Thanks for tuning in to this Tuesday edition of RealAg Radio! Host Shaun Haney is joined by: RealAgriculture’s in-house agronomist, Peter Johnson on the spring weather and soil biology; Scott Shearer with The Ohio State University on 3 places to consider tracks instead of tires; Tom Wolf with Agrimetrix and Sprayers 101 on spray drones;… Read More…

Better together. That’s a simple way to describe what happens when micronutrients and biostimulants join forces to alleviate plant stress. In this report from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s MicroSmart Deep Dive meeting in Kingston, Ont., Agro 100 research and development director Pierre Migner and RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobi…

While the number of spray drones sold for use in Canadian farmers’ fields is climbing, there are still no agricultural pesticides approved for application by drone in Canada heading into the 2025 growing season. It’s up to crop protection companies to pursue changes to their product label through Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency —……

It can be easy to get swept into the day to day of farm life and forget to celebrate the big and little moments that happen along the way. Celebration is something that 2025 Top Producer Women in Agriculture Award winner, Kimberly Ratcliff, tells other generational farmers is key to getting the next generation to… Read More…

U.S. dairy producers are not satisfied with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and they want to take another look at it, says National Milk Producers Federation president and CEO Gregg Doud. That was Doud’s message for RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney at the Top Producer Summit in Kansas City mid-February when they discussed dairy trade between…

When it comes to doing business in Canada, the agriculture and agri-food sectors have distinct labour needs, skill gaps, and infrastructure requirements. However, when drilling down to the core solutions to these issues, many of the differences converge under a few pillars: coherent policy and a better functioning government sector, for example. Th…

If the soil is fit but the calendar says March, do you dare put some wheat in the ground? On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Dr. Brian Beres with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Tyler McBlain with McBlain Farms to discuss ultra early cereal seeding — including seeding durum… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Agronomic Monday edition of RealAg Radio! Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by: Josh Linville with Stone X on the fertilizer markets; Dr. Ashleigh Weeden on rural development; Tyler McCann with Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) on a risk report entitled Optimism to Realism; and, Hear a spotlight interview with… Read…

Regardless of the topic — be it food security, water access, or animal welfare — communicating using language that resonates with consumers is key to getting a message through. Food insecurity is on the rise in Canada, as grocery prices have been rising for the last five years. According to Food Banks Canada, as of… Read More…

For Derek Axten, changing nitrogen management on over 10,000 acres first required changing the goal. Shifting from a production-maximizing mentality to a profitability-first and resilience mindset is more fun, he says, though it’s not without its share of challenges. The Axtens have been using several different management tools to make the shift to…

Scott Buchan sees the impact of technology whenever he’s watching his broiler chickens or looking at his hydro bills. For Buchan, who operates Buchrest Farms along with his family in Ontario’s Waterloo Region, investing in technology and innovation plays a key role in making the operation more profitable and sustainable. Buchan notes that his energ…

Thanks for tuning in to RealAg on the Weekend! On today’s show, host Shaun Haney is joined by: Drew Lerner with World Weather Inc. for a spring weather outlook; Michele Payn on how farmers’ authentic stories speak volumes; Ian Epp with the Canola Council of Canada on lambda-cy being back in the toolbox for 2025;… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Friday edition of RealAg Radio! Host Shaun Haney is joined by Drew Lerner with World Weather Inc. to discuss the spring weather forecast. Haney is then joined by Kelvin Heppner and Lyndsey Smith, both of RealAgriculture, for the RealAg Issues Panel. The trio discusses a number of topics including:… Read More…

Working, reliable equipment is a necessity on the farm, and we don’t just mean the tractors. Pieces of portable equipment such as augers and conveyors can easily be forgotten in the rush to get the job done, but the process of reviewing equipment that is on the farm, and then making the decision to repair… Read More…

The fertilizer market doesn’t move in lock-step with the grain markets — both the peak demand and trends work on their own timelines. Which is too bad, of course, when commodity prices drop but fertilizer prices don’t follow suit. Both the fertilizer and commodity markets are, however, working through uncertainty and trade disruption created by… Re…

A fertilizer market free from tariffs is vitally important for U.S. growers, the nation’s food security and the fertilizer industry. That’s the message The Fertilizer Institute’s Leanna Nigon says her organization, which advocates on behalf of the industry, has been working diligently to deliver to the Trump administration as it tries to head off p…

Harvested seed quality is heavily influenced by weather conditions throughout the growing season. Summers with drought conditions, as well as heat blast, can lead to an increased occurrence of mechanical damage in pulse seed lots. While the Prairies experienced both last year, the quality of seed going into 2025 is quite stable, says Carey Matthies…

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 is at the Top Producer Summit and checks in with some of the U.S. growers, including: Bob Birdsell of Stanberry, Missouri; Marc Arnusch of Keenesburg, Colorado; April Hemmes of Hampton,… Read More…

