The Truth About Ag

After an introduction in which Kristjan and Evan answer questions that have come in from the last few episodes, they are joined by Candace Laing. Candace shares her path from a family farm in southwest Saskatchewan to senior leadership at Nutrien and now CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, including how her agricultural roots have shaped the way she approaches business, policy and leadership.The conversation explores Canada’s economic future and the role agriculture should play in it. Candace, Kristjan and Evan discuss investment, rural infrastructure, regulation, productivity and why production agriculture can still struggle to find its place in national conversations alongside energy, mining and other major industries. They also explore where collaboration and larger-scale thinking could help agriculture participate in new investment and growth opportunities.Candace also shares the story behind her book, Girl, You Got This, and why she believes sharing real career experiences can help more women see themselves in leadership. The discussion touches on women in agriculture, succession and the importance of putting the right person in the right role regardless of gender or tradition.

Policy uncertainty has become a constant in agriculture, but the bigger question is what producers should focus on. Evan and Kristjan are joined by Shaun Haney and Tyler McCann for a farm-level look at the forces shaping Canadian agriculture right now, including trade, global markets and the broader policy decisions influencing costs, commodity prices and business risk.The conversation ultimately comes back to management. In an environment where markets can move quickly, and outside factors are difficult to predict, knowing your numbers, understanding how much risk your business can carry and making decisions with a longer view become increasingly important. The group also challenges some of the prevailing pessimism around Canadian agriculture, looking at the competitive advantages producers have today and how better financial and risk management can help farms respond to uncertainty. 

After an introduction in which Evan discusses what he would do to help agriculture in the future, Evan and Kristjan are joined by Andrea Gruza and Mitchell King of Bonnefield Financial for a conversation about farmland, access to capital and the role of private investment in Canadian agriculture.Andrea and Mitchell explain how Bonnefield works with farmers, including sale-and-leaseback arrangements, land unit exchanges and expansion-related land purchases. They discuss how lease rates are determined, how long-term leases and buyback options can be structured, and what they look for when deciding which farm operators to work with.The conversation also covers farmland ownership rules, the availability of capital in different provinces, succession and transition situations, and the challenges farms can face when land they currently rent or want to acquire comes up for sale. Evan and Kristjan also share their perspectives on land ownership, rental arrangements, working capital and the importance of understanding the different financing and partnership options available to a farm. 

After an introduction with Evan and Kristjan discussing the beginning of harvest and how important it is to sit in someone else’s seat, Colin Brisebois joins them. Most people know Farm Credit Canada for lending, but they talk about the work happening beyond what you’d expect, including the partnership with Maverick Ag. From advisory services and strategic partnerships to transition planning and business education, Colin explains how FCC is working with producers as farm businesses become more complex and the demands on owners continue to grow. The conversation moves through some of the challenges facing farm families today, including succession, bringing the right advisers together, and actually putting plans into action. Colin also talks about the value of surrounding producers with people who can fill specific skill needs, rather than expecting one person to be great at every part of the business. Looking ahead, Colin shares where FCC is placing its attention, including transition, innovation, new forms of capital, technology adoption and the long-term strength of rural communities. It’s a broader look at how FCC sees its role in Canadian agriculture, and how knowledge, advice and capital can work together to help producers move their businesses forward.

Kristjan and Evan kick off the episode with a wide-ranging discussion on the major challenges impacting the agricultural industry. They share insights into evolving global market conditions and practical financial strategies farms can use to navigate policy shifts, manage finances, and plan strategically.  Then, live from Ag in Motion, they’re joined by Craig Davidson, CEO of Taurus Ag and the newest sponsor of The Truth About Ag. Craig shares the story behind Taurus as the company marks 25 years in business, his roots on a fifth-generation farm, and the philosophy that has shaped much of the company’s approach to agronomy and fertility: think like a plant. They dig into plant health, biologicals, fertilizer availability, salt load, phosphate and sulfur, and why measuring the value of fertility by tonnes purchased can miss what actually matters to both the plant and the farm’s margin. The conversation also moves beyond agronomy into how Craig thinks about business, relationships and the future of agriculture. He talks about the value of challenging customers and being challenged in return, supporting rural communities, being willing to fail in pursuit of something better, and the potential for AI, better data and emerging computing technology to help agriculture make faster, more precise decisions.