Rural Routes to Climate Solutions

In this episode of the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project (SAP) podcast series, Lance Tailfeathers sits down with Wolf Caller (Elliot Fox), a leader in land management and now a member of Kainai First Nation's Council. They discuss the past, present and future of agriculture in Kainai First Nation in southern Alberta, exploring how Blackfoot ways of knowing can help to protect water systems against droughts, enhance food security and protect native species.

Our Stories of Regeneration tour concludes at Ottawa's Just Food Community Farm, a 150-acre testament to sustainable, small-scale agriculture, including initiatives like Chi Garden and Urban Fresh Produce. Emphasizing agroecology and land stewardship, the farm champions local food sovereignty and transforms newcomers into farmers through its Start-up Farm Program. In our series finale, participants Chadwick Lewis and Sun Shan highlight the farm's impact on sustainable agriculture and community regeneration.

Facing his daughter's health issues, rancher Craig Cameron and his family turned to regenerative farming to grow the healthiest food possible for her. Craig, alongside his father-in-law Peter DenOudsten, shifted their traditional beef farm to a regenerative model. They now grow over 10 types of grass and clover, use less fertilizer, and produce some of the healthiest, most nutritious beef you can find.

Meet Rebecca Harbut and Mike Bomford from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Richmond, BC—prime examples of such trailblazers. Now, you might wonder, how do university professors fit the description of being 'on the ground'? Well, let me tell you, KPU isn't just any university; it boasts a farm that lies at the heart of Rebecca and Mike's endeavors. Moreover, as we've touched upon throughout this podcast series, with Canada's population nearing the 40 million mark, farm and ranch operators, along with farm laborers, represent a mere fraction—around 1%—of the populace. The takeaway here? It's going to require a collective effort, involving many of us outside the traditional farming community, to partner with that crucial 1%. This collaboration is key to expanding regenerative agriculture from a niche practice to a widespread one.

For this very special French-language episode of the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions podcast, recorded in the late summer of 2023 during the Stories of Regeneration tour, Sara Maranda-Gauvin of Regeneration Canada talked with brothers Vincent and Simon-Pierre Bolduc of La Station: an organic farm and cheese factory in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

You never know what Mother Nature is going to dish out, whether it is going to be the good, the bad or the ugly, so being able to observe, learn and adapt can be just as handy as mechanical skills. And now we have educational programs that blend Blackfoot ways of knowing and agriculture. In this episode of Rural Routes to Climate Solutions, we are taking a look at the Red Crow Community College's Niitsitapi Agriculture Certificate Program with JR Weasel Fat of Kainai, Alberta.

During the growing season of 2023 as summer turned into fall, the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions podcast and Regeneration Canada were on the final leg of the Stories of Regeneration tour. After covering most of the Prairies and most of central and eastern Canada in the summer, our months-long journey came to an end in Canada's two most western provinces around harvest time. This next phase of our journey brought us to Cawston, British Columbia, acclaimed as the Organic Farming Capital of Canada. At Snowy Mountain Farms, managed by Aaron Goddard and his family, you will find a 12-acre farm that boasts over 70 varieties of fruits such as cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, pears, apples, and quince. Aaron employs regenerative agriculture practices to cultivate and sustain living soils, which are essential for producing fruit that is not only delicious but also rich in nutrients.

2023 was a challenging year for Canadian farmers and ranchers and for humanity in general. We had droughts, wildfires, floods, an affordability crisis and a number of armed conflicts. According to scientists working with the European Union, 2023 smashed temperature records globally. And yet, someone like Nova Scotia agricultural producer Rachel Lightfoot still finds ways of being optimistic even after her farm got hit by a polar vortex, a dry spring and a very rainy summer all in the same year.

