Rural Routes to Climate Solutions

In this bonus episode of the SAP series, we sit down with two of our coordinators from our Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project (SAP): Riel Houle and Nathan Provost. Both are proud members of the Piikani First Nation and bring Blackfoot cultural knowledge and their own personal connections to the land and agriculture to their work.  This conversation explores what regenerative agriculture can look like in Blackfoot communities and how traditional knowledge and community leadership are shaping the future of Blackfoot agriculture in Alberta. Riel and Nathan reflect on their personal connections to farming and food systems, the evolution of agriculture in Piikani over the years and the importance of restoring local food systems to address food security in their communities. They also introduce listeners to the SAP advisory committee, made up of representatives from the four nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy—Piikani, Kainai, Siksika and Amskapi Piikani—and share their thoughts on the potential of community-led agricultural projects. This episode offers valuable insights into land stewardship, the importance of community consultation and how Blackfoot knowledge can guide meaningful climate solutions for farming and ranching in southern Alberta and beyond. Highlights: 03:06 – Riel Houle introduces himself and the Siksikaitsitipi Agriculture Project 05:27 – Nathan Provost shares his background and connection to the land 06:12 – Nathan and Riel reflect on agriculture in Piikani past and present 10:37 – The role of regenerative agriculture on Blackfoot ancestral lands 13:07 – Blackfoot cultural identity and its influence on land stewardship 16:10 – Food security and building agricultural capacity in Piikani 20:51 – Introduction to the SAP advisory committee 25:17 – Talking Circles, partnerships and community engagement Useful links: Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project Want to learn more? To listen to our other podcast episodes from the SAP project, visit the producers resource hub.

In this episode of the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions podcast, we’re reconnecting with an old friend of the podcast, Api’soomaahka (translation: Running Coyote). His English name is William Singer III. Api’soomaahka is an artist, land-based educator and founder of Naapi’s Garden and Katoyiss Seed Bank. He returns to the podcast to share updates on his powerful work around restoring native plants, reconnecting people with land-based wellness and revitalizing Blackfoot ecological knowledge in his community. Joining our Siksikaitsitapi Agricultural Project host, Lance Tailfeathers, is guest host Riel Houle, Outreach Coordinator at RR2CS, for a thoughtful roundtable conversation about the transformative power of land stewardship and traditional food systems. In this episode, we hear stories of restoring sweetgrass, wild turnip, wild carrot and combating invasive species. This episode goes deeper than land restoration, we are introduced to the story of Katoyiss – a Blackfoot hero who travelled across the land setting things right and restoring balance. Api’soomaahka draws compelling parallels between Katoyiss’ story and the modern-day work of land stewards: restoring balance to ecosystems, food systems and community health. Highlights: 04:09 – Api’soomaahka (William Singer) introduces himself 06:15 – Reflections on how farming has impacted land on Blackfoot territory over the years 07:31 – Explanation of the work at Naapi’s Garden to restore the land 09:45 – Riel asks if there are any invasive species on Kainai reserve lands? 12:03 – Reflections on the lake drying out and its impact on birds and ecosystems 14:39 – Api’soomaahka explains what Blackfoot ecological knowledge is and his involvement in raising awareness in his community 20:06 – Lance asks Api’soomaahka to expand on food security and healthier eating in the community 24:29 – Introduction and background of Naapi’s Garden and Katoyiss Seed Bank project 27:40 – Api’soomaahka reflects on how he teaches youth and the importance of education 30:25 – The urgency of taking action – to grow native plants and educate youth to have the power to restore lands Useful links: Kainai Ecosystem Protection Agency Naapi’s Garden Want to learn more? Listen to our earlier interview with Api’soomaaahka on native plants here.

Welcome to Restoring the Margins, our brand new podcast series, in partnership with the Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN). This series explores how agriculture producers in the Prairies can take their marginal lands and turn them into something both more profitable and more beneficial for the environment. In this opening episode, we’re joined by Dr. Christy Morrissey, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a lead researcher with the PPSN. Dr. Morrissey walks us through the PPSN project; a prairies-wide project that uses satellite imagery combined with yield and profit data to help identify marginal lands, with the goal of supporting producers to restore them. Together, we explore how restoring these lands can be a win-win: helping producers improve their bottom line while also supporting biodiversity and the environment. Highlights: 2:05 – First off – what are marginal lands? 8:22 – Dr. Morrissey explains the history of PPSN and how the project came to fruition 12:24 – An overview of PPSN, phase 1 of the project and Dr. Morrissey’s role  14:47 – Is it a lot of work for the producer to restore marginal lands? 16:55 – Dr. Morrissey talks about the plans for phase 2, Marginal Land Solutions 19:17 – Are you looking for more producers to be involved? 22:27 – How do they identify the marginal land areas? 26:46 – Dr. Morrissey explains why they use profit to define marginal areas, not yield 29:06 – When looking for participants, are you interested in a certain type of grower? 30:44 – Dr. Morrissey’s background and how she got into this area of work 33:30 – How you can go about restoring marginal lands and why it matters 37:30 – Dr. Morrissey explains some of the species that, when planted, help restore margins 41:20 – How can you get involved if you’re a producer who’s interested in benefitting from the margins? 43:09 – Dr. Morrissey closes with her long term ambitions for the project and its impact Useful links: PPSN Website This podcast has been funded by the Prairie Precision Sustainability Network and the University of Saskatchewan.  Music credits: We’d like to thank Floating Temples for the use of their track Spring Wood in this series. Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

In this episode of the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project (SAP) podcast series, Lance Tailfeathers sits down with Wolf Caller (Elliot Fox), a leader in land management and now a member of Kainai First Nation’s Council. They discuss the past, present and future of agriculture in Kainai First Nation in southern Alberta, exploring how Blackfoot ways of knowing can help to protect water systems against droughts, enhance food security and protect native species. Wolf Caller (Elliot) shares his journey in environmental conservation and land management, from his early days with Parks Canada to his work with the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council. The conversation then dives into the historical significance of agriculture on the Kainai Reserve, how colonial policies disrupted that self-sufficiency and the potential for sustainable, community-based food production today. Highlights: 5:21 – Wolf Caller introduces himself and talks about his history working in conservation and land management and his role with the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council. 7:20 – What is your personal connection to agriculture and conservation, growing up on the Blood reserve? 10:26 – Wolf Caller shares his thoughts on potential drought solutions and irrigation within the Blackfoot Confederacy 15:43 – Is there a difference between our Blackfoot ways of knowing compared to the more “typical” farming practices we’ve been exposed to through colonization? 20:25 – Being the former director of the Blood Tribe Lands Management Department, what were those relationships like with farmers on the reserve? 22:10 – Wolf Caller reflects on ensuring producers were using best management practices during his time as director. 25:11 – What are your thoughts on where the Kainai Nation could go with respect to food security and becoming more self-sufficient? 32:00 – Wolf Caller’s thoughts on the potential to re-introduce native grasses and Bison to cultivated land on Kainai. Useful links: Blood Tribe Agriculture Project Want to learn more? We’ve got more podcast episodes, and a Farmer’s Blog from members of the Blackfoot community. If you want to learn more, check out the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture section of our resource package. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 30, William Singer Norma Wolfchild, farmers blog

Wrapping up our Stories of Regeneration tour, we land in Ottawa at Just Food Community Farm, a 150-acre farmstead located in Ottawa’s Greenbelt that is championing small-scale, viable agriculture businesses and initiatives like Chi Garden and Urban Fresh Produce. Dedicated to cultivating a thriving local food economy and sustainable farming sector, Just Food integrates agroecology-based conservation with land stewardship. The farm is a testament to how community-led initiatives can redefine our food systems, offering food sovereignty for all, including newcomers to Canada. Its Start-up Farm Program addresses the critical barrier of land access, turning aspiring individuals into farmers and fostering community regeneration. Highlighting this unique model, Chadwick Lewis (Urban Fresh Produce) and Sun Shan (Chi Garden), participants of the program, share their experiences in our series finale, underscoring the farm’s role in sustainable agriculture and community building. Highlights: 6:45 – What is Just Food Community Farm? 15:25 – Chadwick and Sun Shan talk about their individual farms and how they got involved in agriculture. 23:14 – What regenerative practices do they implement on their individual farms? 34:33 – Sun Shan and Chadwick talk about food sovereignty. 46:02 – How can we support new Canadians who want to get involved in agriculture and ensure economic viability? 1:02:31 – Why did Sun Shan and Chadwick choose farming? Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Regeneration Canada’s Farm Map Just Food Community Farm Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend you check out the following: EP 47 – The Regen Mindset EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3 EP 71 – Sharing the Land – SoR Part 4 EP 72 – Connecting People to Place – SoR Part 5 EP 73 – Diversity is Resiliency – SoR Part 6 EP 75 – From Pastures to Cheese – SoR Part 7 EP 76 – Partners in the Ecosystem – SoR Part 8 EP 77 – Healthy Food, Healthy Communities – SoR Part 9   Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

