Agripod Agripod

The subject of 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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A Farm Credit Canada report shows farmland rental rates are keeping pace with farmland values.

FCC has been comparing rental rates to the price of farmland and the data shows the national rent-to-price ratio in 2023 was 2.52 per cent, reflecting a decline from the previous year. FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says in 2023 we saw some fairly strong farmland value growth across the prairies, especially in Saskatchewan as well as Manitoba, while Alberta had a little bit slower growth, but it was still positive.

Seeding is underway in Manitoba.  While other parts of the prairies started the season on the dry side, its a different story in Manitoba. Rain has slowed spring seeding but will give this year's crops a good start.

Dennis Lange is a pulse and soybean specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and the editor of the provincial crop report. He'll tell us about seeding progress and where that number compares with previous year.
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The Western Canadian Animal Health Network (WeCAHN)  is keeping a close watch on H5N1 Avian Flu in the United States. Network coordinator  Dr. Barbara Wilhelm says industry, the provinces, the federal government, veterinarians, regional surveillance networks like WeCAHN,are planning for, as much as possible, prevent the opportunity for Avian Influenza to enter Canadian farms.Grain movement on CN Rail lines has been fairly consistent with strong demand April. CN's Assistant Vice-President of Grain David Przednowek says we haven't seen that seasonal drop-off that ususally happens during seeding, but that could be because spring seeding has been slow to develop. Going forward, he expects that we'll start to see demand tail, with just the amount of grain that's able to come into the supply chain as farmers are in the field.
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The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was disappointed to see insufficient investment in agriculture in the 2024 budget. President Keith Currie said farmers continue to struggle under the weight of high-interest rates, a price on carbon for essential farming activities, and an increased risk of extreme weather events.He said these challenges are testing the limits and effectiveness of risk management programs.But he said there were also some positives in the budget. The Competition Bureau has stated the proposed acquisition of Viterra by Bunge would have ‘substantial anti–competitive effects in agricultural markets in Canada.

The Bureau’s concerns are outlined in a report submitted to the Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez.The Bureau determined that the transaction is likely to harm competition in markets for grain purchasing in Western Canada, as well as for the sale of canola oil in Eastern Canada. Saskatchewan Wheat development commission chair Jake Leguee said its a concern of many farm groups.

Leguee will also responds to the appointment of the new Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.
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The farming industry is constantly changing. New innovations are being developed to make farms more efficient. A research project involving a Naicam Sask. Consulting company and the University of Regina are looking for a way to reduce environmental impact and save money. 

Cory Willness of Crop Pro Consulting will talk about SWAT BOX, a data collection sensor and how information it collects can be used to generate maps that will help farmers selectively apply herbicides.  

 

Everyone needs to eat. That’s why Canadians and governments should not take farming and food for granted. That’s the message from Kerri Holland with the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy who prepared a report on Canada’s Food Security. 

Holland says food security is vital and government policy must reflect the essential service agriculture provides for the entire country. She says there will be dire consequences if farmers don’t get the support they need.  
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Computer based artificial intelligence is offering new insights into animal welfare. A new tool being developed by the University of Saskatchewan is using A.I.at the abattoir. The University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed an automated swine welfare assessment system consisting of a digital security camera linked to an A.I. processor. Dr. Seokbum Ko explains how cameras record animal movement along the processing line and condensed AI models extract and assess images indicative of animal welfare.The 10th Annual Saskatchewan Beef Expo was recently held in Saskatoon. Kirk Stierwalt, a long-time cattle operator and clinician from Leedey, Oklahoma has been conducting show cattle clinics for 37 years. He worked with the 4-H members at Beef Expo providing guidance on clipping, grooming and showmanship.

He'll talk about some of the tip and tricks he shared with the young 4-Hers.
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