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.
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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.

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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.

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Often 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.

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Farm Credit Canada (FCC) wants to reward farmers for using practices that make the farm environmentally friendly.

FCC released its Sustainable Finance Framework, outlining how they will invest $1.9 billion by the year 2030, to help producers increase their farm's resilience to weather challenges, increase productivity, and ensure it's a long-term viable operation.

Marie-Claude Bourgie is the Vice-President of Sustainability for FCC.
She explains the sustainable financing is incentive-based and applies to FCC customers.

The Saskatchewan Mustard Development Commission will have a key item on the agenda of its annual general meeting.

Chair of the Board Norm Hall says they will be discussing BASF's Invigor Gold variety of mustard.
Invigor Gold is a canola quality mustard and is able to cross pollinate with brown and oriental mustard.
BASF says Invigor Gold will be more drought tolerant than regular canola, but the mustard industry says it will put Canadian mustard sales in jeopardy.

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The spread of African Swine Fever to wild boar in Spain is a reminder of the importance of vigilance in terms of biosecurity especially as more people are traveling out of country.

Dr. Megan Niederwerder says a recent European Food Safety Authority review of the risk factors particular to Europe offers important information for North America.

There are more handling tips and tricks available to pork producers. Kevin Brooks is a production manager specializing in animal handling and training with Olymel West in Humboldt, Sask.

He spoke at the recent Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium about he things that have changed in the sector.

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Global Agri-Trends says tariffs on trade haven’t been as serious a concern for the meat sector.

Brett Stuart is a founding partner for Global AgriTrends. He was formerly employed by the US Meat Export Federation as their lead economist. He conducted numerous research and analysis projects in the global meat trade areas as well as advising US trade officials on internation meat access issues.

He shared some of his findings during the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium.

The House of Commons agriculture committee has been reviewing the policies and procedures of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as well as Health Canada. One issue discussed has been the growing number of concerns that have impacted Canada's veterinarians.

Tracy Fisher, the president of the Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association, share some of those struggles

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Crop diseases can have a serious impact on a farmer's bottom line, that’s why management is an ongoing concern for producers. Finding the right tools and technologies to help producers get a handle on diseases can be complicated and expensive.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher Kelly Turkington says it all starts with having a basic knowledge of the nature of plant diseases as the first step towards understanding what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.

A University of British Columbia student design team has created the prototype for a fully autonomous agricultural robot.

The creation of the AgroBot started with four students. The team has grown to 40 students with backgrounds in various areas of engineering.

AgroBot team member Wendie Wu will explain the project and tell us about how the students took inspiration from other industries and applied them to the robot...all in an effort to make agriculture operations more sustainable.

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 African Swine Fever and emerging diseases was a main topic of discussion at the recent Sask Industry Pork Symposium.

Dr. Stephanie Smith, the director of the veterinary unit with the Ministry of Agriculture, shares how the industry and farmers can prepare for emerging diseases like African Swine fever.

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The federal government is planning to reduce the amount of money spent on international aid----but it's unclear where those cuts will be made.

Paul Hagerman is the Canadian Foodgrain's Bank Public Policy Director.

He is concerned about the wording of the last federal budget.

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The Research Lead with Agri-Food Economic Systems suggests with Canadian oilseeds under increasing trade pressure, an oilseed strategy could be helpful.

An Independent Agri-Food Policy Note and accompanying Policy Concepts Paper, released by Agri-Food Economic Systems, examined the pressures facing Canadian oilseeds including China's 100 per cent tariff on canola oil and canola meal, trade action on Canadian peas from China, and now India - and issues with China and the U.S. over soybeans.

Research lead Dr. Al Mussell says Canadian oilseed producers are extremely export dependent but that's not a bad thing.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) have sent a letter to the provincial government, laying out their views on Saskatchewan farmland ownership. President Bill Prybylski says while he has no proof of foreign farmland ownership being an issue in Saskatchewan, he is concerned that the price of farmland could be inflated by outside interests.

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A protein journalist says the technological revolution is helping shape the buying patterns of consumers more today than over the past century. "The Retail Meat Counter; What consumers are buying and how is it changing?" was among the topics discussed as part of the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium.

Lisa Keefe says demographics are increasingly shaping consumer buying patterns.

Pulse Canada was in China this past week. The goal was to work to maintain one-on-one relationships with business contacts in the effort to persuade the Chinese government to drop hefty tariffs on peas and canola. Pulse Canada President Greg Cherewyk spoke prior to his flight to China.

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U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10 per cent increase in tariffs on goods imported from Canada in response to ads produced by the Ontario government. Manitoba Pork General manager Cam Dahl says Canada's elected officials need to prioritize the renegotiation and to tone down the rhetoric while working with our allies in the U.S. to maintain trade including representatives from key states like Iowa.

He says there is an understanding among elected state officials and agricultural leaders in the U.S. - Canada must continue to work with like-minded partners helping them influence the Trump administration.

There is a unique Kindergarten to Grade Nine School in the rural area . . . 21 kilometres east of Medicine Hal.

In addition to the regular classes . . . the kids get a hands-on view of food production at the Irvine Agriculture Discovery Centre. An onsite agriculture demonstration project connects rural and urban students who look after a so-called "Noah's Ark" of animals as part of the education curriculum. We will talk to the centre coordinator Nicole Neubauer.

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