To enhance the ability of pork producers to be prepared to respond to a foreign animal disease outbreak, the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board in partnership with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and the Animal Health Emergency Management project has released a mass euthanasia and disposal producer guide.

Sask Pork Producer Services Manager Karolina Steinerova talks about the plan and training that's available.

A new University of Saskatchewan study will examine whether pea protein can strengthen bone structure in people over the age of 50.

The pea protein will be put into almond milk, which has low protein levels. The study will also include milk and pea milk as comparisons.The one-year study involving as many as 200 men and women will be led by Dr. Phil Chillibeck---a professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Kinesiology.

The study will also include strength training in combination with the beverages.

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The Research Lead with Agrifood Economic Systems suggests Canadian agricultural organizations and government need to come together quickly and act decisively in response to the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports.

Agrifood Economic Systems has released a Policy Advisory Note which examines Canada's one month reprieve on U.S. tariffs and how the agri-food sector should use that time.

Dr. Al Mussell says Canadians are suddenly faced with a generational event.

The Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association has a new Chief Executive Officer.
During its Annual General Meeting, it was announced Christina Betker will be taking over from Grant McLellan, who is pursuing other opportunities.

Betker has been with the Association for 10 years as a Policy Manager and has experience in the agriculture sector along with time working in the Canadian and U.S. governments.

Her plan for the organization includes dealing with current issues, such as the tariff situation with the U.S. and enhancing their communication with the public AND the organization's decision to change its name.

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When it comes to the various cuts of pork, consumer preferences have changed dramatically over the past 20 years.

Since COVID consumers have been contending with steadily increasing food prices.
Hubert Muckel, a retired southwestern Manitoba butcher-meat cutter who retired in 2023 after working more than 50 years, estimates food prices have approximately doubled over the past four years.

The price of medium ground pork has gone from $1.99 a pound to over $4.50 a pound for the same product.

There is a growing recognition of the need to address anxiety and depression among farmers.

The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program is on on-line support program for farmers, their families and their employees who are dealing with anxiety or depression.
Program Vice-chair Roberta Galbraith says the program was a response to a 2016 University of Guelph study that revealed depression and anxiety levels within the agriculture sector, particularly among farmers, were substantially higher than the general population. She says a follow-up 2021 study that showed the needle hadn't moved.

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There has been a lot of discussion surrounding a pesky weed called kochia.
Wind helps spread the tumbleweed longer distances and there are more reports of herbicide resistant kochia.

The seed banks are only viable for three years, but it has been discovered forages can compete with kochia in low-lying marginal areas.

Ducks Unlimited Extension Agrologist Jodie Horvath says DU sponsored research projects last year using drones that seeded forages on 14 farms covering a total of 560 acres. She says there were promising results with more drone seeding projects coming up this year.

Saskatchewan farmer Todd Lewis got the call from the Prime Minister himself and will be accepting an appointed to the Canadian Senate.

Lewis is the former president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and current Vice president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. For the farmer from Gray near Regina, Sask. the title of Senator is something he's still getting used.

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With global politics, tariffs and uncertainty - canola prices in Canada would likely be higher, Marlene Boersch spoke to farmers and agronomists at a recent meeting sharing her thoughts on the canola market and the impact of impending tariffs.

She says she's angry that Canada's most important trading partner is ignoring trade agreements that were signed.

Plant growth regulators are synthetic compounds that can modify plant growth, development and function by altering hormonal activity.

In western Canadian cereal crops, PGRs can work to produce shorter stems, reduce lodging and maintain grain yield.

Moddus is a plant growth regulator from Syngenta that can be used on multiple crops
There is a new research project in Saskatchewan that is looking specifically at barley.
Mitchell Japp is the Research and Extension Manager for the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission.

He'll share the very early results of a study of PGR's in Barley.

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A southwestern Manitoba farmer is calling on government and industry to explore the feasibility of establishing a processing facility that would extract medical compounds from the byproducts of hog processing.

Heparin is a blood thinner that prevents the formation of blood clots.
Jim Downey says he became interested in the medical side of production about three years ago when he was contacted by a Chinese company looking to find out what was being done with the mucosa from the guts of the hogs being slaughtered in Manitoba.

The July heat did a number on 2024 crop yields in Saskatchewan, but it did prevent major disease outbreaks.

Sandy Junek, the Molecular Lab Manager with Discovery Seed Labs in Saskatoon says seed germination levels range from good to very good.

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Farmers get a lot of direction from agronomists, accountants, bankers and lawyers. All have a direct impact on their business. But one area they often neglect is their closest personal relationships.Our guest, Sean Brotherson, a professor and extension family science specialist from North Dakota State University says a farmer’s highest priority should be their spouse or partner.

Today we talk about how healthy relationships can improve the farm business.

And, the cattle industry has been hit particularly hard during the pandemic. Low prices and reduced processing capacity have devastated the industry.

We have Saskatchewan rancher Adrienne Ivey here to talk about how livestock producers are coping, why two large players in the meat packing industry in Western Canada hold the monopoly on processing and why its so difficult for small meat processing facilities to make a go of it.

Adrienne discusses why she chooses to share her personal story on social media, the positives and the disappointments, and how she is committed to working not only with farmers and consumers but with the entire value chain.

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The Federal Government needs to make changes to policies on illegal immigration and the illicit sale of drugs to avoid imposition of a 25 per cent US tariff on Canadian and Mexican pork imports.

That comes from Florian Possberg, a partner in Polar Pork. He says 2025 looks positive for pork producers but a tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports could change all of that.

A farmer and agricultural input dealer from West Central Saskatchewan has written a book for the average grocery shopper. Denis Bulani, the CEO of the Rack, is the author of What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food.

He was inspired to write the book after attending a major entrepreneurs conference in Arizona, where one of the speakers made several remarks denigrating food production.
Belani wrote the easy-to-understand book using facts backed up by 199 footnotes.

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Researchers with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are using radio-frequency identification technology to track the feeding behavior of pigs to provide an early warning of disease.

Dr. Raj Sharma says the development of autonomous technologies are designed to capture data 24-7 to monitor and track individual pig feeding behavior to provide early disease detection.

He says it provides real-time insights on what an individual pig eats and drinks and will help them identify sick animals more quickly.

It's been said a lot that cattle prices in 2024 have been strong all year, but will they continue in 2025 and moisture improved for pastureland especially in areas where there’s been multiple years of drought.

CEO of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association Grant McLellan will discuss these and other important issues for producers in 2025.

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Weather and international trade top the list of concerns for grain, oilseed and pulse crop producers heading into 2025. Unfortunately, both issues are out of farmer control making it difficult to develop a risk management plan.

Likely the biggest unknown is the United States and incoming President Donald Trump, who is already promising to impose 25 per cent import tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports unless the two countries tighten border security for drugs and illegal immigrants.
A steep tariff would be especially harmful for canola oil, durum, oats, and mustard, which heavily rely on the US market.

Chuck Penner with LeftField Commodity Research will talk about some of these issues including production of crops in other countries.

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan reports, over the past year, it has seen an increase in its membership and a significant increase in the level of support provided by those members.

FFC was formed in 2014 to bring the agriculture industry together in an effort to engage with consumers in Saskatchewan and across the country and ensure those with an interest in how their food is being produced have a truthful verifiable way to get that information.

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan Executive Director Clinton Monchuk says members have recognized the importance of sharing the story of how food is being produced and have doubled their level of support.

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