Rural Roots Canada

Dennis Blackburn survived a terrifying tractor rollover that could’ve left him paralyzed or worse. Despite extensive injuries to his neck and back, he made a remarkable recovery. His story is a reminder that no matter how familiar you are with farm equipment, safety always comes first.

Family. Passion. Power.  Three generations of the Elliott family share a love of vintage tractor pulling. Darcy, Michael and Allan Elliott from Blackie, Alberta, shared the stage at the Calgary Stampede for the first time this past summer. This passion, which has driven three generations of the family, all started when Darcy had a fateful encounter with a vintage tractor. For more on this story go to Rural Roots Canada.com

Crop research organization Western Crop Innovations is increasing its ability to test the quality of malts with the recent addition of a micro-malt plant, including a germinator and kiln. Lori Oatway is the research scientist for crop quality for WCI. She says they are excited to have a custom-built micro-malt unit.  Read the full story at ruralrootscanada.com.

The Porch Light Mental Wellness Society is hosting a gala to raise awareness and funds for mental health support within Alberta's rural farming communities. The Night Out in November: The 1st Annual Porch Light Mental Wellness Society Gala will be an evening of dance, entertainment, a live auction, and education. Proceeds from the night will go to AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network. AgKnow director Linda Hunt said the gala promises to be a great night. "It'll be cowboy black tie, so not totally formal," she chuckled. "There will be dancing, a great live auction, and a keynote address from Brett Gardiner, the award-winning rodeo announcer and mental health advocate." The money raised at the gala will be used, in part, for an important AgKnow initiative. "We have a farming-formed mental health therapist network that we've been working on," said Hunt. "We have identified mental health counsellors who live in rural areas, or lived experience with farming or extensive experience working or counsell

The Canadian Cattle Youth Council (CCYC) is undergoing a changing of the guard as outgoing president Scott Gerbrandt passes the torch to incoming president Emily Bromley. Gerbrandt, who served as CCYC president for the past year, leaves a legacy of strategic advancements, particularly in youth succession planning and governance. “When I took on the role, we started by finishing up a working group looking at succession issues and how it affects youth in the industry,” said Gerbrandt. “Most of our ideas focused on information sharing and we were able to share those ideas among our members.” Under his leadership, the CCYC also conducted a governance review and developed a youth strategy. “We developed five key pillars, just released, which we’re moving forward with at the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). From that, the national beef advisors will use those pillars and develop a strategy for the next five years, so we’re pleased to have helped with that.” Looking forward, Bromley steps in as the new preside

A newly launched initiative aimed at advancing Canada’s position as a leader in cereal grain innovation has been given a considerable funding boost from four Canadian grain grower organizations. The Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) Capital Campaign, led by Cereals Canada, has secured $13.4 million from Alberta Grains, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), Manitoba Crop Alliance, and Grain Farmers of Ontario. That brings its total funding commitment to just over $18 million, with a project fundraising goal of $102 million. The GATE initiative is a visionary project looking to establish a cutting-edge facility in Winnipeg that will serve as a hub for agricultural innovation providing farmers with the tools, resources, and technical support they need to be competitive globally and remain leaders in agricultural exports. Greg Sears, farmer and Alberta Grains Region 6 Director, said the organization’s ongoing commitment to advancing ag-tech and innovation aligns perfectly with th

The Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada is raising awareness about the many diverse jobs in the agriculture industry by taking it on the road. We have more on its Careers in Ag initiative, which now includes a mobile skills trailer. To read more about this story go to ruralrootscanada.com.

A flourishing gardening program in a community on the edge of Lima, Peru, has connections to Alberta. The power of growing food to improve people's lives is not lost on the community of Manchay, located on the outskirts of Lima. There, a gardening school has changed the fortunes of the people, thereby empowering them. Calgarian Art Froelick, whose family's charitable trust started the school, said his family was looking to leave a legacy when he was introduced to someone who was interested in doing charity work in Peru.

The Canadian Cattle Foundation presents the second annual Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award to support the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program. This year's recipient is Cassie Marchand from Vernon, BC. The award honors those who embody the spirit of leadership, mentorship, collaboration, and dedication to the Canadian cattle industry and mirrors Reg Schellenberg's dedicated leadership. For more on this story go to ruralrootscanada.com.

A Nova Scotia-based family farm has been named the winner of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2024. Holdanca Farms, near Wallace Bay on the north shore of Nova Scotia, is operated by the father-daughter team of John and Maria Duynisveld. The farm has been recognized for its ongoing commitment to sustainable farming practices that balance environmental conservation with agricultural productivity. The 500-acre farm is focused on raising grass-fed cattle, sheep, pastured pigs, and poultry, but half of the acreage is a managed, biodiverse native woodlot, home to many wildlife species. They’ve recorded over 1,000 wild species on their property, with help from the public through a bio blitz, a focused, biological surveying event where people attempt to record all living species within a designated area through an app on their phones.

Going from farm to table has never been easier with the launch of a new digital cookbook showcasing Southern Alberta’s farm fresh flavours. Tourism Lethbridge and Alberta Food Tourism Strategies have teamed up with Alberta Open Farm Days to release the digital recipe book titled Lethbridge Farm-to-Table: Flavours from Southern Alberta. The book aims to promote the region’s agricultural products while promoting its growing agri-food tourism industry in Southern Alberta. The collection of recipes features 25 delicious culinary delights from 13 local producers, chefs, and restauranteurs. Each puts a spotlight on farm-fresh ingredients found throughout Southern Alberta. The cookbook arrives just ahead of Alberta Open Farm Days where local farms across the province open their doors to the public. The book and Open Farm Days encourage locals and visitors to discover the agricultural bounty the province, and region offer.