On the second-last stop in our Stories of Regeneration tour, we returned to Alberta, making a stop at Peony Farms in Lacombe. Facing his daughter’s health issues, rancher Craig Cameron and his family turned to regenerative farming to grow the healthiest food possible for her. Craig, alongside his father-in-law Peter DenOudsten, shifted their traditional beef farm to a regenerative model. They now grow over 10 types of grass and clover, use less fertilizer, and produce some of the healthiest, most nutritious beef you can find. Highlights: 5:22 – Peter shares the history of Peony Farms. 6:46 – How did Peter become aware of regenerative agriculture principles and practices? 9:15 – Why did the farm start heading down the regenerative agriculture path? 15:25 – Peter and Craig talk about the regenerative practices they use on the farm. 22:48 – Have Peter and Craig seen benefits from implementing regenerative agriculture? 25:06 – What is forage-finished beef? 30:53 – Why raise piedmontese cattle? 36:35 – Peter and Craig talk about testing. 46:34 – What role can consumers play in supporting the adoption of regenerative agriculture? 51:29 – What is the regenerative mindset? Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Regeneration Canada’s Farm Map Peony Farms Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend you check out the following: EP 47 – The Regen Mindset EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3 EP 71 – Sharing the Land – SoR Part 4 EP 72 – Connecting People to Place – SoR Part 5 EP 73 – Diversity is Resiliency – SoR Part 6 EP 75 – From Pastures to Cheese – SoR Part 7 EP 76 – Partners in the Ecosystem – SoR Part 8 Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

In these final three episodes of the series, we’ll be doing some light exploration into the relationship between society and regenerative agriculture and how one can help advance the other. But the real meat and potatoes of the last three episodes, just like in all the other episodes in this series, will be about getting to know and understand the boots on the ground folks who are leading the way on this change that we are seeing in the agriculture sector. Meet Rebecca Harbut and Mike Bomford from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Richmond, BC—prime examples of such trailblazers. Now, you might wonder, how do university professors fit the description of being ‘on the ground’? Well, let me tell you, KPU isn’t just any university; it boasts a farm that lies at the heart of Rebecca and Mike’s endeavors. Moreover, as we’ve touched upon throughout this podcast series, with Canada’s population nearing the 40 million mark, farm and ranch operators, along with farm laborers, represent a mere fraction—around 1%—of the populace. The takeaway here? It’s going to require a collective effort, involving many of us outside the traditional farming community, to partner with that crucial 1%. This collaboration is key to expanding regenerative agriculture from a niche practice to a widespread one. Highlights: 8:33 – Rebecca and Mike help us get to know them better.  15:31 – How did the land that KPU sits on get involved in agriculture? 27:22 – What’s taking place on the KPU farm? 37:14 – What regenerative practices are used on the KPU farm?  40:13 – Mike talks more about the farm’s crop rotation. 48:08 – What is the story that KPU farm is trying to tell? 53:31 – How hard was it for the university to take that leap into establishing an ecosystem? 58:45 – Why are community partners an important part of the ecosystem at the KPU farm? Useful links: Kwantlen Polytechnic University Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Regeneration Canada’s Farm Map Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend you check out the following: EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3 EP 71 – Sharing the Land – SoR Part 4 EP 72 – Connecting People to Place – SoR Part 5 EP 73 – Diversity is Resiliency – SoR Part 6 EP 75 – From Pastures to Cheese – SoR Part 7 Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

For this very special French-language episode of the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions podcast, recorded in the late summer of 2023 during the Stories of Regeneration tour, Sara Maranda-Gauvin of Regeneration Canada talked with brothers Vincent and Simon-Pierre Bolduc of La Station: an organic farm and cheese factory in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The Bolduc brothers are the 4th generation of farmers in their family enterprise. While La Station has been practicing organic farming since their childhood, in 1996, the brothers keep improving on the agricultural practices in place, turning to regenerative agriculture to create a healthy environment for the soil, the livestock and the human beings who are working with both. Highlights: 2:45 – Vincent and Simon-Pierre talk about their roles at La Station. 4:40 – The Bolduc brothers share the story of how they joined the family enterprise. 9:11 – Vincent and Simon-Pierre describe the farm and the landscape. 12:51 – Vincent explains the consideration that is given to worker well-being at La Station. 16:49 – The brothers describe the practices they put in place for animal well-being. 19:19 – Simon-Pierre and Vincent talk about the evolution of La Station through the generations towards organic and regenerative agriculture. 26:11 – What does organic dairy production bring to the sector in terms of traceability? 28:32 – The brothers explain their vision of regenerative agriculture and why they practice it. 31:39 – The brothers detail the practices in place to promote soil health at La Station. 39:08 – How does soil and animal health impact the taste of the cheeses produced? 50:06 – Simon-Pierre and Vincent reflect on the past years’ improvements on the farm and talk about their plans for the future. 1:01:18 – What can be done to help transition the dairy sector towards regenerative practices? Useful links: La Station Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Regeneration Canada’s Farm Map Dedicated Dairy Farms Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend you check out the following: EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3 EP 71 – Sharing the Land – SoR Part 4 EP 72 – Connecting People to Place – SoR Part 5 EP 73 – Diversity is Resiliency – SoR Part 6   Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

If you are a lifelong learner, being an agricultural producer is almost the perfect profession for you.  Other economic sectors evolve and adapt over the years, but since nature doesn’t work off of blueprints, learning and adapting in agriculture can happen over days, even hours. You never know what Mother Nature is going to dish out, whether it is going to be the good, the bad or the ugly, so being able to observe, learn and adapt can be just as handy as mechanical skills.  And now we have educational programs that blend Blackfoot ways of knowing and agriculture. In this episode of Rural Routes to Climate Solutions, we are taking a look at the Red Crow Community College’s Niitsitapi Agriculture Certificate Program with JR Weasel Fat of Kainai. It is a one-year diploma program on agricultural production and business management that also provides an opportunity to do the second year of the program at Olds College. Highlights: 3:04 – JR Weasel Fat shares some information about himself and his role at Red Crow Community College 15:18 – Does the program raise awareness of regenerative agriculture practices? 18:00 – What do producers need to know about soil degradation? 21:06 – How does JR approach the concept of soil carbon sequestration with his students? 23:10 – JR shares his thoughts on phase 1 of the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project. 24:40 – What are community gardens like in Standoff, Alberta? 27:03 – JR shares talks about his students. 28:30 – What are the possible connections between Blackfoot culture and regenerative agriculture? Useful links: Red Crow College Olds College 22nd Annual Blackfoot Confederacy Conference Want to learn more? Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities.

During the growing season of 2023 as summer turned into fall, the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions podcast and Regeneration Canada were on the final leg of the Stories of Regeneration tour. After covering most of the Prairies and most of central and eastern Canada in the summer, our months-long journey came to an end in Canada’s two most western provinces around harvest time. This next phase of our journey brought us to Cawston, British Columbia, acclaimed as the Organic Farming Capital of Canada. At Snowy Mountain Farms, managed by Aaron Goddard and his family, you will find a 12-acre farm that boasts over 70 varieties of fruits such as cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, pears, apples, and quince. Aaron employs regenerative agriculture practices to cultivate and sustain living soils, which are essential for producing fruit that is not only delicious but also rich in nutrients. Highlights: 3:20 – Aaron talks about his farm. 5:55 – Aaron shares the story of how he got into agriculture. 8:34 – Aaron talks about his family and farmhands. 13:56 – When was the first time Aaron heard about regenerative agriculture? 21:02 – Aaron describes the landscape of Snowy Mountain Farms. 28:27 – Why is diversity important? 42:50 – What is Aaron doing to help stimulate fungal growth in the soil? 51:08 – Aaron talks about how, and why, he’s integrated livestock on his farm. 52:43 – What are some challenges Aaron faces as an agriculture producer? 56:04 – Why is regenerative agriculture important to Aaron? Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series EP 20 – The Brown Revolution EP 32 – Alley Cropping EP 39 – New Farmers EP 41 – New Farmers Part 2 EP 58 – Fungi in Drought The Holistic Orchard by Michael Phillips  Snowy Mountain Farms Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend you check out the following: EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3 EP 71 – Sharing the Land – SoR Part 4 EP 72 – Connecting People to Place – SoR Part 5 Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

