Thanks for tuning in to RealAg on the Weekend! On today’s show, host Shaun Haney is joined by: Todd Lewis, Saskatchewan farmer and newly appointed Senator on the appointment process and why he wanted to become involved; The Ministry of Trade and Export Development, Warren Kaeding on his trip to Singapore this weekend and possible… Read More…

Happy Valentine’s Day! Thanks for tuning in to this Friday edition of RealAg Radio! Hear the Beef Market Update with Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange. Host Shaun Haney is then joined by Kelvin Heppner and Lyndsey Smith both of RealAgriculture for the RealAg Issues Panel. They discuss a number of topics including: Farm… Read More…

Canada has experienced some economic growth since coming out of COVID, but our pace of growth and productivity is nothing to write home about. J.P. Gervais, chief economist for Farm Credit Canada, says that there is always low hanging fruit when it comes to improving productivity, such as adding efficiency, economies of scale, and producing… Read M…

Markets in the United States faltered this week. While prices hit a high two weeks ago, this week they settled $7–$8 lower than last week. Unsurprisingly for the time of year, packers have cut kills this week, but that wasn’t enough to support the choice cutout, which dropped $6.50. While the U.S. experienced reduced prices,… Read More…

The unpredictability of what’s going to happen on the tariff front has put Canadian businesses and government officials in a situation where it’s difficult to know what, if any, steps can be taken to alleviate the uncertainty around U.S. business in the immediate future. With so much up in the air, maintaining cross-border communication is… Read Mo…

It’s hard to believe that an Ontario provincial election could get pushed to the back burner on the political stove, but that is the case as voters focus on the heat generated by daily Trump tariff tirades and who might be Canada’s next prime minister, replacing Justin Trudeau. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for the… Read More…

With numerous challenges facing Canadian agriculture and tariffs being a major concern, Justine Hendricks, president and CEO of Farm Credit Canada (FCC), says that it is important to stay focused on what FCC is calling a “generational opportunity” through collaboration and doubling down on investments and innovations that increase productivity. In …

A high-quality wheat crop starts before the seed is even planted by choosing the best seed lot possible. A seed with excellent germination, strong vigour, and freedom from and protection against key pathogens is more likely to achieve strong emergence and a healthy plant establishment. This year’s seed quality reflects the growing conditions of the…

Thanks for tuning in to this Thursday edition of Farmer Rapid Fire on RealAg Radio, brought to you by Corteva Biologicals! Host Shaun Haney checks in with: Mark Huston of Chatham-Kent, Ont.; Scott Douglas of Leamington, Ont.; Corey Loessin of Radisson, Sask.; and, Scott Keller of New Norway, Alta. Also hear from Corteva Biologicals product… Read Mo…

The advancement of technology has been a game changer when it comes to the ability to communicate, shop, pay for goods and services, and even farm. From internet access to GPS-equipped tractors and combines, online connectivity has made many tasks easier. There can be risks associated with being online, however simple steps can help enhance… Read M…

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — that pretty much tells the tale of the 2024 edible bean season in the Ontario and Manitoba growing areas. With a cool, windy spring, Manitoba Ag pulse and soybean specialist Dennis Lange says he never expected to see record edible crops in… Read More…

Todd Lewis is in Ottawa this week getting well acquainted with the ins and outs of how the Senate of Canada runs. The Saskatchewan farmer officially became a senator last Friday, and is ready to dive into representing his province and his industry in the red chamber. Lewis said the entire process happened very quickly… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Wednesday edition of RealAg Radio brought to you by Syngenta Canada! Host Shaun Haney is joined by: Justine Hendricks with Farm Credit Canada on the generational opportunity; JP Gervais with Farm Credit Canada on the productivity gap in Canada; Nicole Sharp with Syngenta Canada on the year ahead; and,… Read More…

Commodity markets have been digesting a tidal wave of What if? questions: What if China is buying? What if Trump imposes tariffs? What if acreage falls? What if China isn’t buying? Ed Broshinski, market analyst with Cargill MarketSense, says that managed money has been working its way through these scenarios, and that canola, specifically may… Read…

A new study from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture paints a fresh picture of farming’s economic impact in the province and also makes recommendations on what governments — from the municipal to federal level — could do to help farmers to be more competitive and make an even bigger contribution to the provincial economy. According… Read More…

In 10 years of answering your questions, observing farm changes, and navigating agronomy, what has changed for Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson? Well, he’s got a few more grey hairs and perhaps an extra wrinkle or two, but the fundamentals of growing high-yielding crops haven’t changed much from episode 1 to 500 of The Word, says… Read More…

