Ag News

Farm Transition Appreciation Day or FTADay is on January 9th, 2024. This day looks at farm transitions and how important it is to have a good plan when wanting to transition the farm from one generation or one owner to the next. It also sheds light on some success stories of Canadian farms transitioning smoothly and finds better ways to do it in the future. Nick Oakley is a business development lead with Farm Management Canada who talks about the importance of a day like FTADay. 

As Canadian producers look forward to the 2025 growing year, cereal rotations are an integral part of their plans before hitting the field. Malt barley will be a big part of that as producers look to cash in on the premiums associated with malt barley. Primarily grown for beer production, malt barley differs from regular barley because it needs to be kept alive before heading to the breweries and food processors.  

Agri-food exports are one of the most important sectors for Saskatchewan to expand its international trade, with the province recently focusing on one country's growth.

The United Arab Emirates saw growth in imports of Saskatchewan agri-food products of 19 per cent over 2024 compared to 2023, with a total trade value of $322 million.

A grain farmer from Acme, Alberta has been elected as the new chair of Grain Growers of Canada (GGC).

Tara Sawyer, who is also the Chair of Alberta Grains, is the first woman to take over the role of chair for Grain Growers of Canada.

Joining her are Scott Hepworth, a grain grower from Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and a Director of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, as First Vice Chair and Sally Parsonage, a grain producer from Baldur, Manitoba and the Secretary of Manitoba Crop Alliance, joins the executive as Second Vice Chair.  

Farm Credit Canada or FCC have announced the recipients of their 2024 FCC 4-H Club Fund. This fund helps provide 4-H clubs across Canada with money to use in their operations. The FCC Club Fund has been in operation since 2013 and has given out over $1 million to over 2100 4-H clubs across Canada. Hugh Maynard is the interim CEO with 4-H Canada, who understands the impact this funding can have. 

A livestock producer from southeastern Manitoba says he is seeing the results of using regenerative agriculture principles on their farm.

Guy Bouchard farms in the Gardenton area. He explains that regenerative agriculture is farming with a sense of soil health and livestock health. Bouchard adds it is about thinking long-term and not just of short-term gains. 

The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers is making an investment into a number of research options that will focus on weed management for pulse fields.

The organization is putting forward over $3.67 million into five projects, listed in their release:

Cattle producers across the Prairies looking to optimize growth and health in their herds can benefit from the insights shared by Elizabeth Nernberg, Livestock Extension Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. Speaking at a recent producer presentation, Nernberg provided practical advice on backgrounding calves—a critical stage between weaning and feedlot finishing.

Some Canadians will be paying more for food in 2025.

That according to the 15th edition of Canada’s Food Price Report, a collaborative effort by Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of British Columbia.

This annual report provides critical insights into food price trends and their drivers, offering Canadians an essential guide to navigating the evolving food landscape.

Protein Industries Canada in a recent news release, has partnered up with established plant-based food manufacturing companies to find improved uses for faba beans (Vicia faba). $7.7 million will be invested into this new project in conjunction with Griffith Foods, BFY Proteins, Botaniline and Faba Canada to fund this project. Lisa Campbell, senior director of programs with Protein Industries Canada, is excited for the future of faba beans within the plant-based food sector.