2023 was a challenging year for Canadian farmers and ranchers and for humanity in general. We had droughts, wildfires, floods, an affordability crisis and a number of armed conflicts. According to scientists working with the European Union, 2023 smashed temperature records globally. And yet, someone like Nova Scotia agricultural producer Rachel Lightfoot still finds ways of being optimistic even after her farm got hit by a polar vortex, a dry spring and a very rainy summer all in the same year. Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture. Highlights: 3:19 – Rachel shares her farming story. 8:12 – Rachel shares more about where she farms and the different types of products Lightfoot & Wolfville produce. 9:47 – What types of farming happen at Lightfoot & Wolfville? 12:43 – What styles of wine are produced? 16:51 – What is biodynamic agriculture? 26:19 – How was Lightfoot & Wolfville established? 30:40 – Rachel explains how reciprocity works on her farm. 41:31 – How is biodynamic agriculture helping make Rachel’s farm more resilient? 46:50 – By implementing these practices, are there benefits that extend outside of the farm? 51:51 – Why should consumers care about regenerative agriculture? 58:15 – Why does Rachel care about regenerative agriculture? 59:21 – How does the winery connect people with their product? Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Lightfoot & Wolfville Regeneration Canada Farm Map Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend you check out the following: Regenerating Rural Opportunities Regenerating Humility EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3 EP 71 – Sharing the Land – SoR Part 4 Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

Fifth generation farmer, Rébeka Frazer-Chiasson believes strongly in the practices of regenerative agriculture. Located in Rogersville, New Brunswick, her farm Ferme Terre Partagee currently operates as a coop based on common values and objectives including peasant agroecology and food sovereignty. Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture. Highlights: 5:42 – How did Rébeka come to implement regenerative agriculture practices on her farm? 11:55 – Rébeka shares her farming story. 17:39 – Rébeka talks about the cooperative operating on her family’s land. 23:16 – What led to the decision to create a coop? 29:05 – Why doesn’t Rébeka sell her product to the big grocery store chain? 31:52 – Rébeka shares the unique challenges of the 2023 growing season. 38:00 – What does biodiversity mean to Rébeka and Ferme Terre Partagee 40:01 – What are some of the challenges of doing the closed loop system?  47:41 – Rébeka talks about the impact that local wildlife has on Ferme Terre Partagee. 54:23 – What methods does Rébeka use to support biodiversity? 1:01:35 – Why should consumers care about regenerative agriculture? 1:03:12 – Why should consumers support producers practicing regenerative agriculture? 1:13:57 – Why does Rébeka care about regenerative agriculture? Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Ferme Terre Partagee On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to: Regenerating Rural Opportunities EP 32 – Alley Cropping EP 37 – Climate Farm Plan EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 EP 70 – Maximizing Soil Function – SoR Part 3 Experimenting with No-Till Regenerative Agriculture – Steel Pony Farms – Red Deer, AB   Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

Soil is very much alive. And hungry too. Some estimates go as far as saying that there is more life in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet. You just need a microscope to see the vast majority of it. Or you do what grain farmer Blake Vince did, and bury a pair of “tighty whities” (underwear) in the soil to produce proof of the existence of this vast and diverse soil microbial community. In the soil, you’ve got well-known critters like earthworms, bacteria and fungi and lesser-known ones like protozoa and nematodes, who have this tendency to eat the bacteria and fungi. In this bustling environment where a lot of things are eating each other, there is an exchange between soil organisms and plants so both sides of the equation get what they need to survive and thrive and produce food for the rest of us living above ground. This interaction between the soil and plants is something that fascinated Blake Vince, who farms mainly soya and corn in southwestern Ontario, it fascinated him at a young age. Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture. Highlights: 4:42 – Blake Vince shares some information about himself. 6:50 – Did Blake always want to be a farmer? 8:31 – Blake explains his farm’s environment and typography. 9:45 – What have been some of the challenges for Blake this year? 12:32 – What is tile drainage? 18:57 – Blake talks about no-tillage. 36:07 – What else is Blake doing to maintain soil health? 41:55 – Blake talks about his crop rotation. 51:16 – How can consumers support farmers who are in the process of weaning their soil off of inputs like fertilizers? 59:13 – Does Blake find it hard, being one of only a few producers in his community farming in an “unconventional” way? 1:07:06 – Blake shares his final thoughts. Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Soil Your Undies “The Cotton Test” Kiss The Ground Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to: EP 20 – The Brown Revolution EP 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 EP 69 – Loyal to the Soil – SoR Part 2 Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

During the growing season of 2023, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions teamed up with Regeneration Canada to connect with agricultural producers across Canada who are tackling the pressing social and environmental crises through the adoption of regenerative agriculture.  One such farm is Axten Farms, situated in Minton, Saskatchewan. With a steadfast commitment to growing healthy grains, Axten Farms takes a regenerative approach focused on enhancing their land’s soil biodiversity, creating a thriving environment for food production. Their unwavering dedication is captured in their motto, “Loyal to the Soil.” Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture. Highlights: 3:42 – Tannis and Derek Axten share their farming experience and background. 8:11 – What are the future plans for Axten’s farm? 11:20 – Derek shares his experience learning about intercropping. 15:55 – What are the benefits of intercropping? 18:42 – What are the outcomes that Tannis and Derek have seen with intercropping? 23:58 – Derek and Tannis talk about where their farm is situated. 25:32 – How can soil be fragile? 28:10 – Why do Tannis and Derek keep their soil covered? 31:54 – How do they keep their soil covered? 37:05 – The Axtens talk about regenerative agriculture practices that they use on their farm. 42:30 – What are some of the inputs that the Axtens use on the farm? 47:34 – Is farming with a regenerative mindset more than ‘just farming’? 51:03 – What are the benefits of regenerative agriculture? 56:12 – Why do the Axtens implement regenerative agriculture practices on their farm? 58:23 – Derek talks about the differences between organic agriculture and regenerative agriculture practices. 1:04:12 – What can others do to increase the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices? Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Films Series Gabe Brown – Soil Health Academy Axten Farms Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to: Ep 67 – Total Grazing – SoR Part 1 Intercropping: Experimenting for Diversity – Andy Kirschenman Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

If you’re still wondering how best to incorporate regenerative technologies into your daily operations then you might need a crash course, or at least a motivating podcast episode, that speaks to the business of bacteria. In this kick-off episode of the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project podcast series, we sit down with Joshua Day Chief to discuss how growing good bacteria can recharge your soil, plant and water health to make way for producing a better product. Joshua is the CEO of Advanced Ag and has spent the last 22 years, alongside his mother Dr Phyliss Day Chief, and the rest of their behind-the-scenes team, researching and developing particular blends of bacteria that you can grow at home to enhance the natural process of cycling nutrients. The dynamic team stands behind their product ACFSR, and Joshua excitedly shares with us why we should know of it and why this particular bacteria can contribute to the goal of “producing better food” on a global scale, and how it can impact local communities, such as the Kainai Nation of which Joshua belongs. Highlights: 4:08 – Joshua Day Chief shares some information about himself. 5:22 – What is Advanced Ag? 18:54 – What do producers need to know about current soil and water issues? 24:57 – What are Joshua’s thoughts on community health and its potential connection to regenerative agriculture? 27:55 – How will the producer benefit from adopting regenerative agriculture? 30:06 – What are the possible connections between Blackfoot culture and regenerative agriculture? Want to learn more? Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities

