AgAnnex Talks

Ontario-based Darby McGrath has been involved in agriculture since she was a teenager: first through working on tree fruit farms in the Niagara region, through her several roles with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, as an adjunct professor with the University of Waterloo and Brock University, and as a board member of Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests non-profit organization.

Nominated by Vineland plant breeding research scientist Rachael LeBlanc, McGrath stood out for her research accomplishments in horticulture and her leadership capabilities. While McGrath is fairly new to her role as vice-president of research and development at Vineland, LeBlanc highlighted her "genuine willingness and enthusiasm to learn and grow with those around her" as evidence of her being the ideal fit for the job.

In this episode, McGrath chats with agriculture editor Alex Barnard about recognizing the victories – small and large – of yourself and others, the importance of failure in innovation and research, and trying to slow down to enjoy the journey.

Special thanks to Bayer Crop Science Canada, platinum sponsor of the 2023 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture program, for sponsoring this series.

Today, we’re talking to our second 2023 honouree: Jacob Handsaker of Hands-On Tiling and Excavating. Nominated by Jeremy Mulholland, Jacob has been widely recognized by a number of other professionals in the field for his efforts to push the industry forward, especially in Iowa. Jeremy described Jacob as being on the front edge of critical water quality practices such as installing multiple saturated buffers on Iowa fields through the state’s batch and build program. In partnering with the ADMC, the Iowa Agricultural Water Alliance, the NRCS and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Jacob has installed upwards of 50 saturated buffers, proving that one can get serious business done while also focusing on conservation and water quality.

This episode is brought to you by The Water Table, a Prinsco education initiative which supports the GroundBreakers program. The GroundBreakers will be back in two weeks to bring you more stories from our class of 2023.

Ana Badea is a Manitoba-based research scientist for barley breeding and genetics, leading Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) largest two-row and hulless barley breeding program at the Brandon Research and Development Centre. Badea is also involved in the development and training of the next generation of researchers and agriculture professionals as an adjunct professor at the University of Manitoba, where she helps guide graduate students as a co-supervisor and member of the advisory committee.

Badea was nominated as an IWCA recipient by Dean Dias, CEO at Cereals Canada, who, in addition to her leadership at AAFC, highlighted Badea’s innovative work to develop new malting, food and feed barley cultivars with high yield and strong disease resistance, as well as the various advocacy initiatives she works on within the industry.

In this episode, Badea and Top Crop Manager West editor Derek Clouthier talk about her research, what drives her passion for agriculture and where she hopes to see the industry go in the future.

Special thanks to Bayer, platinum sponsor of the 2023 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture program, for sponsoring this series.

Welcome to our second edition of The GroundBreakers, our annual recognition program for contractors, advocates and water management professionals who go above and beyond to elevate the field of agricultural drainage.

Our first honoree of 2023 is LaVerne Weber, president of Grade Solutions Inc. in Illinois. After transitioning from the roads industry into drainage, Weber has led Grade Solutions to become known for two things: exemplary customer service and innovation – and the two often go hand-in-hand. For example, Grade Solutions recognizes the importance of bioreactors – but in order to make buffers as effective as possible, Grade Solutions goes above and beyond to make their own wood chips.

This episode is brought to you by Bron, which supports the GroundBreakers program. The GroundBreakers will be back in two weeks to bring you more stories from our class of 2023.

Saskatchewan-based Heather Wilson is a research scientist and program leader in the vaccine formulation and delivery group at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, or VIDO. She’s also an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the department of veterinary microbiology and the school of public health.

Nominated by Erin Gilchrist, Dr. Wilson’s nomination package focused on the reputation she’s been able to establish for her lab at VIDO, and the innovations she and her team have achieved together. She’s also helping guide others into the field and is described as a dedicated supervisor and mentor, having previously mentored or currently mentoring four post-doctoral fellows, four masters students, eight Ph D. Students, three technicians, four project students and a half-dozen summer students.

In this episode, Heather and agriculture editor Bree Rody discuss her views on leadership and mentorship, gaining the confidence to navigate tough processes such as grant-writing and networking and why it's important to recognize one's own strengths and weaknesses.

This episode is sponsored by John Deere. This series is sponsored by Bayer.

In our first episode of the 2023 Influential Women in Canada Agriculture podcast series, we speak to Kelly Daynard, executive director of Farm and Food Care Ontario. In her long-time role as a public trust advocate, she shares meaningful stories and information with consumers to broaden their understanding of Canadian food and farming and the people behind it.

Almost all crops begin in the soil. Soil is a complex system and managing it is similarly complex, with no one-size-fits-all approach. But there are some commonalities. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities in soil management?

In this episode of AgAnnex Talks, Fruit & Vegetable editor Alex Barnard chats with Angie Straathof, program director with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). She discusses how she came to soil science, OSCIA's programs and initiatives, and the importance of maintaining or increasing soil organic matter (SOM) levels. 

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• Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) website
• Become an OSCIA member
• Subscribe to the OSCIA programs mailing list
• Find your regional program lead or local contact 
• Follow OSCIA on Twitter at @OntarioSoilCrop or on Facebook

Support for this episode provided by Syngenta. 

Biologicals are a hot topic these days, with several companies releasing new or updated bio products onto the market in recent years. But what are these products and how are they used?

Rose Buitenhuis, senior research scientist, biological control, at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland, Ont., joins Fruit & Vegetable editor Alex Barnard to break down what biologicals are and discuss some of the research being conducted at Vineland on biological controls, as well as what to know or consider when using a biological product.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to AgAnnex Talks on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Vineland's Biological Crop Protection website
• Interested in learning more about biologicals or have questions? Reach out to Rose or other members of Vineland's Biological Crop Protection team through the contacts section in the link above.
• GreenhouseIPM YouTube channel (a collaboration between OMAFRA and Vineland)

Support for this episode provided by Syngenta.

When Karen Tanino was hired by the University of Saskatchewan’s college of agriculture and bioresources in 1988, she was only the second female faculty member. Now, Tanino is a professor of plant sciences at the university and leads or is involved in many other projects concerning a variety of crops, environmental conditions, and extension and outreach activities; her self-confidence and drive to figure things out and move forward, as well as the support of her male colleagues, have made her a force to be reckoned with in Canadian agriculture. 

In this episode of AgAnnex Talks, Tanino, one of the 2022 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture, speaks with Fruit and Vegetable and Top Crop Manager East editor Alex Barnard about recognizing our influence on others (and vice versa) and the responsibility that comes with it, the value of a broad knowledge base, and the optimism inherent to agriculture.

Dr. Valarie Carney has been one of North America’s most respected poultry science leaders for nearly two decades. Based in Edmonton as the Poultry Innovation Partnership lead, she supports excellence in research and innovation in Canada’s poultry industry. She’s also served in leadership roles with many provincial, national and international poultry science organizations. What’s more, she helps train the next generation of poultry specialists through her work with graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Alberta.

In this episode of AgAnnex Talks, Carney, one of the 2022 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture, speaks with Canadian Poultry editor Brett Ruffell about taking risks, her defining moment, work-life balance and the biggest challenges women in agriculture still face today.