Given the high prices of fertilizer, what would influence farmers to change their seeding plans? That's a question Farm Credit Canada explored with an analysis on swing acres and which crops could see the most change between now and when seeding begins.

FCC senior economist Lee Anderson talks about fertilizer prices, its effect on some of those decisions, and how that has all happened since the conflict in Iran started in late February.

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Canada is looking to increase pulse sales to India by working in areas of mutual need. Nutritional security is very important to India, and part of its plan is to build food processing capacity in the world's most populous country.

More pulse processing in India will in theory lead to increased pulse crop purchases from Canada.
We'll hear from Greg Cherewyk is the CEO of Pulse Canada.

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Computer based artificial intelligence is offering new insights into animal welfare. A new tool being developed by the University of Saskatchewan is using A.I.at the abattoir.

The University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed an automated swine welfare assessment system consisting of a digital security camera linked to an A.I. processor. Dr. Seokbum Ko explains how cameras record animal movement along the processing line and condensed AI models extract and assess images indicative of animal welfare.

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The 10th Annual Saskatchewan Beef Expo was recently held in Saskatoon.

Kirk Stierwalt, a long-time cattle operator and clinician from Leedey, Oklahoma has been conducting show cattle clinics for 37 years. He worked with the 4-H members at Beef Expo providing guidance on clipping, grooming and showmanship. He'll talk about some of the tip and tricks he shared with the young 4-Hers.

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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.

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Rural 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.

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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.

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The 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.

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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.

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Protein 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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