In the summer of 2023, a diverse group of storytellers, organizers, and strategists visited 10 farms and ranches in Canada. These farms and ranches were carefully chosen to represent different aspects of Canadian agriculture, including fruit, grains, beef, veggies, and even a vineyard. The purpose of this project, which included videos, articles, and a podcast series, was not solely focused on what these farms produced, but rather how they produced it. These farmers and ranchers were passionate about not only producing high-quality, nutrient-rich food, but also about fostering community connections, caring for the land, contributing to ecosystem stewardship, and addressing global issues like climate change. And to top it off, some of these farmers were even enjoying the process. Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture. Highlights: 3:16 – Ryan Boyd introduces himself and his ranching operation, South Glanton Farms, located in Manitoba, Canada. 8:11 – What annual crops are grown on South Glanton Farms? 9:29 – Boyd tells us more about his cattle operation. 11:11 – What were some of the challenges South Glanton Farms faced during this year’s growing season? 12:55 – Derek walks us through some of the terminology that Ryan referenced earlier in the episode. 14:30 – Ryan tells us how and when his farm’s regenerative agriculture journey began.  25:30 – What is ‘total grazing’? 30:58 – Is there a difference between grazing and total grazing? 34:09 – How are Ryan’s paddocks spaced out and fenced? 37:30 – What is an electronic fence lifter? 42:24 – What are some of the benefits of total grazing? 46:50 – How does total grazing mimic the historic grazing patterns of bison? 47:53 – Has Ryan noticed a difference in the eating experience since he switched to total grazing? 49:50 – Low stress livestock management is something Ryan takes pretty seriously.  51:23 – Ryan talks about the importance of genetics when it comes to low stress livestock management and total grazing. 57:35 – If regenerative agriculture is so great, why aren’t more producers across Canada using the principles and practices? 1:02:12 – Why did Ryan decide to implement regenerative agriculture practices? Useful links: Stories of Regeneration Stories of Regeneration Short Film Series Gabe Brown – Soil Health Academy Kiss The Ground Nuffield Canada Agricultural Scholarships Real Wealth Ranching | Jim Elizondo Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom by Fred Provenza Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to: EP 51 – Cover Crops EP 34 – Intercropping Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities. This podcast has been partially funded by  Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

During the growing season of 2023, the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions podcast travelled to ten farms and ranches across Canada to find out how regenerative agriculture principles were being applied by agricultural producers involved in different types of agriculture production: grains, livestock, viticulture, vegetables and fruit. What we discovered is that despite their differences in production, geography and climate, these producers actually had quite a bit in common. The Stories of Regeneration series is a 10-episode podcast series is an in-depth look into the practices, motivations and lives of a dozen agricultural producers who are determined to remain profitable and regenerate the land, communities and ecosystems through their agricultural and agribusiness practices. Stories of Regeneration is done in partnership with Regeneration Canada. Want to learn more? If you want to learn more about Stories of Regeneration, read Regenerating Rural Opportunities, our podcast host’s reflections and observations on regenerative agriculture while he was out on the open road recording. And to learn more about regenerative agriculture in Alberta, check out our Regenerative Agriculture Lab, which is working hard to advance regenerative agriculture in the province. Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities

Have you ever found yourself scratching your head trying to make sense of all those terms like polycultures, cocktail crops, intercropping, cover crops, companion cropping, and relay crops? It’s understandable! They all seem to be part of the vast landscape of good land stewardship practices, like sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, agroecology, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture. Oh, and let’s not forget our personal favorite—agricultural climate solutions. But here’s the thing: are these different systems truly distinct, or are they more closely related than we think?  Back in December of 2022, we hosted a webinar with Dr. Jill Bainard, from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, on polycultures in forage systems. Dr. Bainard was great at explaining the difference between most of those cropping systems we listed above, so as we often do on this podcast, we took the audio recording from the webinar, chopped it up, and turned it into a podcast episode. You can also watch the webinar recording on our YouTube channel.   Highlights: 2:37 – Dr. Bainard shares her background and experience working in agriculture. 3:18 – What is a polyculture? 10:01 – What is Dr. Bainard research telling us about polycultures? 16:30 – Dr. Bainard shares seeding considerations when it comes to productivity. 18:58 – What is the potential for weed suppression? 23:26 – What are some things to consider when utilizing polycultures for forage? 27:10 – Dr. Bainard discusses palatability. 31:24 – What were the results from Dr. Bainard’s polyculture test plots? 40:53 – Dr. Bainard shares her final thoughts. useful links: Biography of Dr. Jillian D. Bainard – Government of Canada Cover Crop Forages: The Nitrate Dilemma Regenerative Agriculture Lab Young Agrarians  Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to: Episode 51 – Cover Crops Episode 34 – Intercropping Episode 63 – Extended Grazing Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities

Welcome to the conclusion of the Getting Through Drought series, where we look at the best management practices cow-calf producers in Alberta can use to build up their resiliency against drought.   Our hope is that the series can help with the mental health issues the agriculture sector is grappling with right now. Farming and ranching are stressful businesses, but that’s brought to a whole new level when drought hits. By equipping cow-calf producers with information and words of advice from colleagues and peers in the sector on the best ways to get through a drought, things might not be as stressful in the next drought. Things might not look so bleak either. In this final episode of the series, we are talking to Ralph Thrall of McIntyre Ranch who shares with us his experience managing grass and cows in a pretty dry part of the province.  Highlights: 3:17 – Ralph introduces himself and tells us about McIntyre Ranch. 5:51 – What are some of the environmental factors that McIntyre Ranch has to work with? 9:50 – What does Ralph do to prepare for a drought? 16:17 – Ralph shares some key components of his ranch’s drought plan. 21:38 – What was the drought of 2021 like for Ralph and McIntyre Ranch? 24:54 – Ralph shares words of advice when preparing for a drought. Want to learn more? If you want to learn more, we recommend downloading and listening to: Episode 4 – Farming with Biodiversity Pt. 2 Episode 62 – Recharging Groundwater Our Farmers Blog shares stories about Alberta farmers who do an exceptional job of caring for the land, producing food, and building up their communities.

Dugouts play an important role in cow-calf operations across Alberta. While some farmers have access to well water, most rely on these man-made reservoirs to provide the necessary water that their cattle need to thrive. However, building, repairing or expanding these dugouts can come at a high cost, which is why it’s smart for producers to seek advice and resources before breaking ground.  In this episode, we speak with Dr. Derek MacKenzie from the University of Alberta, who sheds light on the impact of drought on the soil. Later on, Brandon Leask, an Agricultural Water Engineer with the Government of Alberta, joins us to offer tips and cautions on dugout construction. Highlights: 2:05 – Dr. Derek Mackenzie, who operates the Soil-Plant Relations Lab at the University of Alberta explains what is happening in the soil during a drought. 4:21 – What happens to soil microbes during a drought? 5:55 – Brandon Leask talks about his personal connection to agriculture. 6:22 – What exactly is an agricultural water engineer? 7:01 – What should you consider before building a dugout? 8:29 – Are there cases where dugouts don’t make sense for a cow-calf operation? 9:12 – Brandon explains how wide and deep to make a dugout. 10:05 – How many dugouts should, and could, a cow-calf operation have? 10:45 – How does a producer keep dugouts clean and thriving? 12:01 – What services are available through the Government of Alberta? 13:20 – What happens to undersized dugouts during a drought? 14:20 – What can cow-calf producers do in preparation for a drought? 14:45 – Brandon shares his experience during the drought of 2021. 15:37 – Brandon shares his final words of advice. Useful Links: University of Alberta – Soil-Plant Relations Lab Canadian Agricultural Partnership Water program Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2024) 310-Farm (previously known as Ag-Info Centre) Want to learn more? If you want to learn more about water management on agricultural land, we recommend downloading and listening to: Episode 11 –  Soil Carbon Intro Episode 15 – Ecosystem Services Episode 23 –  Water & Adaptation Episode 40 – Grazing for Water Infiltration Episode 53 – Dugouts Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

What do you do when grass, which is often considered a finite resource, is limited by drought and cold weather? In this episode, we discuss management practices that you can use to extend the growing season and avoid feeding expensive bales of hay earlier than necessary.  Ben Stuart, who runs two successful farming operations (one in Saskatchewan and the other in Hardisty, Alberta), uses stockpile grazing to extend the grazing season on his farms. But if the grass isn’t growing, how do you stockpile what isn’t available? That’s where preparation comes in. Join us as we discuss stockpile grazing and all the different forms it can take. Highlights: 3:07 – Ben paints us a picture of what his operations look like.  4:49 – What are some of the environmental factors that you need to work with? 7:17 – What are the different management practices that fall into stockpile grazing? 17:22 – Ben talks to us about drought tolerance with monocultures versus mixed crops. 20:30 – When should you begin stockpiling forage and how can rotational grazing help? 26:16 – Ben shares his advice in relation to the growing season and what to do when facing a drought. Useful Links: Young Agrarians Want to learn more? If you’d like to learn more about managing moisture on your land, we recommend listening to: Episode 24 – AMP Grazing Episode 40 – Grazing for Water Infiltration Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