Fifth generation farmer, Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson believes strongly in the practices of regenerative agriculture. Located in Rogersville, New Brunswick, her farm Ferme Terre Partagee currently operates as a coop based on common values and objectives including peasant agroecology and food sovereignty. The post EP 71 Sharing the Land – SoR Part Four appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP 71 Sharing the Land – SoR Part Four appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Soil is very much alive. And hungry too. Some estimates go as far as saying that there is more life in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet. You just need a microscope to see the vast majority of it. Or you do what grain farmer Blake Vince did, and bury a pair of “tighty whities” (underwear) in the soil to produce proof of the existence of this vast and diverse soil microbial community. In the soil, you've got well-known critters like earthworms, bacteria and fungi and lesser-known ones like protozoa and nematodes, who have this tendency to eat the bacteria and fungi. In this bustling environment where a lot of things are eating each other, there is an exchange between soil organisms and plants so both sides of the equation get what they need to survive and thrive and produce food for the rest of us living above ground. This interaction between the soil and plants is something that fascinated Blake Vince, who farms mainly soya and corn in southwestern Ontario, it fascinated him at a young age. The post EP 70 Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part Three appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP 70 Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part Three appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

During the growing season of 2023, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions teamed up with Regeneration Canada to connect with agricultural producers across Canada who are tackling the pressing social and environmental crises through the adoption of regenerative agriculture. One such farm is Axten Farms, situated in Minton, Saskatchewan. With a steadfast commitment to growing healthy grains, Axten Farms takes a regenerative approach focused on enhancing their land's soil biodiversity, creating a thriving environment for food production. Their unwavering dedication is captured in their motto, "Loyal to the Soil." The post EP 69 Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part Two appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP 69 Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part Two appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

If you're still wondering how best to incorporate regenerative technologies into your daily operations then you might need a crash course, or at least a motivating podcast episode, that speaks to the business of bacteria. In this kick-off episode of the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project podcast series, we sit down with Joshua Day Chief to discuss how growing good bacteria can recharge your soil, plant and water health to make way for producing a better product. The post EP 68 Bacteria appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP 68 Bacteria appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

In the summer of 2023, a diverse group of storytellers, organizers, and strategists visited 10 farms and ranches in Canada. These farms and ranches were carefully chosen to represent different aspects of Canadian agriculture, including fruit, grains, beef, veggies, and even a vineyard. The purpose of this project, which included videos, articles, and a podcast series, was not solely focused on what these farms produced, but rather how they produced it. These farmers and ranchers were passionate about not only producing high-quality, nutrient-rich food, but also about fostering community connections, caring for the land, contributing to ecosystem stewardship, and addressing global issues like climate change. And to top it off, some of these farmers were even enjoying the process. The post EP 67 Total Grazing – SoR Part One appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP 67 Total Grazing – SoR Part One appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

The Stories of Regeneration podcast series is a 10-episode, in-depth look into the practices, motivations and lives of a dozen agricultural producers who are determined to remain profitable and regenerate the land, communities and ecosystems through their agricultural and agribusiness practices. The post Stories of Regeneration Podcast Trailer appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post Stories of Regeneration Podcast Trailer appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Have you ever found yourself scratching your head trying to make sense of all those terms like polycultures, cocktail crops, intercropping, cover crops, companion cropping, and relay crops? It's understandable! They all seem to be part of the vast landscape of good land stewardship practices, like sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, agroecology, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture. Oh, and let's not forget our personal favorite—agricultural climate solutions. But here's the thing: are these different systems truly distinct, or are they more closely related than we think? The post EP66 Polycultures appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP66 Polycultures appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Our hope is that the series can help with the mental health issues the agriculture sector is grappling with right now. Farming and ranching are stressful businesses, but that's brought to a whole new level when drought hits. By equipping cow-calf producers with information and words of advice from colleagues and peers in the sector on the best ways to get through a drought, things might not be as stressful in the next drought. Things might not look so bleak either. In this final episode of the series, we are talking to Ralph Thrall of McIntyre Ranch who shares with us his experience managing grass and cows in a pretty dry part of the province. The post EP65 Grazing Through Drought appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP65 Grazing Through Drought appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Dugouts play an important role in cow-calf operations across Alberta. While some farmers have access to well water, most rely on these man-made reservoirs to provide the necessary water that their cattle need to thrive. However, building, repairing, or expanding these dugouts can come at a high cost, which is why it's smart for producers to seek advice and resources before breaking ground. The post EP64 Building Dugouts appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP64 Building Dugouts appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Ben Stuart, who runs two successful farming operations (one in Saskatchewan and the other in Hardisty, Alberta), uses stockpile grazing to extend the grazing season on his farms. But if the grass isn't growing, how do you stockpile what isn't available? That's where preparation comes in. Join us as we discuss stockpile grazing and all the different forms it can take. The post EP63 Extended Grazing appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP63 Extended Grazing appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Masaki Hiyashi from the University of Calgary about the often-overlooked importance of groundwater, especially during dry spells. We discuss how groundwater sustains ranches, supports wildlife habitats, and provides water for a variety of household tasks. Join us as we unravel the significance of groundwater and why it's critical to invest in its replenishment during wet years for a sustainable future. The post EP62 Recharging Groundwater appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP62 Recharging Groundwater appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Have you ever given any thought to what the perfect cow would be for the conditions we experience in Alberta? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Susan Marcus of Lakeland College to talk about selecting and managing cattle traits so that your operation can be profitable during a good year while also getting you through a dry year. The post EP61 Managing Traits appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP61 Managing Traits appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