Manure has been used as fertilizer for a very long time; however, with the advent of fewer mixed farms and access to commercial fertilizer, which is easier to transport and often easier to apply, nearly all farmers have moved away from using manure as the primary source of fertilizer on their operations. That being said,… Read More…

Understanding the prevalence of flea beetles in a canola field can make a big difference when it comes to management decisions in that field. This number-one insect pest of canola can quickly multiply in number and — with the right environmental conditions — move from below to well-above an economic threshold in a single day…. Read More…

Happy Canadian Ag Day! Thanks for tuning in to this Tuesday edition of RealAg Radio. Host Shaun Haney is joined by: Ed Broshinski with Cargill MarketSense on the canola market; Chris Davison with Canola Council of Canada on how the trade threats potentially impact the canola industry; Todd Lewis, vice-president of the Canadian Federation of… Read M…

Keeping fields clean is job one, especially with less competitive crops, such as pulses or even corn. But flushing weeds and herbicide-resistant weeds create headaches for growers every spring. Is there a better option than in-crop control? Ladies and gentleman, herbicide layering has entered the chat. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lynd…

Thanks for tuning in to this Agronomic Monday edition of RealAg Radio. Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by: Matt Makens with Makens Weather for a late winter weather outlook; Dr. Luke Gatiboni with University of North Carolina State on micronutrients role in crop production. Hear from Laura Eastwood in a spotlight interview for KWS Seeds… Read More…

In spring 2021, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced funding to expand its Living Labs initiative to every province. Today, organizations tasked with connecting farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders to advance sustainable, environmentally friendly on-farm practices and technologies are starting to see preliminary results. One suc…

Kent Bacus, executive director, government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, hasn’t had a dull moment in the last few weeks. He’s not had much sleep either. That’s not surprising, as any time there is a change in government leadership, his department is going to be busy. Add in a change from a Democrat… Read More…

Ontario’s relatively youthful soils are less prone to micronutrient deficiencies, but there are situations where soil characteristics can lead to low levels of key micros in farm fields, says University of Guelph associate professor Dr. John Lauzon. Speaking at the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s MicroSmart Deep Dive meeting in King…

Thanks for tuning in to RealAg on the Weekend! On today’s show, host Shaun Haney discusses a number of topics including: Matt Makens of Makens Weather with a late winter weather outlook; Michael Harvey, executive director of CAFTA regarding the importance of trade for Canada; and What Saskatchewan farmers think about all this trade talk… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Friday edition of RealAg Radio! Host Shaun Haney is joined by Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), to discuss today’s policy brief regarding trade with the U.S. and Canadian productivity. Haney is also joined by Lyndsey Smith and Kelvin Heppner, both of RealAgriculture, for……

The backlash and subsequent scaling back of environmental policies affecting European agriculture offers a lesson for governments and political parties around the world, says a policy analyst with a European consumer advocacy group. The European Union’s Farm to Fork strategy was introduced about five years ago, and included steep restrictions on pe…

Canola is just one of many on the list of products, services, and commodities bracing for the negative impacts of the U.S. tariff regime. With less than 30 days to negotiate ahead of the next tariff implementation deadline, the canola industry is working to get the message across to the U.S. about how canola from… Read More…

Volatility is always part of agriculture, but the ups and downs of the industry have never been more apparent than what farmers have experienced in recent years. From the impacts of a global pandemic to historic rises and falls in income, farmers are used to the roller-coaster ride; and there’s more uncertainty ahead as Trump… Read More…

A strong cattle market depends on many factors, all of which play a role in ensuring producers’ long-term success. While beef demand in the United States is the highest it has been in the last 40 years, and retail prices have risen 4.6 per cent annually over the last 25 years, producers still face a… Read More…

The U.S. and Canadian cow-herds are both at record lows, at a time when cattle prices are reaching record highs. The market signal to build the herd is there; however, the reality of realizing strong income selling at these prices and several years of drought means ranchers have been in sell mode, not build. That… Read More…

Anyone that had a piggy bank as a child knows very well that pennies can add up quickly. The same principle works when farmers save pennies over the course of thousands of acres — the savings add up. Crop dividers mounted on high-clearance sprayers help minimize crop damage by gently splitting plants ahead of the… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Thursday edition of Farmer Rapid Fire on RealAg Radio, brought to you by Corteva Crop Protection! Host Shaun Haney checks in with: Aaron Bowman of Hampton, Ont.; Billy Beaudry of St. Hyacinthe, Q.C.; Brendan Uruski of Zbaraz, Man.; and, Chris Allam of Edmonton, Alta. Also hear from Corteva herbicides… Read More…