In a drought, you’re probably more focused on the lack of water falling from the sky than the water table beneath your feet. We’re talking about the groundwater that contributes to the wells and wetlands that have various uses on ranches, from watering cattle to creating critical habitats for wildlife to providing water to do the dishes with. Making sure that the groundwater gets a chance to replenish during a wet year is a great little savings account for your ranch, your neighbors and your community during a dry year. But what exactly is groundwater and what role does it play during a drought? We talk to University of Calgary professor Dr. Masaki Hiyashi in this episode to learn more about groundwater and why it’s important during dry times.   Highlights: 1:52 – Dr. Hiyashi shares his personal connection with agriculture. 3:10 – What is the Groundwater Recharge in the Prairies Project (GRIP)? 4:27 – Dr. Hiyashi shares some interesting facts about groundwater replenishing in the Prairies. 6:12 – What is groundwater? 7:38 – Dr. Hiyashi shares the definition of drought. 9:06 – Why did dugouts appear to be lower in 2022 than they were in 2021? 11:35 – How long does it take for groundwater to recharge? 13:04 – What can cow-calf producers do to help replenish their groundwater in preparation for drought? 15:49 – Why do wetlands deplete the water table? 18:06 – Dr. Hayashi provides recommendations on what to consider when it comes to management practices in relation to groundwater. Useful Links: Rocky View Well Watch Young Agrarians Want to learn more? If you’d like to learn more about managing moisture on your land, we recommend listening to: Episode 4: Farming with Biodiversity Pt 2 Episode 9: Adapted Agriculture Episode 11: Soil Carbon Intro Episode 23: Water & Adaption Episode 40: Grazing for Water Infiltration Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Have you ever given any thought to what the perfect cow would be for the conditions we experience in Alberta? Between the punishing winter temperatures, frequent droughts and the occasional flood, perhaps the ideal cow would be a cross between a wooly mammoth and a camel with gills. All jokes aside, we know how stressful a drought can be for a producer. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Susan Marcus of Lakeland College to talk about selecting and managing cattle traits so that your operation can be profitable during a good year while also getting you through a dry year. Highlights: 3:29 – Dr. Marcus shares her background and what research she’s currently leading. 7:17 – What roles do breed and genetics have in a cow-calf producer’s drought plan?  9:48 – Dr. Marcus explains why fertility is becoming more influenced by the management environment rather than genetics. 11:14 – Why is it important to pay close attention to breeds and genetics when planning for a drought? 16:48 – Which benchmarks and traits indicate a cow will likely stay healthy and productive during a drought? 19:46 – Are there cattle behaviors that can tell a producer if a cow is more drought-resilient than others? 23:07 – Dr. Marcus shares tips on how to determine which cows should be culled. 26:09 – What is epigenetics and what role does it play when planning for a drought? 29:14 – Dr. Marcus shares her final words of advice. Useful Links: Lakeland College Want to learn more? This is the first episode we’ve produced on trait selection in cattle, so we don’t really have any other episodes for you to listen to on the same topic yet. But if you’re a fan of ruminants, you should listen to our very first episode, Cows and Climate Change, or Episode 49 – Bringing Back Iinnii, which is the Blackfoot word for bison.  Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Welcome back to the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions podcast’s Getting Through Drought series, which looks at the best management practices cow-calf producers in Alberta can use to build up the resiliency of their ranch against drought.   For the remainder of the series, we’ll mainly be focusing on grazing management and adjusting grazing during a drought. To start things off, ranchers Blusette and Mark Campbell, out in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan joined us to share some of what they’ve learned about grazing and herd management. Highlights: 3:18 – Mark and Blusette share their experiences ranching at B-C Ranch. 6:08 – Where does the name B-C Ranch come from? 7:01 – The Campbells outline some of the environmental conditions they work with on the ranch. 12:14 – What were the key differences between managing the herd and grass in a good year versus a drought year? 17:32 – How do Mark and Blusette prepare for a drought? 20:58 – What, from the drought of 2021, has stuck with them to this day? 25:35 – The Campbells share nuggets of wisdom when it comes to the human side of drought planning and implementation 31:08 – Final words of advice from the Campbells for getting through a drought. Useful Links: B-C Ranch Want to learn more? Listen to the following episodes to learn more about grazing and people management: Episode 52 – Drought Plans Episode 50 – 50 More Episode 40 – Grazing for Water Infiltration Episode 27 – The Lundgards Episode 25 – Don Ruzicka Episode 24 – AMP Grazing Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Sometimes the public’s perception of agriculture doesn’t quite fit the reality. For many, when thinking about agriculture, the farmer is often tall, broad – and let’s be honest – masculine. With the number of female farm operators increasing, you’ve got to wonder if this outdated image is about to change.  You may be wondering why we’re doing an episode on women in agriculture, and how that relates to land stewardship. Well, you can’t have land stewardship without land stewards. With women making up 32% of farm operators in Alberta and increasing, we wanted to learn more about what it’s like to be a female producer in Alberta. Highlights: What are the challenges and barriers that women face in agriculture? 5:28 – Alberta beef producer Karen Schmidt 8:31 – Agrologist Karin Lindquist 12:07 – Grain producer Jana von Freier  14:55 – Shiana Younger, cattle producer and RR2CS Community Animator What do you think is unique to women that makes them strong stewards of the land? 17:50 – Karen Lindquist 18:25 – Jana von Freier  20:18 – Shiana Younger 21:09 – Karen Schmidt In a future perfect world, what’s in place so women can achieve everything that they want in agriculture? 24:52 – Shiana Younger 25:55 – Jana von Freier  26:54 – Karen Lindquist 27:29 – Karen Schmidt Want to learn more? Listen to the following episodes: Episode 39 – New Farmers Episode 41 – New Farmers Part 2 Statistics Canada: Women working in agriculture Canadian Food Studies. (2018). New Farmers and Food Policies in Canada [Article] Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

In recent years, mycorrhizal fungi have become a hot topic, especially when talking about soil health. You may be wondering how fungi can improve and foster soil health. Well, mycorrhizal fungi are vast networks of nutrient exchange between plants and other microscopic critters you can find in the soil. Fortunately, the management practices for maintaining this conduit of nutrient exchange tend to be the same ones we’d use in good pasture management. Can this vast network under our feet help out calf-cow producers in a dry year? Dr. Monika Gorzelak of Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada joins us in this episode to help us understand how mycorrhizal fungi can be good for the farm, especially during a drought. Highlights: 2:32 – Monica tells us about her background and why she studies mycorrhizal fungi. 3:47 – What are mycorrhizal fungi? 5:11 – Why can’t we just call it soil fungi? 6:45 – What are the benefits of mycorrhizal fungi? 7:46 – Can mycorrhizal fungi outlast soil bacteria in a drought? 9:56 – How can cow-calf producers help mycorrhizal fungi bounce back after a drought? 11:54 – Can mycorrhizal fungi help with water infiltration and water exchange? 12:58 – Monica shares stories from the drought of 2021. 15:18 – How do mycorrhizal fungi bounce back when the plants it supports die? 18:40 – Monica provides final advice to producers who, in the future, will face drought. Want to learn more? Listen to the following episodes to learn more about soil health and maximizing soil function: Episode 11 – Soil Carbon Intro Episode 17 – Soil Biology Episode 20 – The Brown Revolution Episode 31 – Soil Carbon Re-Intro Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Riparian areas can be a value-added project of the wetlands on your land if you choose to leave your wetlands intact. The wetland itself is great for maintaining the water table and can become an important source of water for your cattle.  The value added to a wetland that can be found in a riparian area is seemingly endless: water filtration, food for wild game, habitat for native pollinators and forage if you find yourself in a dry year.   In this episode, you’ll be hearing from Art Goerzen of Adullam Ranch to get an additional perspective on why riparian areas can be handy in times of drought. Highlights: 1:28 – Art shares his backstory. 8:43 – What lessons has Art learned from bale grazing? 10:35 – What are some of the environmental factors that impact Adullam Ranch? 13:11 – What is the “three layers system” and why is it a key part of Art’s drought plan? 15:19 – How does Art manage the riparian areas on his land? 18:01 – Art shares how his riparian areas helped his operation during the 2021 drought. 24:24 – Art provides some words of advice when it comes to surviving drought. Useful Links: Brazeau County ALUS Canada Want to learn more? Listen to the following episodes to learn more about riparian areas, drought management and water conservation: Episode 3 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 1) Episode 4 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 2) Episode 5 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 3) Episode 55 – Riparian Accounts (Pt 1) Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

