Rural Roots Canada

75 Years of producing travelling scholars and leaders in the agriculture community. Nuffield Canada celebrates the milestone by touring farms and agriculture businesses in the Yukon. Chair Steve Larocque says it's an amazing accomplishment—and it was a great place to celebrate it. “What better place than the Yukon on the solstice. It was fantastic,” says Larocque

Twelve applied research associations across Alberta will share $3.2 million in provincial funding aimed at strengthening agricultural research and improving producer competitiveness. The one-time grant from the provincial government will be used for equipment upgrades, facility improvements, and infrastructure enhancements. RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation for Alberta, says the investment reflects the province's ongoing support for practical, science-based innovations in farming. "Applied research associations play a vital role in supporting farmers and ranchers with top-notch research that helps improve and advance agriculture," says Sigurdson. "This funding helps ensure associations can concentrate on providing research and extension to help our...

The application deadline for the 2026 Nuffield Scholarships is looming- June 30th. The Nuffield Canada Scholarship is a prestigious, rural, thought-leadership program available to Canadian citizens who are involved in any aspect of agriculture. Its goal is to attract mid-career men and women who are ready to challenge themselves by doing 10 weeks of self-directed international travel study to examine and research an agricultural topic they are passionate about. Once travel is completed, Scholars sum up their findings in a written report (approx. 10,000 words) and presentation to Nuffield Canada at their annual general meeting.    This $20,000 scholarship allows its recipients to travel the wor...

Rural Crime: Wire Theft From Irrigation Pivots On The Rise by RRC soundbites

Canada is beefing up its defence against foot-and-mouth disease, one of the most dangerous livestock diseases in the world.

AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health network, is looking to the agriculture industry to provide feedback on their latest assessment of the mental health environment for farmers and the ag industry in the province. Director Linda Hunt says this white paper assesses the needs in the community as well as the ability of the mental health and health care providers to connect with farmers. "Looking for what are the barriers for people getting help, and how can we build capacity within the Alberta health and mental health system to support farmers and their families and veterinarians," says Hunt.

Fires on farm equipment are a known risk, especially during the busy harvest season, however, a Canadian agtech start-up believes they have developed a solution to help farmers spot problems before they spark. Chariot Command, co-founded by CEO Andrew John Leaman, uses camera-based technology to monitor the mechanical health of farm equipment, with a sharp focus on combines, where fire risk is often highest. “At Chariot Command, we use cameras to understand the mechanical health of farm equipment,” Leaman explains. “We are visual people. We are a vision company, so we use cameras to see things, whether they’re cameras that we...

Building a strong relationship between a producer and a veterinarian is important for your herd's health and the economical sustainability of your farm.  Dr. Tommy Ware from Veterinary Agri-Health Services says that the relationship starts with the first phone call between the producer and the veterinarian.

As technology continues to evolve in agriculture, Canadian livestock producers are embracing new ways to connect with their veterinarians—without ever setting foot in the clinic. Tele-medicine is gaining ground as a practical tool, allowing producers to consult with their vets remotely using phone calls, photos, and video. Dr. Tommy Ware of Veterinary Agri-Health Services near Crossfield, Alberta, the key to making it work starts with trust. "A lot of it starts with having a good relationship with your veterinary, because we can't just willy-nilly go about just answering phone calls and taking videos," says Ware.

“I wish I didn't have to deal with these dryland corners on my fields. They are more trouble than they are worth.” This offhand remark from a farmer has led to a full-fledged research initiative at Farming Smarter to explore how farmers manage these tricky, often-overlooked portions of irrigated fields. The new project is entitled No Cutting Corners: Realizing the Sustainable Potential of Dryland Corners. Ashley Wagenaar, Conservation Agronomist at Farming Smarter, is super excited to explore farms' different strategies for managing these areas. She believes they can provide value to anyone interested in changing their approach or seeking advice on ma...

An upcoming event in Airdrie aims to help livestock producers build stronger relationships with their veterinarians, an important but sometimes overlooked part of a successful operation. Organized by Ashley Nicholls of REACH Agriculture Strategies, the session will explore effective communication strategies between producers and veterinarians and highlight how technology is reshaping animal health management. Nicholls says two featured speakers will offer diverse insights into the field.

Like crops weathering droughts and downpours, women in agriculture are rising through uncertainty and leading with resilience. At the recent Advancing Women in Agriculture conference, Dr. Cami Ryan, Senior Business Partner for Industry Affairs and Sustainability at Bayer Crop Science Canada, spoke with Rural Roots Canada about her talk, "The Heat is On! Resiliency and Leadership in Ag." Ryan said she never planned for a career in agriculture, but stressed that we all have to grow where we're planted. "I would have been the least likely person to end up in this space, but I did," she said. "So, really...

