RRC strives to tell unique stories from the agriculture community that show the true roots of the industry. It will also show off new products and ideas from the ever evolving industry.
Lori Kinnee, a rancher from Alberta's Peace Country, shares her experience navigating burnout in agriculture. After the BSE crisis forced her to balance a full-time job with ranch responsibilities, the weight of managing work, family, and farm life became overwhelming. In this feature, Kinnee opens up about her recovery and delivers a crucial message to the industry: rest isn't a luxury-it's a necessary input. Her story is one of resilience and a call for the agriculture community to prioritize self-care.
Nortera, a multi-national frozen and canned vegetable processor, is closing its frozen food facility in Lethbridge this June, impacting about 70 employees as part of a broader effort to consolidate operations and stay competitive. The move comes amid growing pressure from international imports and rising input costs across Canada's food processing sector. Alberta Food Processors Association Executive Director Bianca Parsons says while the news is difficult, it reflects long-standing challenges.
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday work in agriculture. As RRC's Olivia Taylor reports Ashley Smith, the National Product Manager for Seed Growth with Bayer Crop Science Canada, says artificial intelligence is a tool to help support decisions, not replace them. Smith spoke at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference in Calgary.
In this Equipment Spotlight: How often do you hear a machinery salesperson say their tractors have been designed with Canadian winters in mind? Kubota can confidently say they do. It's a company that has determined exactly what Canadians need and has put its machines to the test against the often harsh Canadian climate.
On this episode of the Rural Roots Canada podcast, powered by Kubota Canada, RRC meteorologist David Spence joins hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester to talk about the weather, specifically the ups and downs in the forecast at this time of year, the latest drought monitor, and talk of a super El Niño. Then, Craig explores the world of Rugged Terrain Vehicles, or RTVs, which have become a staple on modern farms and ranches across the country. Kubota's Ben Slute explains how RTVs streamline daily tasks, real-world uses, and why they've become an indispensable tool for both work and play.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada podcast, brought to you by Kubota Canada, hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester focus on two stories shaping the future of agriculture, one about what we're losing and one about where we're gaining. First, a developing story with real impact across southern Alberta: the closure of the Nortera plant in Lethbridge, which has sent shockwaves through the ag and food processing sectors. We'll hear from the Alberta Food Processors Association on what this means for jobs, farmers, and food production in the province. Then, Craig speaks to Paul Skretting (, an agronomy student at Lethbridge Polytechnic who has been named valedictorian for the Spring 2026 Convocation class. The two discuss being awarded the honour and how his agronomy studies have helped prepare him for a future in ag. From the uncertainty of now to the promise of a bright future - all on this week's RRC podcast. For more on Kubota Canada's Haymaking Tools go to:https://www.kubota.ca/products/hay-tools
Fresh snow brings fresh optimism to the Peace. Meteorologist David Spence breaks down this week's 10–15 cm of wet snow from Peace River and Grande Prairie to Fort St. John and Dawson Creek and why it matters for producers gearing up for seeding.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence says Alberta farmers have a renewed reason for optimism heading into the 2026 growing season, thanks to a late-season snow event that dropped 5 to 15 centimeters across central and northern regions. After three years of lean early-season water supply forecasts, conditions are now the most favorable since 2022. Mountain snowpack at surveyed sites is above normal, and river flows on the Bow, Red Deer, Oldman, and North Saskatchewan are expected to run higher than last year. Still, recovery is uneven: areas south of the Red Deer River, particularly toward the U.S. border, remain drier than normal with deeper soil moisture deficits that haven't been erased—meaning more rain is still needed in the south before seeding.
Freight rail service has been absent from parts of the B.C. Peace since 2018, shifting grain and other commodities onto trucks and putting added pressure on rural roads. In this update, RRC's Olivia Taylor speaks with Leonard Hebert, Vice Chair of the Peace River Regional District, about why local leaders are pushing to restore the line between Grande Prairie and Dawson Creek and what it could mean for producers, infrastructure, and the region's economy.
Alberta's new Chief Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Hussein Keshwani, understands the shortage of animal health professionals is putting pressure on producers, especially in rural communities. "It is a problem that we have a, a lack of veterinary professionals, and that's both veterinarians as well as veterinary technologists in the industry in general," says Keshwani. He says the challenge is even greater outside of the urban centers where distance and workload can limit access to care.
New research from the University of Calgary's veterinary school aims to tackle a costly and growing problem for livestock producers: parasitic worms in cattle and sheep. Associate Dean James Wasmuth says his team has been working since 2016 to develop new treatments using AI and advanced computational methods.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada Podcast, powered by Kubota Canada, hosts Tim Parent and Craig Lester kick things off by talking about Health Canada's decision to allow the emergency use of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan to deal with an infestation of Richardson Ground Squirrels. Then, we have an in-depth conversation with Alberta's new Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Hussein Kashwani, whose early experience on his family's poultry farm north of Edmonton still drives how he approaches animal health policy today. The conversation also delves into the shortage of rural vets in the province, and Dr. Kashwani's thoughts on how to lure more vets to rural practices. All that and more in this episode of the RRC Podcast.
