Rural ratepayers will go to the polls this fall to pick their representatives on their local rural municipal councils. Making the decision to put your name on the ballot should not be taken lightly. It's not an easy job but it can be a rewarding experience according to the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities.

In my conversation with Ray Orb we'll learn about how these rural councils are the  voice of farming communities and why he has stayed involved on his local council for 35 years.  

There is nothing normal about 2020.  Even the commodity markets have reacted differently this summer. Exceed Grain Marketing senior analyst Wayne Palmer will explain why the markets have moved upward when they are usually quite stagnant at the start of harvest. He'll also dive into the latest Statistics Canada report that shows Canadian farmers will harvest more wheat, corn for grain, barley and oats this fall compared with last year, but less canola and soybeans. AND he'll tell us if those reports are right or wrong.

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With a lack of temporary foreign workers are higher food prices and fewer food choices on the horizon for Canadians? University of Calgary research associate Robert Falconer has released his second report on the role of temporary foreign workers in the Canadian agriculture sector. He said if there was any attempt to manage the food supply without these workers it is a strong possibility.

Robert will talk about this latest research project and provide some short- and long-term solutions to this problem.

Amanda Radke is a blogger and South Dakota rancher who speaks out on issues that impact the cattle industry. She recently spoke to the virtual Canadian Beef Industry conference about fake meats, environmental and animal rights activists and finding ways to bridge the urban and rural divide.

Amanda will share her strategies for connecting with consumers, ignoring the trolls and how ranchers can be a trusted source of information.

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Technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect weeds and other crop pests while passing over a field could reduce pesticide use by up to 95 per cent, maintaining crop yield, saving farmers roughly $50 per acre per growing season. A $26.2 million project is being led by Precision.ai, Sure Growth Solutions, Exceed Grain Marketing, and the Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan. The partners are together investing $13.4 million into the project, with Protein Industries Canada investing the remaining $12.8 million. Dan McCann is the founder and CEO of Precision.ai. Dan will talk about this multi-million-dollar project and how it can benefit farmers and the environment.

There are numerous resources available to the entire agriculture sector relating to weather and climate conditions. Maps and information about agroclimate - which is the relationship between climate and agriculture - conditions, events, and impacts can be accessed at no cost. The information comes from weather stations and satellites but it's the people on the ground that help give a true indication of what's going on. Agroclimate Specialist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Trevor Hadwen is with us to talk about how the public can get involved in this important work.

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Agriculture technology is helping to fight COVID-19 and play a role in preparations for future pandemics. A recent article in Nature Biotechnology said the current pandemic shows the need to mobilize efforts on a large scale to ramp up diagnostics and testing. The lead author is Steve Webb, chief executive officer of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan. Webb will explain how the tools used in plant breeding—like genetic testing and sequencing, are the same as those use in the pharmaceutical and health care fields.

The Canadian Beef Industry Conference usually attract hundreds of cattle producers, as well as the other players in the beef industry to Calgary, Alberta. But instead the conference was held entirely on-line due to COVID-19. The opening keynote speaker was from London, England. David Hughes is an Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College. He is considered an expert in global food issues and opportunities. He spoke about food trends and the steps the cattle industry needs to take in order to be sustainable and strong.

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There has been much more attention focused on the mental health of Canadian producers. Many suffer in silence. We continue our conversation with Gerry Friesen a Stress & Conflict Management Specialist and mental health advocate. On the last episode he shared his story on being diagnosed with depression and how he brought his illness into the open and made the decision to seek help.

As a recovering farmer Gerry talks about the stresses associated with agriculture, how to cope with the things in life we cannot control and how just talking to someone can be very therapeutic.

And, a report on women in agriculture sees both challenges and opportunities. Dr. Amber Fletcher is an associate professor with the University of Regina. She says women face challenges of sexism, discrimination, and access to financing.... but attitudes are changing. Amber will share the report's eight recommendation to support women in agriculture, including more childcare support and access to training.

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Gerry Friesen calls himself “The Recovering Farmer.” He grew up on a farm and he took over the family farm in 1983. Then financial issues led to the decision to sell the hog operation in 2007. Gerry openly shares his struggles with his mental health and how he has now spent several years working with farm families on a variety of topics including effective communication, conflict resolution, and stress management.

He takes a combination of his own life experiences, training in conflict resolution, and intensive counseling to help others who are struggling. Gerry shares his story and gives some insights on mental health.

The University of Regina and Levene School of Business have released a report on women agriculture entrepreneurship in Saskatchewan. Amber Fletcher was the lead researcher on the project. The report sheds light on the potential power of women entrepreneurs in agriculture and the struggles women continue to face including sexism, discrimination, and stereotyping.

Amber will share the study's findings.

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Crop rotation plays a key role in sustainable production practices. There are many factors for growers to consider in their short and long-term crop planning. Western Ag professional agrologist Edgar Hammermeister says long-term crop planning is necessary for pest management and soil health. Edgar will discuss the costs and benefits of crop choices based on a number of factors that impact agronomy and ultimately, long term profitability.

 The Saskatchewan Government said it will spend $4 billion in new irrigation infrastructure at Lake Diefenbaker, a project that has been in the discussion stage for decades. The province plans to spend $22.5 million for preliminary engineering and initial construction.Once in full operation an additional 500,000 acres will be irrigated which is double the current total.

Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association board chair Aaron Gray is excited about the announcement. He will share plans and discuss the potential for economic growth from the province's biggest ever infrastructure project to date.

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Farmers have shortened up crop rotation for a number of reasons. Oilseed agronomy research scientist Patrick Mooleki is with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Saskatoon Research and Development Centre. He said there are numerous issues popping up because of this practice including herbicide resistance in weeds and increased disease pressure including blackleg and fusarium head blight. Patrick says the continuing practice will have long term implications.

There tends to be a focus on the negative environmental aspects of farming like the greenhouse gases emitted from vehicles, fertilizers, and grain transportation. But there is new work showing this impact can be offset by planting trees. It's estimated more 21.3 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide-equivalent is stored in Saskatchewan’s 60,000 km of shelterbelts, representing about $639 million in total economic value under the federal $30 per tonne carbon-dioxide-equivalent pricing system.

Bryan Mood with USask will discuss a new app that is designed to show the economic value of shelterbelts while helping landowners determine the best trees to grow.

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Richardson Pioneer will be implementing a new Oat Procurement Program next year. The company does not want growers to use pre-harvest desiccants. This is not a new concept. Grain Millers stopped buying pre-harvest glyphosate treated oats five years ago. Jenneth Johanson is President of the Prairie Oat Growers Association. She talks about how this will impact oat farmers decisions in the next growing season

There will be some major changes coming to pulse crop research over the next few years. A funding agreement between Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre will end in September. Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Director of Research and Development Dave Greenshields will tell us how the changes will affect farmers and the ways they will benefit.

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Herbicide resistance is a growing problem around the world. Dr. Charles Geddes with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based out of Lethbridge, Alberta specializes in the discovery, monitoring, and management of herbicide-resistant weeds in western Canada with a special interest in the management of glyphosate-resistant kochia.

He will explain just how widespread the problem is and what farmers need to do to protect the herbicides they have available.

The work continues to develop a safe and effective vaccine to protect pigs against African Swine Fever. Researchers around the world are using various techniques to develop vaccines to protect pigs from ASF. In Saskatchewan, VIDO-InterVac Director and CEO Dr. Volker Gerdts says that vaccine will be available within two to three years. Dr. Gerdts will tell us about the process of developing the vaccine using an approach that is much safer than methods that use live virus.

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