You could argue that compared to other livestock, cattle are pretty simple to feed – get them grazing during the growing season and feed them bales in the winter. However, this relatively simple feeding system begins to fall apart when you get hit by drought; forage isn’t growing in your pasture and the price of hay goes through the roof. During a dry year, you might want to look into alternatives to hay that can help your cattle get the baseline nutrition they need and get you and your ranch through the year.    In this episode, we are joined by Barry Yaremcio of Yaremcio Ag Consulting Ltd to learn more about feed alternatives.   Highlights: 1:45 – Barry shares his background. 3:16 – What types of forage should cows eat? 3:49 – What types of forage are bad for cows? 5:59 – Barry shares his top recommendations for feed alternatives. 8:27 – What should calf-cow producers should think about when purchasing feed alternatives? 13:28 – How do you determine what rations and amount to feed? 19:26 – What else should producers be mindful of when using feed alternatives? 21:50 – Can canola be used as a feed alternative? 24:30 – Barry shares his advice when planning for a drought. Useful Links: Yaremcio Ag Consulting Ltd  Want to learn more? Listen to the following episodes to learn more about feed alternatives and how to prepare your operation for a drought: Episode 30 – Native Plants Episode 51 – Cover Crops Episode 52 – Drought Plans Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

If you manage them properly, riparian areas can be a savings account that you can tap into during a dry year. There are plenty of good reasons for fencing off and protecting bodies of water on your land, like giving biodiversity a boost or keeping water clean for livestock. Not to mention how handy that strip of greenery adjacent to a wetland can be when your pasture isn’t growing or recovering the way you need it to. In this episode, we’re joined by Duane Movald of Movald Ranches, to learn more about managing and stewarding riparian areas. Highlights: 2:18 – Duane shares information about his ranch. 6:07 – What are the riparian areas like on Duane’s land? 7:09 – How does Duane manage the riparian areas on his farm? 8:45 – Duane explains why he values his riparian areas. 10:07 – What is the best fencing to use when protecting your riparian areas from cattle? 11:22 – Duane describes why it’s good for the farm to protect riparian areas. 12:30 – How have beavers impacted Duane’s riparian areas? 14:09 – Did Duane use the wet riparian area (during a drought) to water the cattle? 15:37 – How does Duane manage the riparian area versus a regular paddock? 18:19 – What can the government and communities do to protect riparian areas and wetlands? 20:43 – Duane provides final advice on what to do next time you’re faced with a drought. Useful Links: Movald Farm Makes An Impact West-Central Forage Association ALUS Canada Young Agrarians Want to learn more? Listen to the following episodes to learn more about riparian areas, drought management and water conservation: Episode 3 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 1) Episode 4 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 2) Episode 5 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 3) Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

When it comes to soil amendments, charcoal is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But if you really think about it, charcoal is carbon that’s been locked up in the same way that coal is carbon, perfectly sequestered. There’s a catch though – you can’t burn it. But if we can’t burn it, how do we activate the carbon in biochar? In this episode, Rob Lavoie of AirTerra helps us understand how to unlock that carbon and feed those hungry little soil microbes that feed us. Highlights: 2:09 – Rob Lavoie shares his background 2:50 – How is carbon currently captured in agriculture? 6:21 – What is biochar and how does it benefit the soil? 7:38 – How is biochar used? 8:05 – Rob shares how biochar is useful. 13:34 – Why should you co-compost biochar with other organics? 17:43 – What are the benefits of using biochar as a feed ingredient? 19:12 – Rob explains other ways to use biochar. 21:46 – What are the economics of producing and using biochar in a circular economy? Useful Links: AirTerra: www.airterra.com Biochar in agriculture – A systematic review of 26 global meta-analysis Wilson Biochar Associates Research Paper “Use of Biochar in Poultry Barns Wilson and Associates: www.wilsonandassociates.ca Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility Want to learn more? Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Welcome to another episode in our Getting Through Drought series. If you live in Alberta and raise cattle, odds are you will try every possible way to keep that spring melt, or heavy rain, on your land. While you may throw in a shelter belt or an eco buffer, we hope that you’re also giving your pasture adequate rest and recovery so moisture can soak into the soil. Here in Alberta, a tried and true method of ensuring that water doesn’t go wandering off is the dugout. In this episode, Norine Ambrose, Executive Director of Cows and Fish, helps us understand the importance of protecting riparian areas (including dugouts) and how it can help with drought management. Highlights: 1:35 – Norine shares information about her organization. 2:30 – What is a riparian area? 3:57 – What are the benefits of riparian areas? 5:18 – Norine shares four general principles of riparian management. 8:38 – Why is it important to keep cows out of dugouts? 11:23 – What vegetation can, or should, be planted around a dugout? 13:14 – How do you keep cattle out of dugouts while ensuring they have adequate access to water? 16:30 – Norine shares some Alberta riparian area success stories. 20:22 – Norine wraps up by providing her advice on preparing for drought. Useful Links: Cows and Fish www.cowsandfish.org Round Rock Ranching www.roundrockranching.com Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) www.rdar.ca Want to learn more? Listen to the following episodes to learn more about riparian areas, drought management and water conservation: Episode 4 – Farming with Biodiversity (Pt 2) Episode 10 – Working Beavers Episode 15 – Ecosystems Services Episode 32 – Alley Cropping Episode 52 – Drought Plan Our Farmers Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Welcome to the launch of an exciting new series called Getting Through Drought. It’s safe to say that when it comes to droughts in Alberta, it’s less a matter of if and more a question of when. So, in this series we are exploring the best management practices that cow calf operators in Alberta can use to prepare for the next drought, whenever that may be. There are very few things that can mess up your grazing plans like a drought. Perhaps you had plans of implementing rotational grazing, or grazing your cover crop. However, when a drought hits, it’s not just your plans that need to be readjusted. As any agriculture producer in Alberta knows, droughts tend to hit hard, not just impacting your stress level but also your bank account. Join us as we chat with Sean McGrath, of Round Rock Ranching, about creating a plan to help minimize the impact that a drought can have on your operation.   Highlights: 1:52 – Sean McGrath describes his grazing operation. 3:00 – How the sixth principle of regenerative agriculture applies to Sean’s ranch. 5:11 – What is a drought plan? 5:57 – Where is a good place to start when drafting a plan? 9:24 – Sean shares his must-haves when it comes to his plan. 13:44 – How does Sean decide which cows to keep and which to sell? 15:20 – What should cow calf operators consider when determining the timing of their drought plan? 16:51 – What role does winter play when planning?  18:31 – How important is it to get your family on board? 20:26 – Sean provides some final advice when facing a drought. Useful Links: Round Rock Ranching www.roundrockranching.com Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) www.rdar.ca Want to learn more? Listen to podcast episode 23 – Water and Adaptation, and episode 40 – Grazing for Water Infiltration for some additional ideas on what to include in your drought plan. Our Farmer’s Blog is also a great source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

With fertilizer prices hitting $1,000 a ton, it’s no surprise that cover crops are a hot topic. It makes sense that non-synthetic inputs like cover crops are becoming more and more appealing to producers. There’s many benefits to cover crops – including feeding livestock and pollinators, improving water filtration, suppressing weeds, building soil carbon and improving soil biology. In this episode, we’re joined by Kevin Elmy, of Cover Crops Canada, to discuss the ins and outs of cover crops. A huge shoutout to Young Agrarians for partnering with us on this episode. Highlights: 3:54 – why it’s important to have something green growing in your soil 6:41 – the overarching benefits of cover crops  8:40 – setting goals to help determine which cover crops to plant 17:48 – understanding the functions of plant groups 25:10 – the diversity of microbes and defining a management plan 35:44 – diversity is more important than density – how to determine seeding rates 40:55 – details about the different kinds of cover crops 50:25 – final advice when choosing cover crops Useful Links: Cotswold Seeds – www.cotswoldseeds.com Cover Cropping in Western Canada by Kevin Elmy – www.amazon.ca/Cover-Cropping-Western-Canada-Kevin/dp/1525569945 Drew Lerner, founder of World Weather – www.worldweather.cc/drew-lerner The Future-Proof Farm by Steve Groff – www.stevegroff.com/book Kiss The Ground Documentary – www.kissthegroundmovie.com Cover Crops Canada – www.covercrops.ca Imperial Seeds – www.imperialseed.com Young Agrarians – www.youngagrarians.org Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