It's official. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is pushing back on proposed new federal livestock traceability rules. In a statement, the CCA says it does not support moving forward with amendments from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to the Health of Animals Regulations.
The relationship between the Canadian Cattle Association and Alberta Beef Producers remains under the spotlight as discussions continue around a potential withdrawal from the national group. CCA CEO Andrea Brocklebank says it's a complex issue, but one the industry is tackling together.
Craig Lester is back from Brazil. In this episode, sponsored by Kubota Canada, we dive into what he saw on the ground from +30°C fields in the state of São Paulo. Craig talks about many forms of agriculture in a country that has transformed into a global agriculture powerhouse in just 50 years, a single generation.
A pulse research scientist whose work focuses on practical solutions for producers has been named the 2026 AFSC Women in Ag Innovator. Robyne Davidson has spent years in fields and labs working through the everyday challenges pulse crop farmers face. This year, that work got noticed. Davidson, a pulse research scientist at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alta., has won the 2026 Agriculture Financial Services Corporation Women in Ag Award in the Innovator category. The award recognizes women making meaningful contributions to the agriculture sector.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
There is no better way to experience a "taste" of agriculture than Loreto Nardelli and Nicoletta DiAngelu, owners of the popular Italian Cuisine website Sugar Love Spices, are perfect examples of this, bringing their love of creating authentic Italian cuisine by sourcing ingredients straight from the farm. Nardelli says their cooking and blog are all about quality, and that starts with building relationships with farmers.
AgSafe BC has introduced a new Human Resource Toolkit to help agriculture employers in British Columbia navigate hiring and workplace management. With more than 30 documents available for download, the toolkit guides users through each stage of employment. It includes templates for job descriptions, reference checks, exit interviews, and performance evaluations. Another feature is the termination checklists and tip sheets on topics such as probation and delivering feedback. The toolkit is made to be flexible so that it can be used by any farm organization.
Research out of the University of Calgary has identified new biological pathways to improve shatter tolerance in canola, addressing one of the crop's most persistent harvest challenges. The research focuses on strengthening the canola pod, allowing pods to remain intact during cutting while still opening properly during combining.
A national research effort is aiming to cut nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from nitrogen fertilizer, a major source of greenhouse gases in Canadian agriculture. The Canadian Nitrous Oxide Network (canN2Onet) is a collaborative 4-year research project led by N2O experts, including six universities, one college and one polytechnic. These institutions include Lethbridge Polytechnic, Olds College, University of Saskatchewan, University of B.C. and the University of Guelph. The University of Guelph is the lead in research for the nitrogen fertilizer project. This research project was established in 2024 by Guelph professor Claudia Wagner-Riddle and was federally funded with $7.9 million from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada Podcast, powered by Kubota Canada, host Tim Parent sits down with the new CEO of the Canadian Cattle Association (CAA), Andrea Brocklebank. In this wide-ranging conversation, Brocklebank says it's been an exciting and intense transition into the role, which brings her experience as a researcher with the Beef Cattle Research Council and as a rancher near High River, Alberta, to the position. And there's no shortage of priorities ahead for Brocklebank and the CAA, including key policy files, strengthening industry partnerships and working closely with provincial stakeholders on major issues facing producers. All that and more in this episode of the RRC Podcast.
The federal government is investing up to $27 million to help young Canadians get hands-on experience in agriculture and agri-food jobs. Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald announced the funding for the Youth Employment and Skills Program at the Atlantic Grains Council Cereals and Oilseeds 2026 conference earlier this month. The funding covers two years, from 2026 to 2028, including nearly $13.5 million for the 2026-27 program year.
Fifty post-secondary students made their way to Calgary last week for the Advancing Women in Agriculture West Conference, the most the event has ever seen in its student sponsorship program.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, the B.C. Peace region, and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
In this episode of the Rural Roots Canada Podcast, powered by Kubota Canada, Craig Lester shares details about his upcoming trip to São Paulo, Brazil, for mid-year meetings with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, where he'll join farm journalists from around the world to tour agricultural operations and explore Brazilian food production. The conversation then turns to the technology and versatility of the Kubota M6 Tractor and Kubota M7 Tractor. Kubota agricultural tractors product manager Kyle Dabrowski explains how these machines are engineered for Canadian conditions and designed to handle everything from fieldwork and livestock chores to snow removal. From global farm tours to cutting-edge machinery, the episode highlights how innovation and collaboration continue to shape modern agriculture.
Despite winter snow, drought remains on the prairies The latest update to the Canadian Drought Monitor shows widespread moderate drought in southern and central Alberta, and southwestern Saskatchewan, where for most of the winter, the ground has been bare. RRC meteorologist David Spence has the details.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, B.C. Peace and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, B.C. Peace and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares insight on this week's weather forecasts across Alberta, B.C. Peace and the Lloydminster, Saskatchewan area.
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