Between The Rows

Pandemic border protests, a ‘planetary’ podcast about cattle

February 10, 2022 18:04 - 22 minutes - 42 MB

The Alberta border protest has disrupted the cattle industry, affecting feed supplies and movement of livestock in and out of that province. Western Producer reporter Alex McCuaig has been covering the protest since it began and says it's much different from what's happening in our nation’s capital, Ottawa. Also, Kim Stanford, a University of Lethbridge scientist, hopes to bring some balance to the cattle debate in a new podcast called, Cows on the Planet. Hosted by Robert Arnason.

A snowpack to cancel drought?, connecting cattle to cropland, farmers helping farmers

February 03, 2022 18:55 - 29 minutes - 54.2 MB

In this episode of Between the Rows, we talk to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada agroclimate specialist Trevor Hadwen about how the snow we’ve seen on the prairies so far doesn’t spell the end of drought; Karen Klassen, an organizer of a new grazing exchange, talks about an initiative to bring livestock back onto grain farms; and Canadian Cattlemen editor Lisa Guenther talks with mental health advocate Gerry Friesen about a new mental health program for farmers. Hosted by Gord Gilmour.

Wine pairings for plant proteins, rising risks for plant health

January 27, 2022 14:41 - 39 minutes - 72.2 MB

A semi-finalist in the federal Food Waste Reduction Challenge hopes to help Canada's vineyards apply new technology to an age-old waste dilemma, for the benefit of up-and-coming plant-based proteins. Winecrush Technologies founder Bill Broddy explains his company's entry. Also: in a new report, a panel of experts walks us through both the well-known and emerging risks to Canadian plant life -- and whether our existing risk management practices are up to the job now at hand. Panel chair and UB...

Crop show is a go, taking-on technology, food security in crisis

January 20, 2022 16:30 - 27 minutes - 51.8 MB

For many months now, in-person farm shows have been mostly shelved due to the pandemic. But in January, the Crop Production Show adapted its program and opened its doors. Mike Raine, editor of the Western Producer, attended the show and reports on how it went. The tech world seemingly advances by leaps and bounds and it can be hard to keep up. Farmer and Glacier FarmMedia columnist Toban Dyck muses on technology and how we accept it into our lives. Is world food security in jeopardy? Represen...

Commodity market influencers in 2022

January 13, 2022 17:57 - 23 minutes - 43.8 MB

Commodity prices and crop input costs are soaring, and the future of where both are headed is fairly uncertain given the ongoing backdrop of the pandemic. Bruce Burnett and Mike Jubinville of Glacier MarketsFarm review some of the factors that rallied commodity markets in 2021 and what conditions are likely to influence markets and producers’ cropping decisions in 2022. Hosted by Laura Rance.

Organic obstacles and crop opportunities in 2022

January 06, 2022 19:55 - 24 minutes - 45 MB

Organic farmers should be thriving, but the sector is facing headwinds right now because of high prices for conventional crops. Marla Carlson, executive director of SaskOrganics, explains the challenges for organic producers and the broader industry in 2022. Oats and canola could be the hot crops this spring, says reporter Ed White of The Western Producer, who has studied the crop production costs and profit estimates from Manitoba Agriculture. Hosted by Robert Arnason.

2021 in the rear-view mirror, and an end to the ‘cheap food’ era

December 23, 2021 19:29 - 31 minutes - 59.4 MB

For this special, year-end episode of Between the Rows, we’ve assembled a roundtable of experts – Lee Hart of Grainews, Michael Raine, Robin Booker and Ron Lyseng from The Western Producer – who discuss some of the technological advancements in farm machinery they’ve reported on and what they expect to see from equipment makers in 2022; and Laura Rance, vice-president of content for Glacier FarmMedia, offers her take on the rising cost of food – and the growing consumer interest in how food i...