When it comes crop nutrition, the macronutrients dominate both the management discussion and the fertilizer bill. That focus is certainly justified as primary macronutrients — nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium — play a critical role in ensuring a successful crop. Farmers are also rewarded when they pay attention to secondary macronutrients, includ…

Weather for the last half of this winter will likely be much different than what farmers and ranchers experienced in 2024. That’s because the pattern has flipped from the El Nino-influenced conditions of 2024 to a La Nina influence for 2025, says Matt Makens of Makens Weather. In this report, he shares his take on the… Read More…

In the spring of 2024, H5N1, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, began to emerge as a disease that was impacting dairy cattle. Since that time, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has been working to establish the safety of the food chain, specifically for meat and milk. While research is ongoing to answer questions… Read M…

Thanks for tuning in to this mid-week edition of RealAg Radio. Host Shaun Haney has the latest from CattleCon down in San Antonio where Lyndsey Smith speaks with: Dennis Laycraft and Nathan Phinney of Canadian Cattle Association on the expected tough trade talks to persist over the next 24-months; Colin Woodall, CEO of the National… Read More…

Even the highest quality equipment begins to wear down over time. Fixing and eventually replacing that equipment can be expensive and difficult on farms and ranches. The same is true for non-profit agricultural research and extension organizations. In February of 2024 the province of Alberta announced a capital grant as part of the spring budget… R…

Snow mould, and stripe rust, and land rents, oh my! How on earth could there be so many disease alerts this early in the season? Well, Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson would tell you forewarned is forearmed, and both stripe rust and snow mould could be an issue in this upcoming growing season. Also on this… Read More…

In Episode 22 of The Truth About Ag, Kristjan Hebert and Evan Shout chat with Leah Olson, vice president of customer experience and operations at Brilliant Harvest Inc. With a background in agriculture and manufacturing, Olson has led companies through major transitions, turnarounds, and sustainable growth. They discuss how ag innovation has evolve…

Members of the cattle industry from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. met Monday for a trilateral meeting while in San Antonio for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association’s annual CattleCon. Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, and Dennis Laycraft, executive vice president sat down with RealAgriculture’s Lyndsey Smith on locat…

A 30-day pause on implementation of the Trump tariffs is good news for Canada’s export-dependent commodities, but this is only a short reprieve to the pressure, not an end, says Michael Harvey, executive director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance. What U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be pushing for is broader, more structural changes… R…

Thanks for tuning in to this Tuesday edition of RealAg Radio. Host Shaun Haney is joined by: Michael Harvey of Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) on export-focused commodity organizations’ concerns regarding tariffs; Bill Wirtz with the Consumer Choice Center on lessons learned from European ag policy; Hear Ambrely Ralph in a spotlight inter…

Welcome to a very special episode of The Agronomists, hosted by Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson! For this episode, Pete is joined by Dennis Pennington of Michigan State University and Gord Speksnijder, YEN participant from Ontario, to unpack learnings from the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network. On this episode, hear about head counts, seeding dates,…

Farms and ranches cannot operate without water. While having access to water seems like it should be quite straight forward, navigating government framework around access to water might not be. Team Alberta Crops and the Intensive Livestock Working Group in Alberta have been working to ensure that the provincial government had the opportunity to he…

Grandmother’s garden is often the first place that children learn about the benefit of having worms in the soil. They learn from an early age that you don’t throw worms away, you put them back into the ground where you found them, says Mike Launer of Annelida Soil Solutions. Annelida has created a business out… Read More…

Canadians feel betrayed by the U.S and Donald Trump after the President slapped a 25 percent tariff on imports for its northern neighbour and long-time partner in trade and defence of democracy. That was RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney’s take on U.S. tariffs announced on Saturday when he joined Monday morning’s Market Day Report panel… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Agronomic Monday edition of RealAg Radio, brought to you by FP Genetics! Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by: Kelvin Heppner and Shaun Haney to discuss the latest on the Trump tariffs set to take effect tomorrow, February 4, 2025; RealAgriculture’s in-house agronomist, Peter Johnson to chat stripe rust, land… Read More…

Some parts of the country have seen more success protecting farmland than other regions, but when you add it up, Canada continues to lose an astonishing amount of farmland to urban expansion. The oft-cited statistic from the most recent Census of Agriculture is that Ontario alone loses an average of 319 acres of farmland every… Read More…

Hello February! Thanks for tuning in to RealAg on the Weekend! On today’s show, host Shaun Haney discusses a number of topics including: Peavey Mart entering creditor protection and closing Canada-wide; The federal government’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) renewal and some reactions from farm groups including the Wheat Growers; and, The capi…