Grainswest - Fall 2025

Fall 2025 Grains West 6 Anagri-tradewake-upcall THERE MAY YET BE POSITIVE FALLOUT FROM THE ongoing U.S. tariff scare. The two trade-themed feature stories in this issue of GrainsWest contain a strong undercurrent of creative problem solving. Two of Canada’s biggest agrifood trade partners, the U.S., and now China with its canola tariffs, have handed Canadian farmers metaphorical lemons, and the call for lemonade recipes echoes across the Great White North. “Trade war fallout” (pg. 20) examines the international opportunities and uncertainties faced by Canadian agriculture given the chaotic U.S. tariff troubles in the run-up to renegoti- ation of the Canda–United States–Mexico Agreement. A recent RBC report calls the situation a potentially lucrative wake-up call for the sector. It suggests the right strategy could greatly expand Canada’s share of international agrifood trade and gen- erate $44 billion in new investment in the sector by 2035. Direct U.S. tariffs on agricultural products have thankfully not materialized. Reassuring for wheat and barley farmers, the U.S. remains a major destination for cereals-based products. “Southbound cereals” (pg. 26) examines the reasons this $3 bil- lion-per-year trade relationship will almost certainly continue. During President Donald Trump’s first term, patience, persistence and intense lobbying of American decision-makers became hallmarks of the Canadian government’s approach to trade with our southern neighbour. This strategy will continue to serve our nation well given the hyper uncertainty of Trump’s second term. GRAINSWEST WRITERS WIN MULTIPLE AWARDS In September, the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF) awarded two GrainsWest writers with top honours for stories published in this magazine. The cover story of our spring 2024 issue, Trevor Bacque won gold in current affairs reporting for “Just do it: How one family found certainty, satisfaction and di- rection in farm succession planning.” He received silver awards in three additional categories and the title of Farm Writer of the Year for 2025. Bacque’s farm journalism was also honoured by the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association with a silver award in profile writing for “Staying power: Reluctant to retire, three farmers discuss the rewards of work beyond age 65.” The piece was published in our fall 2024 issue. Zoltan Varadi received a CFWF gold award in the current affairs feature category for his story “Long of this land: Siksika First Nation works to build farming and ranching opportunities for community members,” which also appeared in our fall 2024 issue. The piece was also awarded Feature Story of the Year. To read these award-winning stories, visit grainswest.com . EDITOR’S MESSAGE GrainsWest writers won several publishing industry honours in 2025. Among them, Trevor Bacque received awards from the Canadian FarmWriters’ Federation and the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association.