Ransomware scares and fact-checking our intuitions

December 16, 2021 20:37 - 31 minutes - 59.5 MB

Canada's federal security agency for the IT sector recently reported a significant year-over-year rise in the number of ransomware attacks worldwide — including some infamous attacks on agribusiness. Dr. Janos Botschner of the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance explains how ransomware attacks happen – and why the ag sector specifically may have reason for concern ahead. Also: farmer Toban Dyck, a columnist for the Western Producer and Grainews, considers whether the decisions any of us make ...

Foodgrains Bank boosters, capitalizing on your commodities

December 09, 2021 18:40 - 20 minutes - 38.6 MB

International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan explains why the federal government is such a big supporter of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and Andy Harrington, Foodgrains Bank’s executive director, shares how the organization has evolved over time. Plus, investment advisor David Derwin outlines ways that farmers can capture high grain prices while avoiding risk. Hosted by Ed White.

P.E.I. potato prohibition, cushioning carbon charges

December 02, 2021 20:09 - 40 minutes - 46.6 MB

The final destination for Prince Edward Island's bumper potato crop has become a question mark after the United States, citing recent cases of potato wart in the province, asked Canada to block the export of those potatoes. But as Greg Donald of the P.E.I. Potato Board explains, the exact reason for the U.S. request is also still a question mark. Also: A lot of federal lawmakers agree Canadian farmers should have a break on carbon tax on farm fuels. Now Sarah Dobson of the University of Calga...

More immigrants needed on farms, and accolades for Ag in the Classroom leader

November 25, 2021 17:12 - 37 minutes - 69.4 MB

Rural Canada is desperately short of people to work on farms, at meat processing plants, in home care and at the local tire shop. Towns and small cities need more immigrants to fill the available jobs, but the immigration system pushes newcomers towards cities, says Janet Krayden, an agri-workforce expert with Mushrooms Canada. Also, Johanne Ross, executive director of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, talks about her ag outreach efforts and her induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hal...

Advancing women in ag, supply chain adversities

November 18, 2021 18:39 - 26 minutes - 49.9 MB

This week on Between the Rows we preview the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference with a conversation with organizer, Iris Meck, and we visit with one conference presenter who’s a fourth-generation farmer on her farm in Manitoba. We also try to untangle the effect of the logistics meltdown on the agriculture sector with Phil Franz-Warkentin of MarketsFarm. Hosted by Gord Gilmour.

Better crops through genetics, wheat that’s for the birds, recognizing reconciliation

November 11, 2021 14:05 - 33 minutes - 62.4 MB

This week’s Between the Rows features an interview with a molecular biologist with Cibus about how gene editing can develop traits that help farmers grow better crops while using fewer resources. There’s a new ecolabel about to show up on wheat products and it’s one that supports waterfowl as well as farmers. We’ll also talk to an Indigenous business leader in Saskatchewan about how agriculture and rural Canada can both support and benefit from the reconciliation process. Hosted by Laura Rance.

Pea progress on the Prairies, embracing your seed’s ‘wild relatives’

November 04, 2021 15:07 - 29 minutes - 53.7 MB

Ed White speaks with Derek MacLean and Bruce Brolley from Roquette about its new pea protein plant in Manitoba and how the company works with agronomists; and reporter Allan Dawson with the Manitoba Co-operator finds out what types of peas and production practices Roquette wants to see from growers. Plus, from Glacier FarmMedia’s ’Seeding the Future’ multimedia project, reporter Robin Booker with the Western Producer examines the role that wild sources play in pulse plant genetics and how the...

Power in our insect world: We’re all abuzz about bees

November 03, 2021 22:00 - 37 minutes - 69.7 MB

From southern France, Philip Prior shares the origins of his fascination with bees and how he keeps his apiaries healthy and productive. Ontario beekeeper and agronomist Jennifer Doelman discusses integrated pest management and the importance of buffer strips with Farmtario contributor Matt McIntosh. Bees with jobs? Ashish Malik explains his company’s award-winning system that delivers biological pest and disease control to crops. And, whither the woods near farmers’ fields? Online editor Gre...

