For many years now, malting barley research has primarily focused on how to provide small and large brewers alike with the next great variety for their beers. An afterthought, however, is distillers, who often source their barley from other countries with a more established system of malting barley suitable for spirits.

University of Saskatchewan master’s student Beatriz Montenegro is searching for economical feed options for cattle that are heavy on nutrition and low on water. Supported by the Government of Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Development Fund, her research aims to help farmers maintain high-quality beef production as feed availability fluctuates.

David Farran believes it is only natural Alberta distillers use the province’s own high-quality barley to produce their products. The founder and president of Eau Claire Distillery in Diamond Valley, he credits locally grown barley and a talented distilling team for a platinum trophy win at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in April.

Gabriel Ribeiro is frequently asked about low bushel-weight barley. It has become a topic of interest and concern among ranchers and feedlot operators, particularly in Western Canada, said the assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan Animal and Poultry Science Department.

The theme of CrossRoads 2025 is “Future proof your farm,” which president Antoine Bernet said resonates with Bayer, an organization that works to anticipate the needs of farmers every day and thrives on innovation. “Future proofing farms is at the core of what we do at Bayer,” he said.

People are at the heart of every farm business. No matter the size, structure or type of farm, it’s the people, and in many cases a blend of family and employees, who manage day-to-day tasks tied to farm goals and achievements. As farms get larger and increasingly rely on hired labour, the focus on staff management processes, or human resources (HR), should expand in proportion to the size of the business.

At first glance, Canadian farmers should be concerned about Donald Trump’s victory in the recent U.S. election. Canada is a trading nation, and its farmers rely on trade to sell their crops at a profitable return. Trump will retake office on Jan. 20, and has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports, including agricultural products.

The annual harvest assessments they conduct give the team a deep understanding of the quality and functionality of a new crop, said Dean Dias, Cereals Canada CEO. With this information in hand, one of the team’s most important tasks is to compile and release the New Wheat Crop Report.

Marginal acres unsuitable or less suitable for crop production are common on cultivated farmland. To conduct conventional farming practices on such unproductive acres reduces profitability and increases deterioration of land.

The annual growth rate of Canadian agricultural productivity stood at or near two per cent from 1991 to 2010, according to a Farm Credit Canada (FCC) report released in December 2023. Since 2011, productivity growth has slowed and stands at just one per cent where it is projected to remain for the rest of this decade.