Alberta is gearing up for its 12th annual Open Farm Days, a two-day event on August 17 and 18 that serves as a backstage pass to life on the farm. Celebrating the province's agricultural heritage, it's an opportunity to meet local farmers, experience agri-tourism first-hand, and sample delicious food directly from producers. The goal is to provide an immersive experience by connecting consumers of all ages to those who grow and produce the food they eat. Visitors will have the chance to discover a wide array of farming operations within the province and sample a variety of local, homegrown Alberta products. Charlotte Wasylik is a proud member of the Chatsworth Farm family, which is participating in this year's event. It's the fifth time the farming operation, located in Vermillion, Alberta, has taken part in Open Farm Days. Wasylik says they always try to include unique experiences that showcase life on the farm. This year is no different, as they have secured the culinary expertise of three Edmonton-based

For 35 years, 20/20 Seed Labs has been a leader in seed testing and research. The company has grown from a small business into a fully accredited and internationally recognized seed testing laboratory with facilities in Alberta, Manitoba, and Chile. The company was founded in 1989 by Sarah Foster following Agriculture Canada’s decision to privatize its seed testing program. Foster seized the opportunity to fill a gap in the market. For more on this story go to Rural Roots Canada.com.

Saskatchewan’s agricultural landscape will be front and centre as Saskatoon hosts the upcoming Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC), August 18 - 22. “It’s an opportunity for Saskatchewan, and a real opportunity to showcase Prairie-wide, some of the knowledge, expertise, and excellence that can contribute to moving the livestock industry forward,” says Dr. Scott Wright, conference chair and Director of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) at the University of Saskatchewan. The conference takes place August 19 – 22 in Saskatoon. The conference’s agenda is packed with opportunities to learn and contribute, covering topics from policy and economics to technology to animal management & welfare. Registration for the CBIC is open. For more information, go to Rural Roots Canada.com.

The Calgary Stampede is known for showcasing rodeo talent and livestock exhibitions and this year, it was also a platform for young speakers passionate about agriculture. The Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture and Calgary Stampede hosted the Youth Agriculture Speaking Championship, bringing together young minds to voice their thoughts on agriculture and its future. Ultimately, two young speakers, Emma Cross from Camrose County, and Nora Johnson from Scandia, were crowned the winners in their respective competitions. Cross, winner of the senior competition, delivered an insightful speech on bridging the knowledge gap between urban and rural communities. She put her unique spin on the age-old debate. “My speech was about public trust in agriculture and how we can bridge the gap between urban and rural,” Emma explained. “I chose to reframe the knowledge gap as a gap in relationships and how we can create connections between those two groups.” For more on this story go to ruralrootscanada.com.

In mid-July, severe storm season reaches its peak on the Canadian prairies. Already, hundreds of hail-related crop insurance claims have been filed, and several tornadoes have touched down across the prairies.  For a farmer, a single storm could wipe out weeks or months of hard work.   Cochrane, Alberta-based storm chaser Braydon Morisseau has seen firsthand the damage severe weather can cause.   In an interview with Rural Roots Canada,  Morisseau said there are things we can do to keep ourselves and our properties as safe as possible.

An innovative agriculture literacy program at the University of Calgary has secured a $1 Million donation from BMO. The Simpson Centre for Food and Agriculture Policy at the university’s School of Public Policy says the donation will support the launch of the Agriculture Literacy for Healthier People and Planet program. The initiative will address the complexities of agricultural systems while emphasizing the pivotal role food plays in human health and environmental sustainability. Dr. Guillaume Lhermie, Director of the Simpson Centre, says the program is designed to educate the public about where food comes from. “It will reach a broad range of audiences, including formal stakeholders such as research, industry, and government, as well as informal audiences such as consumers and citizens,” says Lhermie. “We are particularly focused on engaging young adults and teenagers who are active on social media and eager to participate in shaping the future of food systems.”

The countdown is on and preparations are being made for the Advancing Women in Agriculture AWC East 2024 Conference happening in Niagara Falls, Ontario from November 17-19. Lynda Campbell with TD Bank Agriculture Services has been a long-time conference attendee. She says the conference shines a very bright light on the importance of women in the agriculture sector. "Working and being in the industry, I see so many women coming back to the farm or on the farm and the role they play and how little we know about their contributions to the operations," says Campbell. "So many of them are sole farmers themselves now and this conference is a great opportunity for women to help women."

Nanotechnology has long since moved out of the realm of science fiction. The practical applications of nanotechnology and its economic potential for many industries, including agriculture, are seemingly limitless.  At the forefront of nanotechnology and agriculture stands Convergent Bio. Launched earlier this year by a group of scientists, engineers, agronomists, and market specialists, the company aims to explore nanotechnology and its potential in agriculture.  Jason White is the Chief Innovation Officer at Convergent Bio. He admits he used to have doubts about nanotech. As a toxicologist, he had concerns nanotechnology was potentially disastrous.  “I started hearing about nanomaterials and nanotoxicology years ago," he says. "I’m a toxicologist, so I looked at it as the next emerging contaminant. They were being used everywhere, and my concern was about overexposure and risk.” This feature is sponsored by Radiate Roots.

With planting season underway, a plant growth stimulant called Radiate by Nutrien AG Solutions aims to boost overall crop performance. Radiate is a plant growth stimulant designed to develop longer, stronger, healthier roots, significantly improving nutrient uptake. This foliar-applied product promises to boost crop performance across a wide range of plants, everything from canola, cereals, and peas, to lentils, soybeans, potatoes, and corn.