We’re celebrating a pretty cool milestone – 50 podcast episodes!  This episode is all about reflecting on the past and anticipating the future. We’ve covered so many great topics and had the most amazing speakers join us. While we can’t highlight or cover it all in our “podcast tour”, we picked ones that impacted the podcast’s trajectory. Since it took us 5 years to reach this milestone, we also wanted to look into the future and predict where regenerative agriculture in Alberta would be in the next 5 years. To do this, we enlisted the help of Kelly Sidoryk, Holistic Management Instructor with HMI.  To wrap up our tour, the RR2CS team gathered and took a crack at determining where we thought the podcast, the organization and the progression of climate solutions would be in 2027. We’d love to hear your thoughts on where you think agriculture and climate solutions will be in 5 years. Also, if there are topics that you think we should highlight in our next 50 episodes, send us an email or message us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. A huge shoutout to Young Agrarians for partnering with us on this episode. Highlights: 4:50 – Highlights reel of our amazing podcast guests over the last 5 years 6:57 – Kelly Sidoryk shares her journey to becoming a holistic management instructor and what changes she expects to happen in regenerative agriculture by 2027 38:21 – How did the podcast got started – Episode 26 What We Do with Brenda Barritt 47:15 – How biodiversity can help with on-farm resilience –  Episode 15 Ecosystem Services with Christine Campbell 49:15 – Episode 20 The Brown Revolution with Dr. Kristine Nichols 55:12 – The Farm Elder Series – Episode 25 with Don Ruzicka and Episode 27 with The Lundgards 56:47 – Intentionally highlighting Blackfoot culture in Episode 30 Native Plants with Lori Brave Rock and William Singer III 59:00 – Regenerative agriculture becomes a hot topic in Episode 33 Stories from The Peace with Ash Armstrong and Curt Hale 1:02:23 – Highlight from Episode 36 Regenerative Potatoes with Brendon Rockey and Steve Kenyon 1:05:20 – Discussion with the Rural Routes team on what has changed and what we hope to see in the future. Useful Links: Simon Sinek – www.simonsinek.com Author William Ury – www.williamury.com On-Farm Climate Action Fund – www.rdar.ca/ofcaf The Righteous Porkchop by Nicolette Hahn Niman – www.amazon.ca/Righteous-Porkchop-Finding-Beyond-Factory/dp/0061998451 Kiss The Ground – www.kissthegroundmovie.com Peace Country Beef and Forage Association – www.peacecountrybeef.ca Coffee, Cows and Crops Podcast – www.coffeecowsandcrops.podbean.com Gateway Research Organization – www.gatewayresearchorganization.com Young Agrarians – www.youngagrarians.org Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Most of us are familiar with the Canadian Agricultural Partnership or CAP. It is the funding agreement between the federal government and provinces and territories supporting many programs and services for the agriculture sector. CAP is coming to an end this year and right now a new Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) is being negotiated. In fact, federal, provincial and territorial ministers are meeting on July 20th, 2022 to hammer out the next five year APF. So we got to wondering, what should be an APF that supports farmers and ranchers in implementing agricultural climate solutions look like? Enter John Kolk. John is an agricultural producer from Iron Springs in southern Alberta who also sits on the boards of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI) and Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). John draws on his experience both as producer and as someone who has been active in the sector off the farm as well to explain what an APF is and what he would like to see in the APF that will run from 2023 – 2028. Useful Links: Read the Rooted in Climate Action report by Farmers for Climate Solutions to learn how the APF could support agricultural producers in implementing land management practices and farm tech that are good for the farm and good for the climate. . Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

In our first two episodes of this series, we looked at farming and ranching at the Kainai First Nation, located in Southern Alberta. If you’ve had a chance to listen, you may have noticed a theme – the importance of the Iinnii (buffalo). In this episode, knowledge holder Dr. Leroy Little Bear shares his work to restore the Iinnii. Little Bear sheds light on why this work is important, not only for the land but for the people and their connection with songs, ceremonies and stories centred around the Iinnii. He also highlights the importance of working together with the air, land, and water to foster the ideal environmental conditions we need to survive and thrive. Useful Links: If you haven’t had a chance, we encourage you to listen to the first two episodes of this series, Farming at Kainai and Ranching at Kainai. Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Cattle ranching on the Blood Reserve can be a very rewarding experience and endeavour, however, it does come with challenges in today’s changing times. In this episode, Blackfoot knowledge keeper and cattle producer Mike Bruised Head shares his early beginnings as a cattle producer and how his understanding of Blackfoot ways of knowing has contributed to his practice. Mike sheds light on how he has noticed the impacts of climate change and how he has adapted to the changing environment. He also explains the importance of the Iinnii (buffalo) as a keystone animal of the Kainai First Nation. Useful Links: If you haven’t had a chance, we encourage you to listen to the first episode of this series, Farming at Kainai. Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Three Alberta agricultural producers discuss what the ‘regenerative mindset’ is and why it is important for those transitioning to regenerative agriculture. This episode features Daryl Chubb, Tim Wray and Sheldon Atwood. Highlights: Coming soon… Alberta agricultural producers mentioned in this episode: Tim Wray of WR Grazing (Irricana). Read about Tim’s story on our Farmer’s Blog. Sheldon Atwood of Western Ranchlands Corporation (Tomahawk). More info. Daryl Chubb (Irricana). More info. Useful Links: More information about the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions Regenerative Agriculture Lab can be found on the website. . Want to learn more? Coming soon! Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Feedlot manager and proponent of holistic management and regenerative agriculture Andrea Stroeve-Sawa shares low-stress livestock handling tips we can use to have constructive conversations about the livestock and the environment issue. Even if we don’t agree with the other person. Andrea also shares what it was like for her to sit down and have that exact conversation with a vegan. While being filmed too! The Bridging the Echo Chambers project is a Food Water Wellness Foundation project that delves into the debate about the impacts of livestock on the environment and how we can facilitate healthy and constructive conversations between people who have different views and opinions. Useful Links: Bridging the Echo Chambers video Andrea Stroeve-Sawa and Shipwheel Cattle Feeders Food Water Wellness Foundation Want to learn more? Listen to part one and part two of the Bridging Echo Chambers series for other ideas on how to engage in constructive conversations about the livestock and the environment issue.

Filmmaker and communications strategist Sarah Wray discusses communications techniques we can use to have constructive conversations about the livestock and the environment issue. Even if we don’t agree with the other person. The Bridging the Echo Chambers project is a Food Water Wellness Foundation project that delves into the debate about the impacts of livestock on the environment and how we can facilitate healthy and constructive conversations between people who have different views and opinions. Useful Links: Bridging the Echo Chambers video.  Sarah Wray and Story Brokers Media House Food Water Wellness Foundation Want to learn more? Listen to part one and part three of the Bridging Echo Chambers series for other ideas on how to engage in constructive conversations about the livestock and the environment issue.

Author and leadership advisor David Irvine discusses the strategies we can use to have constructive conversations about the livestock and environment issue. Even if we don’t agree with the other person. The Bridging the Echo Chambers project is a Food Water Wellness Foundation project that delves into the debate about the impacts of livestock on the environment and how we can facilitate healthy and constructive conversations between people who have different views and opinions. Useful Links: Bridging the Echo Chambers video David Irvine Food Water Wellness Foundation Want to learn more? Listen to part two and part three of the Bridging Echo Chambers series for other ideas on how to engage in constructive conversations about the livestock and the environment issue.