The job of bolstering bees, quelling the farm and food labour crunch

October 28, 2021 15:06 - 25 minutes - 47.2 MB

This week on Between the Rows we hear from Melanie Dubois with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on how farmers can support bee populations, and why it makes environmental and economic sense. Plus, Geralyn Wichers with the Manitoba Co-operator reports on a new farm and food national labour strategy, and we hear from one educator from Saskatchewan Polytechnic who hopes a new program will start furnishing some of these scarce employees. Hosted by Gord Gilmour.

Seeding – and breeding – our future

October 21, 2021 13:31 - 28 minutes - 52.2 MB

This week's show lineup features a glimpse at the world of modern plant breeding through the eyes of Curtis Pozniak, a cereal crop breeder with the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. As well, members of the Grainews team, Kari Belanger and Lee Hart, talk about seed vaults and the people who preserve genetic resources. Hosted by Laura Rance.

Perfect poultry, pollinator protection and notes on oats

October 14, 2021 13:37 - 38 minutes - 70.7 MB

From Glacier FarmMedia's multimedia special Seeding The Future, Lisa Guenther and Kristy Nudds take us into the mind of a man aiming to breed the perfect chicken while also preserving the diverse genetics found in birds along the way. Also: Matt McIntosh speaks with Ontario agronomist and beekeeper Jennifer Doelman about the benefits that can be harboured above ground level in buffer strips in your fields. And while Chicago oats recently punched up past US$6, Phil Franz-Warkentin explains how...

Renewable diesel on the rise

October 07, 2021 13:43 - 21 minutes - 40 MB

Biodiesel has been around for years, but it's about to be displaced by the new fuel on the block - renewable diesel. Sometimes known as green diesel, the fuel is made from vegetable oil and animal fat, and it can completely replace conventional diesel in trucks, tractors and trains. On this week's show, Sean Pratt of the Western Producer, David Bressler of the University of Alberta and Ian Thomson of Advanced Biofuels Canada, discuss the future of renewable diesel and the implications for Can...

Reconciling the truth

September 30, 2021 12:07 - 23 minutes - 43 MB

This week is a special edition of Between the Rows focused on Reconciliation. Urban Indigenous writer Shelley Cook shares what visiting an ‘Every Child Matters’ corn maze meant to her and her children; and, professor and writer Roger Epp talks about how farmers choosing to share the land with Indigenous people has made him hopeful. Hosted by Ed White.

Bees with jobs, post-election direction, Canada’s ‘super ministry’

September 23, 2021 14:47 - 27 minutes - 51.6 MB

Can bees be employed to deliver crop protection products? Asish Malik, CEO of Bee Vectoring Technology, explains its award-winning system that delivers biological pest and disease control to crops; D.C. Fraser, Glacier FarmMedia Ottawa correspondent, offers his take on the results of this week’s federal election and how much – if anything – has changed for Canada’s ag sector; and Kim McConnell with the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute spells out why the agriculture and food portfolio needs...

Fall fertility and pulse marketability

September 16, 2021 14:13 - 29 minutes - 53.9 MB

Some Prairie growers may be able to get a head start on next year's seeding — and maybe a somewhat smaller bill for inputs — by putting down fertilizer this fall. Soil fertility specialist John Heard of Manitoba Agriculture discusses the hows, whats, whens and wheres. Also: checking in after last week's Pulse and Special Crops Convention, Sean Pratt of the Western Producer explains how the market picture may have been redrawn for Prairie pulse growers. Hosted by Dave Bedard.

Canola guaranteeing, mental well-being, supply/demand foreseeing

September 09, 2021 21:51 - 29 minutes - 34.3 MB

As crop insurers brace for what could be record payouts this year, Tyler Groeneveld, Corteva's commercial grains and oils leader for North America, tells us about a new approach the seed company is taking to share risk with canola growers. Also: Bruce Burnett of MarketsFarm considers the ways in which this year's crop production shortfalls may spill over into next year's seeding decisions; and Bruce Thorson speaks with Guelph researcher Dr. Briana Hagen about a new way to help farmers, and th...

