers will be participating in On-Farm Trials to assess how new products, technologies, or practices perform under real-world conditions. According to Steve Larocque of Beyond Agronomy, digital tools are transforming the future of these trials. He says platforms like DFI allow producers to carry out large-scale automated strip trials with ease.

When you hear the word lupin, you might think of those purple-pink flowers that dot landscapes and ditches across Canada. However, in this instance, lupin refers to a pulse crop that's becoming a crop to watch in Canadian agriculture. Researchers at Sarda Ag Research in the Peace Region of Alberta are exploring the potential of lupin, which is high in protein, rich in nutrients, and could have considerable potential for farmers. "Lupin is similar to how we got into industrial hemp," says Vance Yaremko, Executive Director for Sarda Ag Research. "We're always looking for alternatives here in the Peace Region, because we're mainly known for canola and wheat." While the pulse market has been growing in that part of the province, Yaremko says there have been some challenges. "We've hit a snag with Aphanomyces being quite detrimental to the product. Lupin has a resistance to this, so we feel there is potential for it to be somewhat of a replacement."

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the forecast for NE Alberta

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares a forecast for Central Alberta

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the southern Alberta forecast.

Farmers are very innovative, always coming up with new tools and practices to solve everyday problems on their farm. One such person is Jessica Carlyon, the owner of Hired Hand Hardware, who also farms in Little Smoky in northwest Alberta. Carlyon builds and sells a slick tool that cuts, pulls and wraps bale string or wrap from a hay or straw bale while feeding or putting in bedding.

A new opportunity for women looking to gain hands-on ranching experience is coming to Alberta this summer. The first-ever Female Ranch Camp will take place June 18–22 in Yellowhead County. Organized by Business Wide-View, the camp is modelled after a successful U.S. program and aims to build confidence, skills, and a stronger sense of community among women in agriculture. “We're taking up to 12 women to the camp,” says B-J Fuchs, owner of Business Wide-View and host of the event. “They'll be learning real-life ranch skills through a series of stations — from sorting cattle, operating a chute, branding, ear tagging, to administering vaccines. It's an environment designed for women to try new things, learn ranch hand activities, and not feel intimidated.” The camp has already attracted participants from across North America, including the United States, Eastern Canada, and Mexico. Interest has also come from as far away as Australia and Brazil, though visa issues have delayed some international participants until future camps.

In Alberta's Peace Country, a farmer-directed research organization is helping producers improve their operations by testing new practices and technologies tailored to the region's unique needs. SARDA Ag Research, based in Falher, conducts unbiased research on a range of topics, from crop inputs to new farming methods. The goal is to help farmers make better decisions based on data from their region, without the cost or risk of trying unproven methods themselves. “SARDA Ag Research is an organization that does non-biased research to help our local farmers come up with new ways, new things that are out there, bring the truth to it,” says Simon Lavoie, a St. Isidore-area farmer and chair of SARDA. “We can see firsthand what works, what doesn't work. SARDA is the groundbreaker for the new stuff for the north.” Lavoie says one of SARDA's strengths is that it's farmer-controlled, meaning local producers determine the direction of the research based on the challenges they face, rather than relying solely on industry trends.

Farmers across North America are riding a wave of economic uncertainty, thanks in large part to the ongoing global trade war & tariffs and shifting interest rates. Christian Lawrence, head of Cross-Asset Strategy at Rabobank, says the effects of the Trump administration's trade strategy are hitting the agriculture sector hard. “We're seeing a lot of volatility right across markets, particularly in currency markets, which tend to be a bit of a relief valve for tariffs,” says Lawrence.

Soil stewardship has long been a cornerstone of Kevin Auch's approach to farming, a legacy passed down through generations. That dedication was recently recognized when the Carmangay producer received the prestigious Orville Yanke Award for soil conservation at the Farming Smarter Conference.

The 2025 edition of the Alberta Blue Book has arrived. For over 20 years, the Blue Book has been a trusted resource of farmers and agronomists, helping them make decisions during the growing season. The book, which is collaboratively produced by Alberta Canola, Alberta Grains and Alberta Pulse Growers, has over 700 pages of valuable crop protection information.

Farmland values across Canada continued their steady upward trend in 2024, with the average price of farmland increasing by 9.3 per cent, according to Farm Credit Canada's latest Farmland Values Report. While the pace of growth slowed slightly compared to the 11.5 per cent increase recorded in 2023, FCC Chief Economist J.P. Gervais says the market remains strong despite some pressures. “The increase in Canadian farmland values in 2024 reflects an enduring strength in demand for farmland amid some pressures on commodity prices,” Gervais said. “The limited supply of farmland available for sale combined with lower borrowing costs resulted in an increase in the average price of farmland across the country.”