Canada ranks number three in the world for herbicide resistant weeds, only behind the United States and Australia. The last extensive survey in Saskatchewan occurred in 2019-2020 and estimated producer losses due to herbicide resistant weeds at $340 million per year. It found that green foxtail, volunteer canola, wild oat, wild buckwheat and kochia were the biggest concerns.

The top instance of herbicide resistance in Saskatchewan five years ago was Group 1 resistance in wild oats. Herbicide Resistance wild oat was found in 77 per cent of 250 fields where wild oat was collected and tested. Charles Geddes is a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and will be leading the herbicide resistant weed survey.

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The federal carbon tax been completely ineffective in reducing fossil fuel use, it has also made it harder for farmers to afford the adoption of new innovations. That from Manitoba Pork General Manager Cam Dahl.

He says farmers face many challenges as they work to adopt environmentally sustainable green practices while operating in the red.

Dahl is calling on government to replace its policy of taxing farmers to stimulate decreased fossil fuel use with one where incentives are offered to stimulate the adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies and practices.

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A successful canola crop needs a lot of nitrogen, which is why nitrogen has A-list status. That same successful crop also depends on a strong supporting cast - phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients.

Canola council of Canada agronomy specialist Warren Ward says farmers will benefit from soil tests, yield history and economics to determine how much fertilizer their canola needs.

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Protein is an important component in a person's diet---whether it be animal-based or plant-based. Nationally recognized registered dietician Carol Harrison says protein has many benefits, but questions come up on different the types of protein, how much is enough, are plant and animal-based proteins the same.

She will also have some tips on how to extend your meat budget a bit more.

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Retaliatory duties imposed on U.S. pork in response to the Trump Administration's tariff threats will have a far more negative effect on Canadian market hog prices than U.S. duties on imports from Canada.

As North American farmers await the next moves in Donald Trump's on again off again tariff war, analysts are monitoring developments in the U.S. as well as the international reaction to them. Paul Marchand, a Senior Risk Management Analyst with HAMS Marketing Services says the price for a Canadian market hog delivered to a federally inspected slaughter plant in Canada is established in the U.S. so any response that lowers the U.S. base price will lower the Canadian price for hogs.

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Uncertainty around tariffs can impact a farmer's decision on what to grow this year.

Retired Agronomist Thom Weir says it's even more important to understand your fertility needs and what adjustments can be made to keep a little more cash in a farmer's pocket.

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A just released study looks at supply management and the renegotiation of the Canada United States Mexico Agreement. Milk, eggs, chicken, turkey and, in most provinces, hatching eggs, are produced and marketed in Canada through supply management.

The Agri-Food Economic Systems Independent Agri-Food Policy Note examines the expected discussions on supply management as we approach the CUSMA renegotiation. Research Lead Dr. Al Mussell says in terms of Canada U.S. trade, dairy has been one of the longest standing irritants between the two countries.

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The Wheat Growers Association is welcoming China’s final ruling to sharply lower the antidumping tariff on Canadian canola seed to 5.9 per cent, plus the standard 9 per cent import duty, alongside the suspension of 100 percent tariffs on canola meal effective March 1.

Wheat Growers Chair Daryl Fransoo says the decision marks a positive step forward for prairie canola farmers who have faced prolonged uncertainty in one of Canada’s key export markets.

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While the use of food fermentation has typically been used for food preservation, people like the taste of fermented foods and are now discovering the heath benefits.

Dr. Jeremy Burton, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Western University and a cofounder of the Canadian Fermented Foods Initiative, will explain the fermentation process and health benefits.

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Alberta's latest case of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea appears to be isolated and has been contained to one site. This is the first confirmed case of PED in Alberta since 2022.

Javier Bahamon, with Alberta Pork, says, even before PED arrived in Alberta, the plan was to have a team that would respond to any outbreak quickly and investigate with the principal objective being to contain the disease and ensure it's doesn't spread.

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's proposed changes to traceability regulations have been a hot topic among the cattle community.

And it's kept the Saskatchewan Cattle Association (SCA) and like-minded groups busy, gathering feedback from producers. It all started in December when the CFIA first announced the proposed changes before swift backlash forced them to pause them to do more consultation.

Chair of SCA Chad Ross says they were the first ones to call for the pause. He says traceability rules have been an ongoing conversation for more than two decades.

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Canadian marked Food Freedom Day–the day the average Canadian has earned enough to pay for groceries for the rest of the year, according to a report from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

The CFA says the average Canadian is expected to have spent 12.3 per cent of their disposable income on food.

CFA Policy Officer Scott Ross shares some of the findings of the report and says the take-home message is that we have access to high-quality food that’s some of the cheapest in the world.

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A just completed economic impact assessment shows an eight to one return on dollars invested in pork sector research in Canada. Swine Innovation Porc explored the findings of an impact assessment which examined the returns on pork sector research investment in Canada.

Dr. Stuart Smyth, a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
at the University of Saskatchewan, and one of the authors of the report. He will explain the study looked at research investments made from 2010 until the end of 2023.

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The dairy industry has plenty of reasons to be optimistic in 2026. That's the view of Farm Credit Canada's 2026 Dairy Outlook, written by FCC Senior Economist Graeme Crosbie. He will share some of the highlights of 2025 and why 2026 is looking so encouraging.

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The forecast is looking bright for the pork sector in 2026. Farm Credit Canada expects a profitable year as outlined in the 2026 Hog Outlook.

FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says 2025 ended up being a pretty good year for the hog industry in Canada and North America due to lower feed costs and strong pricing. This was fueled by strong demand for meat and higher costs for substitute proteins, whether it beef or chicken, making pork appealing for the consumer.

Shepherd expects 2026 to be much the same.

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A chef instructor with the Culinary Institute of Canada says consumers have become more aware of the cost of groceries. An article circulated through canadianfoodfocus.org looks at how consumers can trim their food costs by using "humble cuts of meat" to prepare nutritious meals at home.

Chef Ilona Daniel says people are paying closer attention to the prices on their food as they balance the cost of groceries, housing, fuel and general living costs.

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