Livestock Days AIM 2021: Stock dogs, managing stress, tracking trace minerals

September 08, 2021 05:00 - 19 minutes - 35.9 MB

Canadian Cattlemen editor Lisa Guenther brings us a few highlights from Ag In Motion’s inaugural Livestock Days, held at Langham, Sask. Jolie Vermette of Rafter View Ranch and Ranch Dog Inc. shares her passion for working stock dogs. Cynthia Beck, farmer and clinical psychology masters’ candidate, tells us about chronic stress and how to manage it. Finally, […]

Slaughter shortages and statistical summaries

September 02, 2021 19:43 - 27 minutes - 51 MB

With COVID-19 and a months-long strike having created backlogs of hogs in Quebec alone, can the protein sector find solutions that don't leave livestock producers on the hook? Canadian Pork Council vice-chair Rene Roy considers the stakes farmers face in his region; and, Phil Franz-Warkentin of MarketsFarm considers this week's drought-dented crop production estimates from Statistics Canada. Hosted by Dave Bedard.

Meeting the need for feed, scouting for spot, after the rains

August 26, 2021 19:20 - 29 minutes - 54.5 MB

Farmtario reporter Diana Martin talks to Rob Lipsett, Beef Farmers of Ontario president, about getting hay and financial support to livestock producers affected by drought; plus, Diana speaks with Albert Tenuta, field crop pathologist with OMAFRA, about identifying tar spot in corn and what steps Ontario growers can take to manage it; and Bruce Burnett and Glen Hallick of MarketsFarm offer a crop update after recent rainfall on the Prairies – how it measured up against this year’s drought – a...

Trudeau triggers an election, prosperity in a pandemic, harvest estimates retreat

August 19, 2021 16:18 - 30 minutes - 55.7 MB

In this episode, Glacier FarmMedia Ottawa correspondent D.C. Fraser gives us the inside track on the federal election from an agriculture perspective; Farmtario reporter Diana Martin shares a direct-to-consumer farm marketing success story that arose out of the pandemic; and Bruce Burnett of MarketsFarm tells us exactly what all those downward revisions of crop production estimates mean. Hosted by Gord Gilmour.

“The Recovering Farmer” offers mental health solutions for farmers, defaulting on grain contracts

August 12, 2021 15:54 - 27 minutes - 51.5 MB

Stress management expert Gerry Friesen bills himself as “The Recovering Farmer.” Friesen outlines the difficulties of preserving mental health on the farm during Covid, a drought, and in the relative isolation of rural communities; Alexis Kienlen, reporter for the Alberta Farmer Express, lays out the challenge of meeting grain contract […]

African swine fever comes to the Americas, drought consumes the Prairies

August 05, 2021 14:49 - 30 minutes - 56.4 MB

African swine fever, a virus that can kill 90 percent of pigs in a herd, has been found in the Dominican Republic. The disease is now much closer to Canada, and it represents a massive threat to North America’s pork industry. John Ross, executive director of the Canadian Pork Council, […]

Difficult drought discussions, lentil tariffs trimmed, canola harvest calculations

July 29, 2021 15:25 - 24 minutes - 45.2 MB

Producers and farm leaders in Western Canada share their experiences with federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau in dealing with this year’s drought; reporter Sean Pratt of The Western Producer discusses India’s reduced import tariff on lentils and how long it may last; and Phil Franz-Warkentin of MarketsFarm discusses all the […]

Crop year highlights and the nature of dry weather cycles

July 22, 2021 13:43 - 25 minutes - 46.9 MB

The 2020/2021 crop year has been 12 months of shocks and surprises. Canola nearly doubled in price and soybeans topped $15 per bushel, during a price rally that came out of nowhere. Ed White of the Western Producer, and Phil Franz-Warkentin with Glacier MarketsFarm, explain what has happened in grain […]

