Rural Roots Canada

The Alberta government is calling for the reversal of a federal ban on strychnine as the Richardson's ground squirrel population booms.  In an open letter posted on X, RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, says farmers and ranchers are in crisis as the rodent, also called gophers, tears up crops, jeopardizes animal health, and destroys native grasslands. 

This week on the podcast, Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on some of the province’s most pressing ag issues. From celebrating 75 years of being rat-free to the ongoing fight against Richardson Ground Squirrels and the call to bring back strychnine, Sigurdson shares his thoughts on pest management. He chats about pressing the federal government to make agriculture more of a priority. We also examine several counties and municipal districts that have declared agricultural disasters, with the Minister outlining the tools available to help them navigate these issues.

In this week's chat, Tim and Craig delve into Canada's Food System a new national, sector wide initiative led by Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI), which aims at elevating the conversation about what goes into producing food in our country. Executive Director Lisa Bishop-Spencer provides insight into the initiative. We journey out to Brooks, Alberta to see the evolution of the Crop Diversification Centre - South, which is now being headed up by the County of Newell. The County sees the facility formerly run by the Government of Alberta has an economic opportunity. The county's Director of Agricultural Services Todd Green shares his excitement about the project. Finally we head to Lexington, Kentucky where we talk about Ag extension with Alltech's Dr. Anne Koontz, who takes the company's fascinating research turns it into easily consumed information for the company's marketing and communication teams.

Canada's Food System believes it's time to rethink what it really takes to get food on our plates, and recognize the people and the work that goes into every bite.  That's the goal of a new national campaign, positioning our food system as a critical part of our country's identity, economy, and future. 

Summer storms are taking their toll on Prairie crops. According to the Canadian Crop Hail Association, farmers across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have filed well over 1,600 crop damage claims since the start of summer. But is it a particularly unusual hail season so far? RRC's Tim Parent talks to Meteorologist David Spence about the storms we have seen.

In our latest podcast, we discuss our recent ag learning journey in the Yukon, where Nuffield Canada marked its 75th Anniversary in Canada's North. We chat with Leona Watson, a Nuffield Scholar and one of a small but determined group of farmers looking to redefine what farming looks like in the Yukon's stunning, rugged landscape. We also hear from Hanna Fish, Executive Director of the Yukon Agricultural Association, about both the opportunities and challenges of farming north of the 60th parallel. RRC specializes in sharing local stories from the agricultural community.

There's a new owner of the the Crop Diversification Centre - South (CDC) near Brooks, Alberta. The County of Newell is the new leaseholder for the research facility and fields after securing a ten-year lease from Alberta Infrastructure and they have wasted no time in hitting the ground running. This is one unique example of the evolving agriculture research landscape in Alberta, after the province decided to divest itself of many agriculture research projects in 2020. County of Newell Director of Agricultural Services Todd Green speaks on the potential for success this project has for the region.    "We saw a relatively underutilized facility, and an economic development opportunity, and we think there's value in having management of this facility be local. We're able to be very nimble in our decision-making abilities and our use of the facility," says Green.  Green says they are now busy upgrading facilities with an arbitrary deadline of September 1st, when they will welcome in tenants.    “We have som

“The arena is pretty much the hub for the winter. If you want to see someone in the winter, you go to the rink.” Brad Dundas, President of the Hussar Agricultural Society, beams with pride as he speaks of his hometown of Hussar and its arena, situated in Wheatland County in southern Alberta. The tight-knit agricultural community has been selected as the Alberta winner of BASF's Growing Home program. The award recognizes rural organizations that strengthen the fabric of their communities, something Hussar residents take seriously. As a result, the Hussar Agricultural Society has secured $25,000 to support repairs for the community's arena, including the Zamboni room. For this small village of around 180 people, agriculture is more than a livelihood; it’s the foundation of the community. With young families returning to the farm and raising their children, Dundas says the arena has become a focal point for activities like hockey, skating, 4-H, and curling. The Growing Home program, now in its third year, ha

