Exploring Non-Traditional Labour Markets to Source Farm Employees
Canada’s agriculture sector faces a chronic labour shortage intensified by low wages, limited rural transit and an aging workforce. While automation and mechanisation offset some gaps, they also demand new technical skills and extensive up‑skilling. Organizations such as CAHRC, AITC and ACCES Employment are launching placement, training and vertical‑farm programs to attract youth, newcomers and workers from other industries. Success hinges on rebranding farming as a high‑tech, sustainable career and leveraging broader recruitment channels.
Trust, Teamwork and Lessons in Resilience
Schneider Family Farms, a 550‑acre mixed crop and 150‑head beef operation in Ontario, faced a winter crisis when Paul Schneider broke his leg and son Noah suffered a severe barn‑collapse injury. With both parents incapacitated, the four Schneider children reorganized...
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing On-Farm Agronomy and Decision-Making
At the World Agri‑Tech Innovation Summit, AI‑driven data platforms were highlighted as the next frontier in on‑farm agronomy. The technology can ingest soil tests, weather data, satellite imagery and equipment metrics in near‑real time, turning raw inputs into actionable recommendations....
Fertilizer Industry Optimistic About Red Tape Reduction
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced on March 19 that the deadline for bilingual bulk‑fertilizer labeling is extended to July 31, 2027, reflecting Ottawa’s new red‑tape reduction agenda. The original 2020 rule could have imposed a one‑time $120 million CAD...
AM Market Report – March 23, 2026
US President Donald Trump’s fluctuating threats and subsequent pull‑back on striking Iranian power plants sent oil prices tumbling and sparked sharp moves in grain futures. Canola, soybean, corn and wheat contracts all slipped, with canola down $6‑7 per tonne and...
Balantoides Coli Is an Intestinal Parasite Common in Pigs
Balantoides coli is a protozoan parasite prevalent in pigs worldwide, with studies showing up to 70% infection rates even in high‑biosecurity herds. While most pigs remain asymptomatic, the parasite can act as an opportunistic pathogen, causing diarrhea in stressed, pregnant...
Sleep Is Key to a Healthy Lifestyle
The article emphasizes sleep as a cornerstone of overall health, linking poor rest to diminished cognition, heightened stress, and increased injury risk. It explains how modern, stimulus‑heavy lifestyles keep the nervous system stuck in fight‑or‑flight mode, undermining the body’s ability...
India’s Green Lentil Demand Remains Uncertain
Analysts are split on whether India will boost imports of Canadian green lentils as the government’s pigeon‑pea procurement under the minimum support price (MSP) program stalls. While the Ministry sanctioned 2.2 million tonnes for the 2025‑26 kharif year, market prices above...
Nitrogen Placement Trials Show Side-Band N Cuts Canola Emergence without Lowering Yield
Research presented by Bourgault agronomist Curtis De Gooijer shows that placing nitrogen in the side band can cut canola emergence by up to 17% without a consistent impact on yield. Over nine years, side‑band and mid‑row nitrogen placements produced statistically...
Moving the Conversation About Women in Agriculture Forward
International Women’s Day sparked a look at women’s contributions in western Canadian agriculture, where many farms already judge ideas on merit rather than gender. The author observes that most conversations stop at “equality” – simply giving women a seat at...
Saskatchewan Agriculture Spending to Rise Next Fiscal Year
Saskatchewan’s 2026‑27 provincial budget lifts AgriStability funding to $116.3 million, more than double the previous year, and raises AgriInvest to $46.9 million. The agriculture ministry’s total estimated spending climbs to $660.8 million, up from $623.1 million, while the province’s share of crop‑insurance premiums drops...
Drone Spraying Proposal Comes with Opportunities, Risks
Health Canada has opened a public consultation on proposed rules that would permit pesticides to be applied by drones already registered for aerial use. The move follows years of pressure from the House of Commons agriculture committee and the Alberta...
Taking a Look at the Spring Forecast
The latest seasonal outlooks for Canada’s Prairies show a patchwork of temperature and precipitation signals across March‑May. While the Old Farmer’s Almanac and NOAA suggest near‑average warmth and rain, the CFS model leans toward a warm end‑March, cooler April, and...
The Western Producer Livestock Report – March 19, 2026
U.S. hog carcass prices climbed to $92.77 per cwt on March 10, while weekly slaughter volumes rose to 0.98 million, edging past the same period last year. Canadian hog cash prices showed modest week‑over‑week gains, with the Signature Four price...
Feeder Cattle Market Incorporates Risk Discounts
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices slipped $5‑10 per cwt in the week to March 7, reflecting a risk discount tied to the escalating U.S./Israel‑Iran conflict. Feedlot operators reported deep‑red feeding margins and signaled lower bids for replacements unless live cattle prices...