Tracks certainly don’t eliminate compaction, and they usually cost substantially more than wheels, but research at The Ohio State University shows there are several specific applications where tracks offer a productivity or yield advantage in the old tracks-versus-wheels debate. Scott Shearer of The Ohio State University stopped by to chat followin…

Not knowing what the weather will do is one of the great challenges when farming or ranching. While a producer can do everything within their power to ensure a successful crop, rain—or the lack of it—at inopportune times can spell disaster throughout the growing season. Weather and what it may look like for the coming… Read More…

If there’s one thing that’s predictable in the current grain markets, it’s unpredictability. While farmers are not complaining about a trend reversal in the corn market to the upside, the uncertainty of what’s at play in the market does create some stress. To unpack what’s happened and what to watch for in the coming days… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Wednesday edition of RealAg Radio, brought to you by Koch Agronomic Services. Host Shaun Haney is joined by: Jim McCormick of AgMarket.net to discuss where the markets are headed; Kimberly Ratcliffe, Woman of the Year at Top Producer 2025 on her story and their turnkey farm; Matt Clark with… Read More…

In urban centres, people are removed from the agricultural way of life, and while they may appreciate and enjoy the fruit of the land from a local grocery store, what most people know about farming systems and food itself too often comes from sources that are far removed from farming. In this interview recorded at… Read More…

There are plenty of decisions to make ahead of seeding and planting, and sometimes those decisions revolve around what goes down with the seed. For this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, Peter Johnson talks boron for canola, AMS vs. gypsum, and starter-fertilizer decisions with dry soil and seedbed utilization in mind. Also in this… Read More…

A pair of ethanol companies — Greenfield Global Inc. and Alco Energy Canada (formerly IGPC Ethanol Inc) — and Grain Farmers of Ontario have founded a new coalition to champion Canada’s biofuel sector. The new organization, named the “Canadian Farms and Fuels Alliance” (or FFA), is open for additional member companies and organizations. The goal… Re…

In Episode 23 of The Truth About Ag podcast, co-hosts Kristjan Hebert and Evan Shout sit down with J.P. Gervais, executive vice president, strategy & impact, and chief economist at Farm Credit Canada, to break down the economic forces shaping the future of agriculture. As someone who spends his days analyzing trade, policy, and market… Read More…

What does it look like when rural development is viewed as finding ways to better serve the people that call rural areas home versus developing rural areas into cities? Too often, says Dr. Ashleigh Weeden, rural development policy fails to really consider what rural areas need more of and how to best support these projects,… Read More…

Thanks for tuning in to this Tuesday edition of RealAg Radio! Host Shaun Haney is joined by: Greg Dowd, CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation on Canada and U.S. dairy trade; Pierre Petelle with Crop Life Canada on why the PMRA transformation agenda should be paused; Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan minister of trade and export… Read More…

A valuable tool for managing insect pests, such as flea beetles and grasshoppers, is back in the toolbox for 2025. As reported earlier this month, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has effectively lifted a two-year ban on spraying insecticides containing lambda-cyhalothrin on crops that could be destined for livestock feed. L…

Capacity and flexibility are both important when it comes to choosing an auger that will help speed up moving grain at harvest. The Brandt 1345 B Series U-Trough, featuring a 13-inch U-trough, nearly doubles the capacity of a standard round-tube auger. In this interview at Crop Production Show at Saskatoon, Sask., Trevor Feicht of Brandt… Read More…

Canada as a whole is highly dependent on trade with the United States, but the total value of cross-border trade by province is significantly different. Ontario, for example is highly integrated with U.S. markets; Saskatchewan, on the other hand, is relatively diversified on trade. That’s not to say that the U.S. isn’t an important destination… Rea…

The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA) views itself as an organization that sits somewhere in the matrix of quantifying soil carbon, working with farmers, and connecting supply chain players. Nick Betts, managing director of CANZA, says that the alliance emerged out of a need to connect different points in the value chain. It aims… Re…

With farmland under pressure from urban expansion, conservation needs, and economic development, it raises the critical — and contentious — question: who should decide how land is used? Private landowners’ rights are essential and rightfully expected in Canada, but there’s also an argument to be made that the public has a stake in land-use decision…

Farm safety is often overlooked in the hectic pace of daily chores, making training and emergency plans critically important. That’s why winter can be a great time to focus on safety, says Jody Wacowich, executive director of AgSafe Alberta. Courses such as FARMERS CARE, respiratory protective equipment (RPE), and confined space awareness are all a…

Happy (frozen) Family Day to all who celebrate! Today’s Agronomic Monday features Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson in conversation with host Lyndsey Smith talking about: The value of human interaction Enduring a real winter The many ways to manage lodging Nutrient stratification and tillage talk Plus, hear Sarah Foster of 20/20 Seed Labs and Amber Bell… …

More than three years ago, the federal government initiated a process to “transform” aspects of Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Focused on four main pillars — transparency, real-world data, modernization, and targeted reviews — the process has included convening working groups and holding consultations. CropLife Canada has been p…

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 th…

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…