Youth from across the province put agriculture front and centre at the Youth Agriculture Speaking Championships, put on by the Calgary Stampede in partnership with the Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture. The youth were competing for $15,000 in prizes as well as money to travel to Toronto to compete in the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Finals at the Royal Winter Fair in November. The competitors delivered speeches on one of five agri-tech and agri-food related topics that were five to seven minutes in length. The preliminary competition was held at Olds College and Stampede Park on July 11. The top five from the Junior and Senior divisions were selected to participate in the final on July 12th at the Calgary Stampede.  

We kick off our first podcast, wrapping up our coverage of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, including our coverage of the vintage tractor pull. David Spence weighs in on the drought situation and provides a bit of insight into the recent hailstorms we have seen across the prairies. (7:00) How much water do you think it takes to produce a Stampede breakfast (5 Pancakes, Beef Sausage and a cup of coffee)? It's more than you think! We have insights from an interesting study from the Simpson Centre at the University of Calgary. (11:25) We wrap up the program by talking to BASF VP Leta LaRush about BASF’s Growing Home Program and this year’s Alberta winner – Hussar Agricultural Society. Brad Dundas from the Hussar Ag Society shares a bit about the community. We also talk about the 2nd and 3rd place finishers, Buffalo Coulee Community Hall and Eaglesham & District Agricultural Society.(14:50) Rural Roots Canada informs and celebrates the agriculture community by sharing real stories and information abo

Amidst the pancake breakfasts and rodeo fun at the Calgary Stampede, canola farmers were looking for updates on tariffs with China. Andre Harpe, Chair of Alberta Canola and the Canadian Canola Growers Association, met with Prime Minister Mark Carney face-to-face, and trade with China was top of mind. "It was a great opportunity to have," says Harpe. "It's not every day you get the chance to chat with the prime minister. All we did was share our concerns about what's going on right now with China and the tariffs, so it was a good conversation." Earlier this year, China slapped retaliatory tariffs on canola and other ag products in response to trade restrictions imposed by Canada on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum products. It has created considerable concern among canola growers.

Farm families across southern Alberta have been recognized for their hard work and dedication to the agricultural community at this year's Calgary Stampede. The 2025 BMO Farm Family Awards honour farm families who exemplify the values of the family farm and the spirit of rural life. This year, 19 families were recognized for their leadership in agriculture, community roots, and commitment to preserving and promoting Western heritage.

Leona Watson is helping redefine what agriculture looks like in Canada’s North. The Yukon-based farmer and former Nuffield Scholar is welcoming past Nuffield Scholars to the Canadian territory for Nuffield Canada’s 75th-anniversary celebration, a region that, for many of them, is uncharted territory, which is kind of the point. “It’s the first time in the Yukon for a lot of these folks,” Watson says. “We’re just excited to feature what the Yukon has to offer. It’s a growing population, and we offer a lot of diverse things up here, including a small but growing agricultural sector.” Watson, who earned her scholarship in 2011, brings more than just her planning skills to the event. She’s an example of what can happen when opportunity and dedication collide. A decade ago, she and her husband moved north to literally and figuratively break ground in a place where agriculture is not foremost on people’s minds.

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 producers adopt new technologies and practices and improve their competitiveness by addressing their most pressing capital equipment issues.”

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 world. This helps them to cultivate bonds with peers involved in similar fields internationally, bring valued information back to their hometowns to positively benefit themselves, their communities, and their respective agricultural industry as a whole. It's considered the opportunity of a lifetime for those with a pass

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 install or the cameras on a phone. We're taking that information to help farmers understand what's going on with their machinery. We're helping them understand what their machine is thinking and feeling using cameras.” The company’s hardware mounts directly onto the machine and includes both a high-end regular camera and a thermal imaging unit. Together, they monitor critical hotspots