Canadian farmland rental rates remained relatively stable in 2024, despite another significant rise in land values, according to a report from Farm Credit Canada (FCC). Nationally, the average rent-to-price ratio, which measures the return on rented land relative to its market value, dropped slightly to 2.50%, nearly unchanged from 2.52% in 2o23. This indicates that rental rates haven't kept pace with the 9.3% increase in farmland values recorded over the previous year. The report, which focuses on cash rental agreements, shows regional differences in rental markets across Canada. In Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, rental rates have adjusted more quickly to land value increases. Other p...

An updated Canadian drought monitor has been issued, and for most of Alberta, conditions have eased. West Central Alberta, from Olds to Nordegg, is no longer in drought thanks to recent rain. Southeastern Alberta received between 85 and 200% of normal precipitation in April. But the news was not as good for Southwestern Alberta, where conditions worsened, and part of the region is now considered to be an extreme drought. That region, the Southern foothills, the snowpack there, below average, soil is dry, surface water levels are low. According to the drought monitor, the St. Mary Reservoir is only at 64% capacity, the...

Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – Canadian Road Safety Week is underway, and throughout rural Alberta, drivers are being urged to stay alert for farm machinery when travelling along the province’s roads. “Those are large pieces of equipment on the highway, and being aware of them and driving safely around them is critical,” says Jody Wacowich, executive director of AgSafe Alberta. “Right now, all of our farmers are out there moving seeders and other big equipment, trying to get the job done in between rainstorms and whatever else happens.” Wacowich says patience goes a long way when you’re stuck behind slow-moving ma...

Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) has launched the 2025 Right by You Ag Society Grant, a community initiative that awards $10,000 each to four agricultural societies across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Cory Flett, Marketing and Communications Manager for RME, says the company is committed to giving back to the communities where employees and customers live and work. “We feel these ag societies are a large part of the fabric in these communities, and often are the social hubs with rodeos and various other events that they host,” says Flett. “We feel it’s important to keep those alive.”

A new agriculture event is making its debut in southern Alberta in June. The Cypress Farm and Ranch Show will take place June 12–14 in Medicine Hat, coinciding with the World Professional Chuckwagon Races, which are being held in the city at the same time. Krissy Fiddler, part of the event’s organizing team, says the region is overdue for a show that brings together both the farming and ranching communities.

In this Prairie Weather this Week report, we take a look at the forecast for NE Alberta.

In this Prairie Weather this Week report, we take a look at the forecast for Central Alberta.

In this Prairie Weather this Week report, we take a look at the forecast for Southern Alberta.

Lightning....friend or foe?   Both. Thunderstorm season has begun across the prairies, bringing with it danger, and a great benefit to growing crops. How to Stay Safe Safety is paramount, so we'll deal with the danger first.   Lightning is generated by the attraction between the negative charges at the bottom of a thundercloud and the positive charge of the surface of the Earth.   Similar to a magnet, the opposite charges are drawn to each other, and when the connection is made, a lightning flash results.  The danger is obvious.  The consequences can be deadly.   Besides holding n enormous electrical charge, A lightnin...

With the federal election in the rearview mirror, agricultural groups across the country are letting the minority Liberal Government know what they need immediately and in the coming months. Several of them issued statements in the last week.

Seeding is progressing across Alberta, and with it, a number of farmers will be participating in On-Farm Trials to assess how new products, technologies, or practices perform under real-world conditions. According to Steve Larocque of Beyond Agronomy, digital tools are transforming the future of these trials. He says platforms like DFI allow producers to carry out large-scale automated strip trials with ease.

When you hear the word lupin, you might think of those purple-pink flowers that dot landscapes and ditches across Canada. However, in this instance, lupin refers to a pulse crop that's becoming a crop to watch in Canadian agriculture. Researchers at Sarda Ag Research in the Peace Region of Alberta are exploring the potential of lupin, which is high in protein, rich in nutrients, and could have considerable potential for farmers. "Lupin is similar to how we got into industrial hemp," says Vance Yaremko, Executive Director for Sarda Ag Research. "We're always looking for alternatives here in the Peace Region...

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the forecast for NE Alberta

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares a forecast for Central Alberta

RRC Meteorologist David Spence shares the southern Alberta forecast.

Farmers are very innovative, always coming up with new tools and practices to solve everyday problems on their farm. One such person is Jessica Carlyon, the owner of Hired Hand Hardware, who also farms in Little Smoky in northwest Alberta. Carlyon builds and sells a slick tool that cuts, pulls and wraps bale string or wrap from a hay or straw bale while feeding or putting in bedding.

A new opportunity for women looking to gain hands-on ranching experience is coming to Alberta this summer. The first-ever Female Ranch Camp will take place June 18–22 in Yellowhead County. Organized by Business Wide-View, the camp is modelled after a successful U.S. program and aims to build confidence, skills, and a stronger sense of community among women in agriculture. “We’re taking up to 12 women to the camp,” says B-J Fuchs, owner of Business Wide-View and host of the event. “They’ll be learning real-life ranch skills through a series of stations — from sorting cattle, operating a chute, branding, ear tagging, to ad...

