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The Vice-President of the Canadian Fuels Association says diesel prices are currently at historical levels in Canada. Carol Montreuil has observed a lot of places across the country have diesel prices above $2.00 a litre with some in the range of $2.25 to $2.50 a litre. He says that's not the case yet in Saskatchewan but the trend, given the conflict in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, is not good.ANDRural communities and non-profit organizations across Canada interested in providing mental health education locally can now apply for the 2026 Community Fund for Mental Health.Executive Director of Do More Ag Merle Massie says the Fund, going into its 8th year, is managed by a partnership between the Do More Agriculture Foundation and Farm Credit Canada. She explains the program and how to submit an application. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada ranks number three in the world for herbicide resistant weeds, only behind the United States and Australia. The last extensive survey in Saskatchewan occurred in 2019-2020 and estimated producer losses due to herbicide resistant weeds at $340 million per year. It found that green foxtail, volunteer canola, wild oat, wild buckwheat and kochia were the biggest concerns. The top instance of herbicide resistance in Saskatchewan five years ago was Group 1 resistance in wild oats. Herbicide Resistance wild oat was found in 77 per cent of 250 fields where wild oat was collected and tested. Charles Geddes is a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and will be leading the herbicide resistant weed survey.ANDThe federal carbon tax been completely ineffective in reducing fossil fuel use, it has also made it harder for farmers to afford the adoption of new innovations. That from Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl. He says farmers face many challenges as they work to adopt environmentally sustainable green practices while operating in the red.Dahl is calling on government to replace its policy of taxing farmers to stimulate decreased fossil fuel use with one where incentives are offered to stimulate the adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies and practices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A successful canola crop needs a lot of nitrogen, which is why nitrogen has A-list status. That same successful crop also depends on a strong supporting cast - phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients. Canola council of Canada agronomy specialist Warren Ward says farmers will benefit from soil tests, yield history and economics to determine how much fertilizer their canola needs.ANDProtein is an important component in a person's diet---whether it be animal-based or plant-based. Nationally recognized registered dietician Carol Harrison says protein has many benefits, but questions come up on different the types of protein, how much is enough, are plant and animal-based proteins the same.She will also have some tips on how to extend your meat budget a bit more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retaliatory duties imposed on U.S. pork in response to the Trump Administration's tariff threats will have a far more negative effect on Canadian market hog prices than U.S. duties on imports from Canada. As North American farmers await the next moves in Donald Trump's on again off again tariff war, analysts are monitoring developments in the U.S. as well as the international reaction to them. Paul Marchand, a Senior Risk Management Analyst with HAMS Marketing Services says the price for a Canadian market hog delivered to a federally inspected slaughter plant in Canada is established in the U.S. so any response that lowers the U.S. base price will lower the Canadian price for hogs.AND Uncertainty around tariffs can impact a farmer's decision on what to grow this year.Retired Agronomist Thom Weir says it's even more important to understand your fertility needs and what adjustments can be made to keep a little more cash in a farmer's pocket. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A just released study looks at supply management and the renegotiation of the Canada United States Mexico Agreement. Milk, eggs, chicken, turkey and, in most provinces, hatching eggs, are produced and marketed in Canada through supply management.The Agri-Food Economic Systems Independent Agri-Food Policy Note examines the expected discussions on supply management as we approach the CUSMA renegotiation. Research Lead Dr. Al Mussell says in terms of Canada U.S. trade, dairy has been one of the longest standing irritants between the two countries.ANDThe Wheat Growers Association is welcoming China’s final ruling to sharply lower the antidumping tariff on Canadian canola seed to 5.9 per cent, plus the standard 9 per cent import duty, alongside the suspension of 100 percent tariffs on canola meal effective March 1.Wheat Growers Chair Daryl Fransoo says the decision marks a positive step forward for prairie canola farmers who have faced prolonged uncertainty in one of Canada’s key export markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the use of food fermentation has typically been used for food preservation, people like the taste of fermented foods and are now discovering the heath benefits. Dr. Jeremy Burton, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Western University and a cofounder of the Canadian Fermented Foods Initiative, will explain the fermentation process and health benefits.AND Alberta's latest case of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea appears to be isolated and has been contained to one site. This is the first confirmed case of PED in Alberta since 2022.Javier Bahamon, with Alberta Pork, says, even before PED arrived in Alberta, the plan was to have a team that would respond to any outbreak quickly and investigate with the principal objective being to contain the disease and ensure it's doesn't spread. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's proposed changes to traceability regulations have been a hot topic among the cattle community. And it's kept the Saskatchewan Cattle Association (SCA) and like-minded groups busy, gathering feedback from producers. It all started in December when the CFIA first announced the proposed changes before swift backlash forced them to pause them to do more consultation. Chair of SCA Chad Ross says they were the first ones to call for the pause. He says traceability rules have been an ongoing conversation for more than two decades.AND Canadian marked Food Freedom Day–the day the average Canadian has earned enough to pay for groceries for the rest of the year, according to a report from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.The CFA says the average Canadian is expected to have spent 12.3 per cent of their disposable income on food.CFA Policy Officer Scott Ross shares some of the findings of the report and says the take-home message is that we have access to high-quality food that’s some of the cheapest in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A just completed economic impact assessment shows an eight to one return on dollars invested in pork sector research in Canada. Swine Innovation Porc explored the findings of an impact assessment which examined the returns on pork sector research investment in Canada.Dr. Stuart Smyth, a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, and one of the authors of the report. He will explain the study looked at research investments made from 2010 until the end of 2023.AND The dairy industry has plenty of reasons to be optimistic in 2026. That's the view of Farm Credit Canada's 2026 Dairy Outlook, written by FCC Senior Economist Graeme Crosbie. He will share some of the highlights of 2025 and why 2026 is looking so encouraging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The forecast is looking bright for the pork sector in 2026. Farm Credit Canada expects a profitable year as outlined in the 2026 Hog Outlook.FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says 2025 ended up being a pretty good year for the hog industry in Canada and North America due to lower feed costs and strong pricing. This was fueled by strong demand for meat and higher costs for substitute proteins, whether it beef or chicken, making pork appealing for the consumer.Shepherd expects 2026 to be much the same.AND A chef instructor with the Culinary Institute of Canada says consumers have become more aware of the cost of groceries. An article circulated through canadianfoodfocus.org looks at how consumers can trim their food costs by using "humble cuts of meat" to prepare nutritious meals at home.Chef Ilona Daniel says people are paying closer attention to the prices on their food as they balance the cost of groceries, housing, fuel and general living costs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ranchers care about the animals they raise. That is why when it's -50 with the windchill - they are on high alert watching out for those newborn calves. Sometimes it means going to any lengths to get them warmed up quickly so they can be returned to their mothers.One rancher in southern Saskatchewan had several calves born on a very cold day. Those three newborn calves spent some time on a bathroom floor in the home of Chris Lees at Arcola, Saskatchewan. Chris will tell us about the busy start to calving season on his farm. ANDNearly all forestry biomass pellets are shipped to the European Union, which wants environmentally friendly energy solutions that reduce the need to import oil and natural gas. Work at the University of Saskatchewan is exploring turning canola and oat hulls --along with canola meal into a better biomass pellet. The main work is being done by PhD candidate Tumpa Sarkar, under the supervision of Dr. Ajay Dalai.The hope is to have a final version of the biomass pellet in one to two years. Dr. Dalai is a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and holds the Canada Research Chair in bio energy.He will share the research and the ultimate goal of developing a technology that would eventually be adopted by the private sector. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should I make for dinner? Canada Beef will say...beef.. of course. But what cut of beef should I chose? How do I prepare it? That's why Canada Beef is working towards getting QR codes on every package of beef. One quick scan with your smart phone and all of those questions will be answered. Canada Beef President Michael Young says when every cut of beef has its own QR code the home cook will have the information they need to make a decision on the type of beef to buy, how to cook it, access to recipes and videos and even a grocery list, at their fingertips. Eventually the QR code will be part of the retail meat case, print or digital flyers. While beef will be the first to do this, Young believes other commodities like chicken and pork will soon follow.AND Better brome....better beef. The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan will receive $332,000 from the Agriculture Development Fund to find ways to make genetic improvements in bromegrass, an essential forage crop for cattle. GIFS Director of Genomics and Bioinformatics Dr. Andrew Sharpe will explain how the research being done will produce a catalogue of genetic variations for bromegrass. He says it will have a direct impact on the ability of breeders to select the most nutritious varieties of bromegrass that produce the largest yield. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A company based in Edam in northwest Saskatchewan is getting ready to launch a pilot testing program for a new cattle ear tag.Company owner James Babcock says the Ori-tags take basic health data from the cattle and use artificial intelligence to benefit the producer's operation. While there's room for pork producers to be optimistic heading into 2026, that optimism is being tempered by tariff threats and global political uncertainty.Manitoba Pork General Manager Can Dahl says, on the positive side, there was profitability in 2025 due to strong demand for both pigs and pork, on the flip side of the coin there is significant international market volatility and an uncertain relationship with the U.S., as well as tariffs on pork going into China. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grocery prices are rising, but the farmer's share continues to shrink. This according to National Farmers Union Vice President Stuart Wells. He says corporate processors and retailers are the ones that are benefiting. Wells will explain that consumers need to know that less and less of the money they spend on food actually makes it back to the farmer, and retail food prices are high because meat packers, other processors and big retailers are taking ever larger shares. AND Canada's outstanding young farmers were announced at a special event recently. Jenny Butcher & Wes Kuntz run a dairy operation in the Brantford, Ontario region. Tracey & Raymond Bredenhoff, Abbotsford, BC. and have a 40,000 broiler per cycle chicken operation and are also the largest distributors of Canadian-grown hops. We'll hear from both families about winning the award and successes and challenges that they've faced in the past year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It wasn’t just farmers growing vegetables this year in Canada. According to a study from Dalhousie University, the pandemic inspired a lot of people to grow their own garden. Vanessa Young with the Horticulture and Agriculture Lifelong Learning Programs with the University of Saskatchewan says there was an increased interest in gardening. Part of it she believes is provide food for the family, but it is also a stress reliever. She'll also talk about the different ways you can grow a garden on the prairies.-It is always great to connect with producers who are willing to share stories about their own farming operation. Lonny and Connie Bulmer run Bison River Ranch in northeast Saskatchewan.In addition to raising bison, the couple recently added a rental cabin to their property. I talk to Lonny about their farm and how the addition of the cabin has been a pleasant surprise and welcomed addition to their operation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just sign on the dotted line.I just need your signature.How many times are you asked to do this over the course of a year? We’ve all done it….you read the terms of agreement on your phone you scroll down and click "accept" without really reading the fine details. This has the potential to be disastrous for a farmer, particularly this year when it comes to the eligibility declaration you sign when selling grain and an elevator.Tom Steve with the Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley commission has a warning for farmers. Those declarations may look the same but there are some significant differences. He will explain those changes, why it happened, the repercussions of not understanding what you've signed and your legal obligations. ANDOften people have a certain vision of what a conventional farm looks like. It usually involved a tractor or combine and a field of golden grain.Today on Not Your Everyday Farmer we will feature a very different type of farm operation. John Cote and his wife Barb Stefanyshyn Cote did the unthinkable and sold the family farm and then they embarked on a completely different experience…..making gin and selling flowers. Barb will talk about the creation of Black Fox Farm and Distillery and how they've never worked harder in their lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.