Cattle producers feeling the heat, past vs. present droughts, growing canola production

July 15, 2021 14:47 - 28 minutes - 53.1 MB

This week on Between the Rows we talk with Tyler Fulton, president of Manitoba Beef Producers, about the impact of the drought on the cattle sector; weather specialist Bruce Burnett of MarketsFarm offers his take on how the current drought on the Prairies stacks up against others in history; we […]

Acreage revisions, carbon emissions, pandemic decisions

July 08, 2021 13:55 - 29 minutes - 55.1 MB

Statistics Canada and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week both published new estimates of this spring’s plantings – some of which, as Phil Franz-Warkentin of MarketsFarm explains, were more surprising than others for grain traders. Also: Geralyn Wichers of the Manitoba Co-operator takes us on a field trip into the murky world of […]

Where’s the beef (cattle market going)?

July 02, 2021 03:54 - 32 minutes - 37.1 MB

With the traditional beef burger facing new competition from alternative non-meat proteins, should Canada’s cattle producers be concerned? Food marketing experts Jo-Ann McArthur of Nourish Food Marketing and Len Kahn of Kahntact put the meat and meat-alike markets in perspective. As for the shorter-term outlook in beef cattle values, Canadian […]

Agriculture Canada forecasting drought, Canada competing with Ukraine, reviving tourism in rural Canada

June 24, 2021 15:15 - 33 minutes - 61.1 MB

Farmers on the Eastern Prairies know they’re in a drought, but what they really want to know is – when will it end? On this week’s show you’ll hear from Trevor Hadwen, an agro-climate expert with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, who has designed a forecasting tool called the Drought Outlook. […]

Ag-economics and COVID-19, opportunities in grain marketing, whether weather and commodity prices

June 17, 2021 18:09 - 25 minutes - 46.7 MB

This week we hear from University of Manitoba professor Dr. Ryan Cardwell who co-edited an agricultural economics publication that looked at the first year of the pandemic; we get an update on commodity markets from Glen Hallick of MarketsFarm; and we hear from FarmLink CEO Mark Lepp about the company’s […]

Springtime signals shearing, animal protection laws see dispute, markets eye the weather

June 10, 2021 14:47 - 28 minutes - 52.3 MB

In this week’s episode, we visit a Manitoba sheep operation to document the annual rite of spring – shearing season; we delve into the world of agriculture protection legislation with Cam Dahl of the Manitoba Pork Council and Farmtario reporter Diana Martin; and Phil Franz-Warkentin of MarketsFarm tells us why […]

Frost risks, heat risks, negligible risk

June 03, 2021 14:08 - 31 minutes - 58.4 MB

As improbable as it may seem this week, the Prairies just came out of a cold snap leaving some growers wondering whether their crops would live to see the end of May. Canola Council of Canada agronomy specialist Jason Casselman explains what to look for — as well as when and where. […]

A veritable charitable sensation, discussions with a ‘Dragon,’ canola crush plans surge

May 27, 2021 15:58 - 36 minutes - 67.5 MB

In this week’s Between the Rows, we hear how rain in the forecast turned into a shower of donations for Saskatchewan charities thanks to Saskatchewan farmer, Rob Stone; how venture capitalist Arlene Dickinson is giving upstart companies in the food business more than seed money; and how a surge in […]

More rain needed on the Plains, cattle producers seek water, why one Canadian is avoiding meat

May 20, 2021 14:39 - 31 minutes - 58.6 MB

Farmers in Manitoba, North Dakota and parts of Saskatchewan desperately need rain, but when and where will it fall? Bruce Burnett, of Glacier MarketsFarm, discusses the drought and the need for regular rainfall this growing season. Sticking with water, some livestock producers are dealing with half-full or empty dugouts this […]

Canadian consumers bite into beef, (political) times are a-changin’, canola markets sizzle

May 13, 2021 14:33 - 32 minutes - 59.7 MB

Canadian Cattlemen editor Lisa Guenther speaks with Sylvain Charlebois, researcher and professor in food distribution and food policy at Dalhousie University, about Canadian consumers and their beef habits; Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson talks about the different political orientation of U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration compared to its previous office […]

