There are many pieces of legislation introduced during a Parliamentary session—-only a few received widespread media coverage while other bills fly under the radar getting much less public attention. Bill C-293 is a private member’s bill introduced by a Liberal backbench MP from Toronto.

Published reports indicate Nathaniel Erskine-Smith was raised as a vegetarian and is now a vegan. Bill C-293 deals with governmental powers in the event of another pandemic covering a wide variety of topics ranging from food to vaccines.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax and is a well-known figure in food circles.

He published an opinion piece expressing serious concerns about Bill C-293 and its contents.

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan celebrated its 10th anniversary with a social event in Saskatoon. Executive Director Clinton Monchuk says it was an opportunity to share what has been accompished and the future direction for the organization.

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More than ever consumers are curious about how and where their food is produced. Amy te Plate-Church is the Director of the U.S. based Center for Food Integrity. She says consumer trends and developments in consumer perceptions have far reaching implications for farmers. She says some of the factor’s consumers consider when making purchasing decisions are changing.

The General Manager of Manitoba Pork is calling on governments to adopt an incentive rather than regulatory based approach to achieving environmental targets and sustainability goals.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's has completed consultations on a new sustainable agricultural strategy. Cam Dahl wrote an article for Manitoba community newspapers and Manitoba Pork's Chop Talk newsletter looking at the issue of sustainability. He says we are at a crossroads in terms of government policy, especially when it comes to the whole question of sustainability and environmental impact.

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The Animal Health Canada's Emergency Management Division says the focus of the division right now is planning and preparedness for foreign animal disease. Director Erica Charlton says, at this stage, the main focus is disease planning and preparedness with the big three being African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease and High Path Avian Influenza in poultry.

Four cereal-based producer commissions in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario have announced plans to contribute $13.4 million to the proposed Global Technology Exchange in Winnipeg. The project---known by the acronym GATE---will contain state-of-the-art equipment for milling, baking, pasta and noodle making, malt and brewing as well as processing.

It will cover services provided in the current Cereals Canada facility. GATE’S total cost will be $102 million—which includes a site in downtown Winnipeg, construction and the cost of housing advanced milling equipment.

Sask Wheat director Rob Stone farms in the Davidson area.  He says with the producer funding in place . . . along with $5 million from Cereals Canada . . . the next step will be to approach government entities and other potential funding partners.

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A program developed by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, to attract veterinary students into swine medicine, is a win for the students, their educators and the swine veterinary practices participating in the program.

The Pharmhouse Summer Student Swine Experience Program places veterinary students into swine veterinary practices during the summer.

Dr. John Harding says the program was created to help overcome the shortage we face in livestock veterinary medicine, particularly in the swine industry.

We'll talk to Dr. Harding and two vet students that participated.

In the wake of the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC) revocation of the grain dealer license for Purely Canada Foods, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is urging for an immediate review of the CGC's bonding and licensing system to better safeguard producers in the grain industry.

APAS President Ian Boxall says the cancellation marks the fourth instance in recent months where grain companies have had their licenses revoked, signaling a troubling trend that requires rapid and resolute responses to protect the interests of hardworking farmers.

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The Canadian Canola Growers association met with canola crop commissions from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to discuss trade issues with China.

The Chinese are promising to launch an anti-dumping case against Canadian canola in retaliation for Canada's decision to impose stiff tariffs on steel, aluminum and electric vehicles coming from China.

CCGA President Rick White shares what was discussed and the calls for a swift resolution to a dispute that's threatening Canada's canola exports.

Saskatchewan's Water Security Agency is putting its Agriculture Water Stewardship Policy to the test through a series of pilot projects. Krystal Tendler is the Executive Director of Agriculture Water Management with the WSA. She says those pilot projects are in areas where drainage is common, such as the east-central and northeast regions.

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Canada's own regulatory system is making its farmers less competitive internationally and hampering their ability to provide the world with food. Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl says when the costs imposed on Canadian agriculture as the result of regulations are higher than they are in countries like the United States or Brazil it means that Canadian farmers are less competitive.

Farm Health Guardian is looking to test its digital biosecurity technology with farms and food companies across Canada. The ideal project participants are farms or food companies with multiple connected sites, such as pig production systems; transport or feed companies looking to verify vehicle biosecurity; and veterinarians who oversee a group of farms with shared biosecurity protocols.

Rob Hannam, CEO of Farm Health Guardian, says it automates biosecurity to send biosecurity breach alerts, stop unauthorized entry, and verify requirements to protect against disease transmission.

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A document released by the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance outlines eleven principles designed to help Canada's trade negotiators achieve fair and sustainable trade agreements that won't inadvertently hinder trade.

CAFTA Executive Director Michael Harvey says the document "Principles for Sustainable and Fair Trade in the Agri-Food Sector." - provides a structured approach for governments and interested stakeholders as they engage in policy discussions related to trade and sustainability.

The beef industry hosts a major get-together with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Saskatchewan.

It'll be the first time Saskatoon is hosting the conference, which includes meetings and presentations by numerous important figures in Canada's beef industry. Canadian Cattle Association Nathan Phinney talks about the pressing issues facing the cattle industry and how the U.S. election can impact producers.

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It’s a new chapter for Ray Orb, as he is now adjusting to life after being the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) for the last ten years, and twenty overall with the Board. Orb talks about what he has seen in his two decades with the organization, working with different levels of government, the key issues, accomplishments and regrets.

Root rot in pulse crops has grown to be a devastating issue for growers across Western Canada, so a team of University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers and colleagues at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the National Research Council(NRC) led by Dr. Sabine Banniza (PhD) of USask’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) is searching for ways to beat it.

Banniza, a professor with the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, received more than $4.2 million from the Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) to uncover solutions for root rot in pea and lentil crops.

As Banniza puts it, root rot in pea and lentil has become so prevalent in Western Canada it has caused growers to stop planting the crops in some areas.

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The subject is Family Farm succession is complex and emotional. That's why we felt it was topic that was worthy of being the focus of the entire podcast this week.

While discussions surrounding succession can be difficult there are strategies available to Canadian farm business families to confidently navigate the paths of transition decision making. My guest is Patti Durand, a certified Family Enterprise Advisor, with Brightrack Consulting.

Over the past six years she's guided 350 farm families through transition and succession conversations.As a speaker and workshop leader, Patti provides relatable, thoughtful ideas to help business families move ahead, together and with certainty.

I'll talk to Patti about nine habits worth adjusting and shifting to in the conversation of the future of the family farm.

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Canadian Western Agribition’s Next Gen Mentorship Program was created to support the next generation of agriculture leaders.

The program matches eight young leaders in the agriculture industry with professionals for an 18-month mentorship where they gain skills and experiences to advance their careers. David McTaggart is one of the mentees in the fourth cohort. He has been partnered with Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel.

I'll talk to David about what he has gained from being involved in the program.
 
The aging demographic of producers may be the most significant issue facing the future of the livestock sector . . . but is only one of several areas of concern. Representatives from cattle, sheep and bison organizations participated in a Livestock Summit sponsored by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. 

A young cattle producer from eastern Saskatchewan Levi Hull talked about some of the challenges including access to capital for new producers, improving business risk management programs and preventing the ongoing conversion of pastures into cropland. 

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