AgAnnex Talks

In our last focus on future-proof farming, we speak with experts from Olds College and Purdue University about how drones, automation and data are changing the ag world, and what barriers exist that prevent adoption.

Digesters are widely regarded as a great way to repurpose farm waste into alternative energy sources, while also helping out in other areas – like cutting down on nutrient losses and producing on-farm resources like bedding. And although the demand for digesters is increasing, prices remain high, and farm operators want to know that their ROI will be strong. We speak with representatives from both the Canadian Biogas Association and EPA AgStar to find out why digesters are so useful – and what the average farmer can do to find their path toward digesters. Check out https://www.epa.gov/agstar and http...

As we continue our season focused on farming with the future in mind, we speak with farmers and industry leaders on how they've pivoted and coped throughout COVID-19 and what it's taught them about dealing with future disruptions down the line. This podcast episode is sponsored by the https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/knowledge/podcasts.html (FCC).

In our new season focused on farming with the future in mind, we look at what role landowners, producers and drainage professionals can play in keeping soil healthy, how different bodies can work together and why soil health matters in the long run.

By day, Kristen Phillips is a farmer, agronomist, and general manager of Manitoba Ag Days. But she’s also a wife and a mom, raising the fifth generation of farmers on her family’s land in Roseland, Man. In this episode of AgAnnex Talks, the sixth and final interview in our Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture series, Phillips shares what keeps her excited about agriculture, the profound advice she carries with her through her career, and her thoughts on the future of the Canadian industry. IWCA is a program created by the agriculture brand teams at Annex Business Media, designed to h...

Karen Schuett, co-founder and CEO of Livestock Water Recycling (LWR), is a highly regarded manure expert. Her Calgary-based agtech company has developed one of the global livestock industry’s most sought-after manure treatment innovations. In pursuing her work towards lagoon-free food, this visionary has received numerous awards. Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture (http://agwomen.ca). IWCA is a program created by the agriculture brand teams at Annex Business Media, designed to honour women making a difference in Canada’s ag industry. Stay tuned to hear from the rest of the Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2Folgv6MYbWGopHU7g81Ed?si=J...

Peggy Brekveld wears a lot of hats. She’s vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and her family operates Woodstar Farms, a dairy farm near Thunder Bay, Ont. She’s a graduate of the Rural Ontario Institute’s Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), and is currently also vice-president of the Agricultural Adaptation Council. But, of all the things she’s done in the agriculture sector, Peggy believes that her work as an ag advocate is where she’s really made her mark. Top Crop Manager associate editor Alex Barnard chats with Brekveld in this episode of AgAnnex Talks, the...

Laura Van Eerd, a professor at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, is well-known for her soil fertility research which influences agriculture, not only in the province, but nationally and internationally. Van Eerd shares what motivates her, some personal career highlights, and what she’s learned from mentors and her experiences along the way. Fruit and Vegetable editor Stephanie Gordon chats with Van Eerd in this episode of AgAnnex Talks, the third in our series of podcasts with six Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture (http://agwomen.ca/). IWCA is a program created by the agriculture brand te...

Dr. Barbara Cade-Menun, a research scientist with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, is a world leader in studying phosphorus cycling in water, soils and plants. She’s developed and refined investigative techniques that have become the preferred standard, and has received numerous important accolades in recognition of her work. Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture (http://agwomen.ca/). IWCA is a program created by the agriculture brand teams at Annex Business Media, designed to honour women making a difference in Canada’s ag industry. Stay tuned to hear from the rest of the Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2Folgv6MYbWGopHU7g81E...

Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner, an associate professor with the University of Saskatchewan's department of animal and poultry science, is one of the most highly regarded poultry scientists worldwide. She leads a research team that investigates the effects of management systems on the welfare and productivity of commercial poultry. (http://www.canadianpoultrymag.com) editor Brett Ruffell chats with Dr. Schwean-Lardner in this episode of AgAnnex Talks, the first in our series of podcasts with six Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture. IWCA is a program created by the agriculture brand teams at Annex Business Media, designed to honour women making a...

GMOs, pesticides, livestock health and safety: it can feel like farmers and consumers are speaking different languages when hot button issues are discussed. What creates this communication breakdown? In the 2019 Public Trust Research Report compiled by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, 91 per cent of Canadians said they knew little to nothing about modern Canadian farming practices, but 60 per cent are interested in knowing more about agriculture and how their food is produced. That first number presents the obstacle farmers have to overcome in speaking with consumers; the second shows the potential opportunity. In this episode, Kelly Daynard, executive director...

Do you have a succession plan? Bob Tosh, family enterprise advisor with MNP, says this question isn’t a good place to start when it comes to thinking about the succession planning process. In this episode, Tosh shares advice he has given throughout his years as an advisor and offers perspective to current and next-generation farmers engaging with the succession process. Doug Johnston, a fifth-generation grain and dairy producer, also shares his succession experience and offers some frank advice for fellow producers. Thanks to MNP (https://www.mnp.ca/en) for sponsoring this episode. Visit familyfarmsuccession.ca...

Labour shortages and misconceptions about farm work are some of the issues faced by Canadian agricultural producers. The Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council reported in 2019 that the agriculture sector’s job-vacancy rate was the “highest of any major sector in the Canadian economy.” In this episode, Stuart Person, senior vice president of agriculture with MNP, discusses some of the labour challenges faced in the agriculture sector and hiring best practices. Deb Campbell, a crop advisor in Ontario, discusses the gap in perception on what farm work is today, and Anneke Stickney shares her poultry operation’s experience with finding good help. Gl...

Farming is considered one of the most hazardous occupations in Canada – according to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, more than 100 adults and children are victims in farm accidents every year in Canada. In this episode, Rob Gobeil, agricultural health and safety specialist with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, talks stats, hazards, and most importantly, preparedness and prevention with Stefanie Croley, editorial director of agriculture at Annex Business Media. For more resources, visit: Canada FarmSafe Plan (https://www.casa-acsa.ca/en/resources/canada-farmsafe-plan/) Resources for COVID-19 from Canadian Federation of Agriculture (https://www.cfa-fca.ca/resources/resources-on-covid-19) CultivateSafety.org (http://cultivatesafety.or...

Mental health in agriculture is a hot topic at the moment, and for good reason. Farmers are particularly vulnerable to developing anxiety and depression, and experiencing suicidal thoughts, due to the nature of farming. Isolation, uncertainty, market volatility, high risks – it's tough out there for farmers. This episode features conversations between Ag Annex associate editor Alex Barnard and Adelle Stewart of the https://www.domore.ag/ (Do More Agriculture Foundation), and Shane Anderson of the https://www.sp-rc.ca/programs/tough-enough-to-talk-about-it (Tough Enough to Talk About It program). They discuss what risk factors increase mental health challenges for farmers, the im...