The thrilling conclusion of our exploration of post-secondary research and regenerative agriculture with Jason Bradley of Olds College. Useful Links: Rural Routes to Climate Solutions Regenerative Agriculture Lab Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is a great go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Take a deep dive with Jason Bradley of Olds College into post-secondary agriculture research and how research can assist the acceleration of regen ag in Alberta. Useful Links: Rural Routes to Climate Solutions Regenerative Agriculture Lab  Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is a great go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Kainai First Nation members Cyrus and Roy Weasel Fat share their success story of farming and ranching on the Blood Reserve in southern Alberta. The father and son team discuss some of the challenges of farming on the reserve and how they built a successful small business and educational outlet for the community. Useful Links: Rural Routes to Climate Solutions Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is a great go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Co-operatives have a long history in Alberta of getting the job done. We ask Rod Olson of YYC Growers if co-ops can assist in advancing regenerative agriculture in the province. Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is a great go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Cutting hay is not the only thing an agricultural producer can do these days when the sun is shining. A crash course in on-farm solar from A-Z with Lee Sinal of KCP Energy. Alberta agricultural producers mentioned in this episode: Vaudet Dairy in Ferintosh: Investing in Solar Energy for Tomorrow Northern Lights Farms in Manning: Low-Carbon Market Gardening Useful Links: Agricultural Clean Technology Program (AAFC): On-Farm Climate Action Fund (AAFC) Emissions Reductions Alberta – Food, Farming and Forestry Challenge Clean Energy Improvement Program (Alberta) Want to learn more? Our Farmer’s Blog is a great go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Agriculture in Alberta and in other parts of the world is going through a bit of a ‘personnel change’ right now. You can still find those agricultural producers whose families moved out to the Prairies about a century ago to try their luck at building a better life for themselves, but there is not as many of them as there used to be (there are 62% less agricultural producers in Canada than there were fifty years ago). As farms and ranches become larger and fewer (in Alberta, 34% less than in 1966), there is a growing group of Albertans who are getting involved in agriculture even though they weren’t raised on a farm or ranch. This group not only wants to grow food, but they also want to do good for their communities and the planet. Sounds like our kind of agricultural producer! In Part One of New Farmers, Dana Penrice of Young Agrarians explained that since the majority of new and aspiring farmers and ranchers want to practice some form of climate-friendly agriculture (89% according to a 2015 national survey) they are in a way a farm solution that is also a climate solution. Since Rural Routes is in the business of accelerating  on-farm climate solutions across Alberta we asked Dana in Part Two how do we unleash this new farmer force? You’ll be surprised by what Dana had to say. Highlights: 7:10 – These days we are asking agricultural producers to provide ecosystem goods and services and climate change adaptation and mitigation services in addition to food, fibre, fuel and medicine. Is this unfair? 17:20 – How we can unleash new farmers as a farm solution that is a climate solution. 31:30 – Business viability as a farm solution that is a climate solution and off-farm jobs. 39:10 – What needs to change to facilitate more agricultural producers adopting regenerative agriculture practices. 48:40 – Dana’s thoughts on the food system of the future, the food system we need. Alberta agricultural producers mentioned in this episode: Lisa and Donovan Kitt and The Homestead (Fairview) Steel Pony Farms (Red Deer) Ian Griebel, Dana Blume and Redtail Farms (Castor) Lydia Carpenter, Wian Prinsloo and Luna Field Farm (Belmount, Manitoba) Useful Links: Young Agrarians Soil scientist Nicole Masters Wes Jackson, founder of the Land Institute Grass, Soil, Hope by Courtney White Alberta stats on off-farm income National stats on farm family income (Statistics Canada, 2017) Alberta stats on off-farm work Want to learn more? Before listening to this episode, we recommend listening to Episode 39: New Farmers Part One. To learn more about the innovative agricultural producers and land stewards in Alberta who are putting farm solutions that are climate solutions into action, we recommend listening to: Episode 33 with Ash Armstrong of Armstrong Acres and Curt Hale of Maverick Livestock Episode 30 with Misamaaki and Api’soomaahka of Kainai First Nation Episode 27 with Mary and Peter Lundgard of Nature’s Way Farm Episode 25 with Don Ruzicka (retired owner of Sunrise Farm) Episode 9 with Amber Kenyon, Heather Kerschbaumer and Kris Vester  Our Farmer’s Blog is also a great go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Agricultural producers who move fence and cattle (or some other ruminant) daily or every few days during the growing season have talked about the benefits of adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing, sometimes called rotational grazing, for soil health, plant diversity and their livestock for quite some time now. A recently released study on AMP grazing on the Prairies provides new evidence to support grazing our livestock in a similar way to the way the bison once grazed. In Grazing for Water Infiltration, we talk to two of the scientists involved in the AMP grazing study: Dr. Mark Boyce and Dr. Timm Doebert of the University of Alberta. The research team studied over 50 ranches in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and found that ranches practicing AMP grazing had better water infiltration in their pastures than ranches that were not AMP grazers. Doebert and Boyce go over this specific finding with our podcast host. If you are an agricultural producer who is thinking about changing how you manage your cattle, this episode may be for you, especially if you are aiming to keep as much moisture as possible on your land. If you are a producer who is already practicing AMP grazing, have a listen anyway. This episode will make you smile. Highlights: 07:00 – Backgrounder on the AMP grazing study. 24:30 – Why is AMP grazing not just called rotational grazing? 31:40 – How the research team measured water infiltration in pastures. 37:50 – Factors that aid in water infiltration on rangelands. 44:30 – Animal impacts on water infiltration. 56:00 – Financial and monetary policies that may support AMP grazing in the future. Alberta agricultural producers mentioned in this episode: None in this episode surprisingly, but check out our other episodes for the names and stories of Alberta agricultural producers who are putting farm solutions that are also climate solutions into action. Useful Links: Click here to read the abstract from University of Alberta report on AMP grazing and water infiltration. To read the full report, please contact Dr. Timm Doebert.  Want to learn more? After listening to this episode, we recommend downloading and listening to Episode 1: Cows and Climate Change and Episode 24: AMP Grazing to learn more about good grazing management with cattle that is beneficial for ecology and the land. Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

There’s an interesting demographic shift going in agriculture right now. The agricultural population is drastically shrinking—right now there is 62% less agricultural producers in Canada than there was fifty years ago. Out on the Prairies, farms and ranches are becoming fewer (in Alberta, 34% less than in 1966) and larger (farms that are 5,000 acres or more account for almost half the acres underproduction in Alberta). On top of that, agricultural land ain’t cheap. And yet, there is a growing group of people in Alberta who are getting involved in agriculture even though they weren’t raised on a farm or ranch. They are motivated to do good for food, communities and the planet and they see agriculture as a hands on way to do all of the above. We call these people new farmers. If there is one person in Alberta who has put in the most work to get new farmers out on the land, it is Dana Penrice. Originally from Lacombe, currently farming in Manitoba, Dana is the Prairies Program Manager for Young Agrarians, a coordinator for Holistic Management Canada and an adviser to Rural Routes to Climate Solutions. Dana and Young Agrarians have worked tirelessly over the years to help new and aspiring agricultural producers get trained up in agriculture and get access to land. In this episode, Dana and our podcast host explore the idea that if the vast majority of new farmers want to practice some form of climate-friendly agriculture (89% according to a 2015 national survey), are new farmers actually a farm solution that is also a climate solution? Unexpectedly, during recording this episode went in a lot of different directions and tackled quite a few big issues like rethinking land access, truth and reconciliation and agriculture, finding a new term for ‘agricultural producer’ and the need for a paradigm shift in agriculture. We decided it was best to break the recording into two episodes. In Part One, Dana’s sets the stage by explaining the obstacles new agricultural producers face when trying to get involved in agriculture. In Part Two, Dana goes over how we can unleash new agricultural producers as a farm solution that is also a climate solution out on the Prairies. Highlights: Coming soon… Alberta agricultural producers mentioned in this episode: Coming soon… Useful Links: Young Agrarians https://youngagrarians.org/ Holistic Management Canada http://holisticmanagement.ca/ National new farmer survey (2015) https://canadianfoodstudies.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cfs/article/view/288/296 https://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/key_findings_nnfc_national_survey.pdf Macleans’ article on the plight of agricultural producers during the hard years in the ’80’s https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1987/5/4/down-and-out-on-the-farm Prices for agricultural land in Alberta in 2020 https://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/news/up-up-up-farmland-prices-take-another-big-jump/ Report examining the growth of larger farms and ranches in the Prairies https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Saskatchewan%20Office%2C%20Manitoba%20Office/2020/11/Farmland%20Concentration.pdf Want to learn more? After listening to this episode, we recommend downloading and listening to Episode 33 with Ash Armstrong of Armstrong Acres and Curt Hale of Maverick Livestock, Episode 30 with Misamaaki and Api’soomaahka of Kainai First Nation, Episode 27 with Mary and Peter Lundgard of Nature’s Way Farm, Episode 25 with Don Ruzicka (retired owner of Sunrise Farm) and Episode 9 with Amber Kenyon, Heather Kerschbaumer and Kris Vester to learn more about the innovative agricultural producers and land stewards in Alberta who are putting farm solutions that are climate solutions into action. Our Farmer’s Blog is also the go-to source for stories of producers in Alberta who are going the extra mile with their management practices for the land, food and their communities.

Jianyi Dong and his passive solar greenhouse. Highlights: Alberta agricultural producers mentioned in this episode: Jianyi Dong of Freshpal Farms in Olds, Alberta https://rr2cs.ca/passive-solar-greenhouses-without-borders-growing-technology-on-albertas-prairies/ Useful Links: Want to learn more? After listening to this episode, we recommend downloading our first Passive Solar Greenhouse (Episode 14) podcast episode and Episode 12: On-Farm Geothermal. If you are interested in other types of farm tech that can help you reduce your carbon footprint, listen to Episode 2: On-Farm Solar and Episode 28 and Episode 35 which which look at the electric tractor. And for soil science try Episode 31, Episode 20, Episode 17 and Episode 11. We have some great reads on the Farmer’s Blog and don’t forget to check out Jianyi’s extremely popular video presentation on YouTube too!