In Alberta’s Peace Country, a farmer-directed research organization is helping producers improve their operations by testing new practices and technologies tailored to the region’s unique needs. SARDA Ag Research, based in Falher, conducts unbiased research on a range of topics, from crop inputs to new farming methods. The goal is to help farmers make better decisions based on data from their region, without the cost or risk of trying unproven methods themselves. “SARDA Ag Research is an organization that does non-biased research to help our local farmers come up with new ways, new things that are out there, bring...

Farmers across North America are riding a wave of economic uncertainty, thanks in large part to the ongoing global trade war & tariffs and shifting interest rates. Christian Lawrence, head of Cross-Asset Strategy at Rabobank, says the effects of the Trump administration’s trade strategy are hitting the agriculture sector hard. “We’re seeing a lot of volatility right across markets, particularly in currency markets, which tend to be a bit of a relief valve for tariffs,” says Lawrence.

Soil stewardship has long been a cornerstone of Kevin Auch’s approach to farming, a legacy passed down through generations. That dedication was recently recognized when the Carmangay producer received the prestigious Orville Yanke Award for soil conservation at the Farming Smarter Conference.

The 2025 edition of the Alberta Blue Book has arrived. For over 20 years, the Blue Book has been a trusted resource of farmers and agronomists, helping them make decisions during the growing season. The book, which is collaboratively produced by Alberta Canola, Alberta Grains and Alberta Pulse Growers, has over 700 pages of valuable crop protection information.

A program bringing research to the farm is again looking for farmers to participate. Alberta Grains is accepting applications for its Plot2Farm program, which aims to allow producers the opportunity to trial practices. The Plot2Farm program, launched in 2020, has helped producers test agronomic practices under real-world conditions.  Agronomy Program Specialist Lara de Moissac says the number of producers who are interested in participating continues to grow. "They are curious about certain practices that maybe they hear about in a conference like Prairie Cereals Summit. If there was a Spotlight on Research and they thought, oh, I would like t...

Farmland values across Canada continued their steady upward trend in 2024, with the average price of farmland increasing by 9.3 per cent, according to Farm Credit Canada’s latest Farmland Values Report. While the pace of growth slowed slightly compared to the 11.5 per cent increase recorded in 2023, FCC Chief Economist J.P. Gervais says the market remains strong despite some pressures. “The increase in Canadian farmland values in 2024 reflects an enduring strength in demand for farmland amid some pressures on commodity prices,” Gervais said. “The limited supply of farmland available for sale combined with lower borrowing costs resulted in an increase in the aver...

As Canadians prepare to head to the polls, grain growers want to make sure their voices are heard. The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) has launched Vote for Grain, a national campaign to help farmers engage with candidates and push for policies that impact their livelihoods. It gives grain farmers a direct way to engage with local candidates and understand where the parties stand. The GGC says this election comes at a critical time, with farmers facing mounting challenges, everything from rising costs to the carbon tax to trade uncertainty with the U.S. It also highlights the needs for...

For women in agriculture, balancing farm duties, business management, caregiving, and community leadership can leave little time to build strong bonds or rekindle family connections. At the AWC West 2025 conference, Carlamay Sheremata, speaker and author of Youth Truth: Engaging in Conversations That Can Change Lives, says small, intentional moments, or what she calls “micro-minutes,” can have a significant impact. “It’s just the little things each day,” Sheremata explains. “It could be a five-minute check-in, driving home from school, or a simple good morning hug. Those little things all of a sudden build that connection with the kids.”

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is disappointed and frustrated by tariffs imposed by the American government, saying a prolonged trade war between Canada and the United States will result in major challenges for cattle producers across the country. "We've put a lot of time and effort into advocating against the tariffs," says Tyler Fulton, Vice President of the Canadian Cattle Association. "We advocated directly with our U.S. counterparts to make sure they understood the consequences to their industry and the U.S. consumer as well." "It's frustrating that we find ourselves in this position, and I can't help but...

The tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Canada and Mexico are shaking up Alberta’s food industry, and local processors are already feeling the pressure. Bianca Parsons, Executive Director of the Alberta Food Processors Association, says businesses are already struggling to adapt. Long-term contracts with major retailers in the United States make it difficult to absorb sudden cost increases. “They have contracts with major retailers in the United States selling their food and beverage products,” says Parsons. “Those contracts obviously don’t include a 25% increase in tariff. They’re now trying to renegotiate those contracts so that they can sti...

We're just weeks away from seeding and planting. It's the time when farmers and ranchers start browsing long-range weather forecasts to try to figure out how to prepare for the spring.