Joe Dales's Blog (72)

Canada places restrictions on Finnish pork imports over ASF

Finland first announced African swine fever in its pork in July

U.S. pauses pending tariffs on Canadian goods

50 per cent tariffs were scheduled to take effect at midnight on Aug. 19

New Ag Partnership Prioritizes Farmer Mental Health

The Do More Agriculture Foundation and McDonald’s Canada partnered to advance mental health support for Canadian farmers and ranchers, beginning with a beef sector roundtable.

2026 Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award Recipient Announced

The Canadian Cattle Foundation (the Foundation) presented the annual Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award to Cyle Stewart of Morse, Saskatchewan, to support the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Program. Vice President of the Foundation Lynn Grant and CCA Director Garner Deobald presented the award at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference. In December 2022, Reg Schellenberg, President of the Canadian Cattle Association, suddenly passed away. In lieu of flowers, the Schellenberg family requested that donations be made through the Canadian Cattle Foundation to support the Canadian CYL Program. The Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award recognizes individuals who exemplify the values Reg Schellenberg was known for—humble leadership, a commitment to mentorship, a spirit of collaboration, and unwavering dedication to the Canadian cattle industry. CYLs were encouraged to nominate one of their peers for the award based on criteria built with the Schellenberg family, inclu

Trade, Fertilizer and Markets: What’s Really on Alberta Farmers’ Minds?

What are Alberta farmers, retailers and lenders talking about when they gather around the coffee shop table? In the latest Alberta Seed Guide Podcast, ATB Financial’s Jon Neutens shares what he’s hearing across the province — from fertilizer costs and commodity prices to trade uncertainty and why optimism still runs deep in agriculture. For Alberta producers, uncertainty has become part of the business. Commodity prices remain under pressure, fertilizer markets have been rattled by global conflict, and trade negotiations continue to create more questions than answers. Yet despite the challenges, the mood across rural Alberta isn’t one of panic. It’s one of cautious optimism. That’s one of the key takeaways from the latest episode of the Alberta Seed Guide Podcast, where host Marc Zienkiewicz sits down with Jon Neutens, head of agriculture at ATB Financial, to discuss what producers, retailers, agribusinesses and lenders are talking about as the 2026 growing season unfolds. Neutens,