For the remainder of the Getting Through Drought series, we'll mainly be focusing on grazing management and adjusting grazing during a drought. To start things off, ranchers Blusette and Mark Campbell, out in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan joined us to share some of what they've learned about grazing and herd management. The post EP60 Grazing & People appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP60 Grazing & People appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Sometimes the public's perception of agriculture doesn't quite fit the reality. For many, when thinking about agriculture, the farmer is often tall, broad - and let's be honest - masculine. With the number of female farm operators increasing, you've got to wonder if this outdated image is about to change. The post EP59 Women In Ag appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP59 Women In Ag appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

In recent years, mycorrhizal fungi have become a hot topic, especially when talking about soil health. Mycorrhizal fungi are vast networks of nutrient exchange between plants and other microscopic critters you can find in the soil. Fortunately, the management practices for maintaining this conduit of nutrient exchange tend to be the same ones we'd use in good pasture management. Can this vast network under our feet help out calf-cow producers in a dry year? The post EP58 Fungi in Drought appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP58 Fungi in Drought appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Riparian areas can be a value-added project of the wetlands on your land if you choose to leave your wetlands intact. The wetland itself is great for maintaining the water table and can become an important source of water for your cattle.  In this episode, you'll be hearing from Art Goerzen of Adullam Ranch to get an additional perspective on why riparian areas can be handy in times of drought. The post EP57 Riparian Accounts Part Two appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP57 Riparian Accounts Part Two appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

You could argue that compared to other livestock, cattle are pretty simple to feed - get them grazing during the growing season and feed them bales in the winter. However, this relatively simple feeding system begins to fall apart when you get hit by a drought; forage isn't growing in your pasture and the price of hay goes through the roof. During a dry year, you might want to look into alternatives to hay that can help your cattle get the baseline nutrition they need and get you and your ranch through the year. In this episode, we are joined by Barry Yaremcio of Yaremcio Ag Consulting Ltd to learn more about feed alternatives. The post EP56 Feed Additives appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP56 Feed Additives appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

If you manage them properly, riparian areas can be a savings account that you can tap into during a dry year. There are plenty of good reasons for fencing off and protecting bodies of water on your land, like giving biodiversity a boost or keeping water clean for livestock. Not to mention how handy that strip of greenery adjacent to a wetland can be when your pasture isn't growing or recovering the way you need it to. In this episode, we're joined by Duane Movald of Movald Ranches, to learn more about managing and stewarding riparian areas. The post EP55 Riparian Accounts appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP55 Riparian Accounts appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

When it comes to soil amendments, charcoal is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But if you really think about it, charcoal is carbon that's been locked up, in the same way that coal is carbon, perfectly sequestered. There's a catch - you can't burn it. But if we can't burn it, how do we activate the carbon in biochar? In this episode, Rob Lavoie of AirTerra helps us understand how to unlock that carbon and feed those hungry little soil microbes that feed us. The post EP54 Biochar appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP54 Biochar appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

If you live in Alberta and raise cattle, odds are you're going to try every possible way to keep that spring melt, or heavy rain, on your land. A tried and true method of ensuring that water doesn't go wandering off is the dugout. In this episode, Norine Ambrose, Executive Director of Cows and Fish, helps us understand the importance of protecting riparian areas (including dugouts) and how it can help with drought management. The post EP53 Dugouts appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP53 Dugouts appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