The federal poll on grain quality control, automating ag, harvesting Likes

May 10, 2021 16:33 - 29 minutes - 25.1 MB

Now that grain grower groups and other industry players have handed in their proposals for changes to the Canada Grain Act and Canadian Grain Commission, Allan Dawson of the Manitoba Co-operator examines what the future might hold following a federal review. And speaking of the future: with the ag labour […]

The federal poll on grain quality control, automating ag, harvesting Likes

May 08, 2021 18:15 - 25.1 MB

Now that grain grower groups and other industry players have handed in their proposals for changes to the Canada Grain Act and Canadian Grain Commission, Allan Dawson of the Manitoba Co-operator examines what the future might hold following a federal review. And speaking of the future: with the ag labour […]

Agriculture’s cybersafety net, StatsCan’s seeding survey

April 29, 2021 13:24 - 31 minutes - 58.9 MB

As technology steps up to handle more jobs on the farm, are its systems as protected as they need to be? The Community Safety Knowledge Alliance has a federally-backed project underway to assess, reinforce and promote cybersecurity across the agriculture sector, and CSKA lead investigator Dr. Janos Botschner lays out what we […]

Dairy days with the ’SaskDutch Kid,’ assessing cattle markets, the changing face of ag

April 22, 2021 16:59 - 32 minutes - 60.8 MB

Young Saskatchewan dairy farmer Jan Kielstra of Kielstra Holsteins talks about his decision to start a YouTube channel about daily life on the farm that now lays claim to over 140,000 subscribers and over 21-million views; Canadian Cattlemen editor Lisa Guenther speaks with Brian Perillat of Canfax to get his […]

Time for a livestock manifesto, a brush with royalty, parched Prairies get a white-out

April 14, 2021 21:33 - 28 minutes - 53.3 MB

A growing number of Canadians have negative thoughts when they think about livestock – causing climate change, receiving unethical treatment and increasing antibiotic resistance. Mike McMorris, CEO of Livestock Research Innovation Corporation, says Canada’s livestock sector needs to unite and take collective action on these issues; reporter Karen Briere of […]

Coal mine puts water in peril, neonics not nixed, old crop vs. new crop canola

April 08, 2021 15:18 - 28 minutes - 52.3 MB

On this week’s episode, Canadian Cattlemen field editor Piper Whelan looks at the implications for ranchers to a proposed open-pit coal mine in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta; reporter Robert Arnason of The Western Producer discusses the implications for farmers on the recent Health Canada ruling on neonicotinoid insecticides; and […]

Change comes to AgriStability, genetic edit rules get upgraded, seeding plans spring into action

April 01, 2021 16:10 - 25 minutes - 47.6 MB

Reporter Robert Arnason of The Western Producer joins Manitoba Co-operator editor Gord Gilmour to talk about an important ruling from Health Canada on gene editing; Bruce Burnett of Glacier MarketsFarm talks crops and the pluses and minuses of an early spring; and Alberta Farmer Express reporter Alexis Kienlen talks about […]

Joint ventures, cattle pictures, profit captures

March 25, 2021 13:35 - 35 minutes - 66.6 MB

A new report by western Ontario farmer and Nuffield scholar Mark Brock looks not only at the value of collaboration and resource pooling between farmers to improve return on investment, but also at why farmers in this part of the world often tend to resist that idea. Also: Lee Hart of Grainews tells us […]

Renewable diesel, renewable fibreboard and the not so new canola story

March 18, 2021 15:14 - 29 minutes - 55 MB

A Calgary company is planning a renewable diesel mega-project for Regina. Doug Cole, CEO of True North Renewable Fuels, explains what they plan to build and how renewable diesel is different from biodiesel. Another Alberta company is constructing an $800 million fibreboard plant in Trochu. Reporter Jennifer Blair, with the […]

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