There are very few things that can mess up your grazing plans like a drought. Join us as we chat with Sean McGrath, of Round Rock Ranching, about creating a plan to help minimize the impact that a drought can have on your operation. The post EP52 Drought Plans appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP52 Drought Plans appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

With fertilizer prices hitting $1,000 a ton, it's no surprise that cover crops are a hot topic. It makes sense that non-synthetic inputs like cover crops are becoming more and more appealing to producers. There's many benefits to cover crops - including feeding livestock and pollinators, improving water filtration, suppressing weeds, building soil carbon and improving soil biology. In this episode, we're joined by Kevin Elmy, of Cover Crops Canada, to discuss the ins and outs of cover crops. The post EP51 Cover Crops appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP51 Cover Crops appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

This episode is all about reflecting on the past and anticipating the future. We've covered so many great topics and had the most amazing speakers join us. While we can't highlight or cover it all in our “podcast tour”, we picked ones that impacted the podcast's trajectory. The post EP50 50 More appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP50 50 More appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

We sit down with agricultural producer John Kolk of Iron Springs, Alberta to discuss Canada's next Agricultural Policy Framework or APF. The post *BONUS* The Next APF appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post *BONUS* The Next APF appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

In this episode, knowledge holder Dr. Leroy Little Bear shares his work to restore the Iinnii. Little Bear sheds light on why this work is important, not only for the land but for the people and their connection with songs, ceremonies and stories centred around the Iinnii. He also highlights the importance of working together with the air, land, and water to foster the ideal environmental conditions we need to survive and thrive. The post EP49 Bringing Back Iinnii appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. The post EP49 Bringing Back Iinnii appeared first on Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

Cattle ranching on the Blood Reserve can be a rewarding endeavour, however, it comes with challenges. Mike Bruised Head from Kainai shares his experience and how climate change has impacted his ranching.

Three Alberta agricultural producers discuss what the 'regenerative mindset' is and why it is important for those transitioning to regenerative agriculture.

Feedlot manager Andrea Stroeve-Sawa shares low-stress livestock handling tips we can use to have constructive conversations on the livestock and the environment issue.

Communications strategist Sarah Wray discusses communications techniques we can use to have constructive conversations on the livestock and the environment issue.

Author and leadership advisor David Irvine discusses the strategies we can use to have constructive conversations on the livestock and the environment issue.

The thrilling conclusion of our exploration of post-secondary research and regenerative agriculture with Jason Bradley of Olds College and a solid lesson in asking ourselves why.

Take a deep dive with Jason Bradley of Olds College into post-secondary agriculture research and how research can assist the acceleration of regen ag in Alberta.

Cyrus and Roy Weasel Fat of Kainai First Nation share their success story of farming and ranching on the Blood Reserve in southern Alberta.

Co-operatives have a long history in Alberta of getting the job done. We ask Rod Olson of YYC Growers if co-ops can assist in advancing regenerative agriculture in the province.

Cutting hay is not the only thing an agricultural producer can do these days when the sun is shining. A crash course in on-farm solar from A-Z with Lee Sinal of KCP Energy.

The conclusion of our conversation with Dana Penrice of Young Agrarians on how new and aspiring farmers and ranchers can be a farm solution that is also a climate solution.

A recent report by the University of Alberta provides new evidence that AMP grazing improves water infiltration in ranchlands on the Prairies. Hear from the researchers involved in the study

Dana Penrice of Young Agrarians discusses how new and aspiring agricultural producers are a farm solution and a climate solution that could do a lot good on the Prairies.

Agricultural producer Jianyi Dong talks design, growing potential and extending the growing season with his commercial passive solar greenhouse in Olds, Alberta.

We team up with Grain on the Brain and ask Karen Ross, Director of Famers for Climate Solutions, about a $300 million investment in Canadian agricultural producers.

Darrin Qualman of the National Farmers Union takes us through a set of recommendations for building thriving farms and ranches and reducing agriculture's carbon footprint.  

Colorado-producer Brandon Rockey talks regen ag, soil health, plant diversity and potatoes with Alberta rancher Steve Kenyon in GRO's Coffee Shop Talk series.

Colorado-producer Brandon Rockey talks regen ag, soil health, plant diversity and potatoes with Alberta rancher Steve Kenyon in GRO's Coffee Shop Talk series.