Pulse of the Prairies

In the latest Pulse of the Prairies episode, SPG Board Director Gerrid Gust sits down with Kyle Larkin from Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) to discuss the critical advocacy work happening on behalf of Saskatchewan pulse growers. Kyle shares insights from the recent Grains Week in Ottawa, GGC's mission to Washington, D.C., on tariffs and the upcoming Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review, and the infrastructure gaps affecting grain movement across the country.Learn about the priorities GGC tackled in 2025 and how its advocacy efforts in Ottawa and Washington are working to protect market access and improve conditions for growers. Do not miss this important conversation about the work being done on your behalf. Listen now on our website or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Winter is upon us, and SPG and SaskWheat have several education and networking opportunities available to producers and agronomists in the coming months. In this episode, get a sneak peak of what to expect at this winter's events:JAN 13-14: Sask Crops Forum | Commission AGMsJAN 20: Pulse Variety Seminar | Virtual Breeding & Commercialization UpdateJAN - MAR: Coffee Shop Talks & Think Wheat | SaskWheat's Winter Extension EventsFEB: Winter Pulse Meetings | SPG's Winter Extension EventsMAR 25-27: Learn to Lead | Personal & Professional Development for Farmers [Apply by Jan 31]

In this episode, SPG's Seed Program Manager Laurie Friesen chats with Justin Ritco from Condie Seeds and Thomas Winny from Winny Seeds. They discuss exciting new pea and lentil varieties for the 2026 growing season including AAC Beyond, AAC Julius, CDC Monarch, CDC 6928, CDC Lima, and a preview of CDC 6964. Learn about yield advantages, disease resistance packages, and how these varieties fit into your crop rotation and agronomic planning.

Voting has opened for SPG’s Board of Directors election. In this special podcast episode, we are airing interviews held with all four nominees so you can learn more about the candidates before casting your vote. Interviews were conducted by Neil Billinger, Agriculture Director of CJWW Radio on SPG's behalf. Tune in to learn more about the candidates and don't forget to cast your vote by November 28, 2025. Read Candidate Bios HereVoter packages, including a six-digit ID number required for the electronic voting process, will be mailed to registered pulse growers* in late October in a green envelope. Voting opens at http://www.saskpulsevotes.com at 8:00 AM CST on November 3, 2025 and will remain open until 4:00 PM CST on November 28, 2025. If growers prefer to vote with a paper ballot, the voter package will provide contact information to request a mail-in ballot.  Important Dates:November 3, 2025: Voting opens at 8:00 AM CST at http://www.saskpulsevotes.com November 28, 2025: Voting closes at 4:00 PM CST January 13, 2026: SPG Annual General Meeting *A registered pulse grower is someone who has sold a pulse crop and paid a levy to SPG in the last three years. 

Despite the late rains, pulse harvest is underway in several areas across Saskatchewan. Producers are also contending with variable weather conditions which can affect storage needs and the risk of grain spoilage in the bin. In this episode, hear from SPG Agronomists on how this year’s pulse crop is coming off the field so far and what to keep in mind to ensure a successful harvest and maintain pulse quality in long-term storage.Learn more about Post-Harvest and Long-Term Storage of Pulses and Natural Air Grain DryingFind more Harvest & Storage resources and tools at KeepitClean.ca

When combined with a larger old crop carry-in from the previous season, supplies coming off this year's pulse harvest are set up to be the largest in several years. In this episode, Jon Driedger, Vice President of Leftfield Commodity Research explains how this supply will contend with global demand. Read Jon's report here.

2025 is shaping up to be a decent year for pulse production in Saskatchewan, but environmental conditions have been conducive for disease development. Learn what SPG Agronomists have been seeing in the fields so far and what producers should be keeping in mind when it comes to field scouting and harvest preparation.Learn more about Fusarium Root Rot in Pulse CropsReview Harvest Aid Options for PulsesMore Harvest & Storage resourcesTools & resources at KeepitClean.ca

Statistics Canada published their 2025 seeded acreage report on June 27. For both lentils and peas, the June seeded acreage numbers represent a significant change from their earlier estimates. In this episode Carl Potts, SPG’s Executive Director speaks with Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture to learn her thoughts on these latest numbers and the state of pulse markets today. Read Marlene's latest pulse market report here.

Trade-related uncertainty is more prominent than ever in theCanadian pulse industry. These challenges underscore the ongoing need to prioritize market development and diversification of Canadian pulses and pulse ingredients into new uses and new markets around the world. In this episode, learn about recent shifts within the national pulse market development strategy in response to recent trade uncertainty including a focus on pet food, small-seeded chickpeas, and regions like Latin America, the Indo-Pacific, and Europe.

In this latest podcast episode, SPG's Stuart Lawrence and Clinton Monchuk from Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan dive into why trust in Canada's food system matters—not just for consumers, but for the people behind the food: the farmers.Why transparency mattersHow misinformation can hurt farmsWhat farmers are doing to earn and keep your trustWhether you are a consumer or part of the ag industry—this episode is for you. Listen now and learn why trust is more than a buzzword and core to Canadian agriculture.Learn more about Farm & Food Care SaskatchewanSign up for their Speak Up training and workshopsExplore Saskatchewan Open Farm Days  

In this episode, SPG Director Gerrid Gust is joined by Kyle Larkin from Grain Growers of Canada (GGC). Kyle breaks down the priority issues facing Canadian farmers during the federal election including what the future holds for the carbon tax, capital gains tax, and trade uncertainty.⁠Learn More About GGC's EffortsRead the latest issue of GGC on The Hill

Seeding is just around the corner, but market uncertainties are in full swing. Between threats of U.S. import tariffs swirling about, Indian tariffs on lentils and possible tariffs on peas, and surprise Chinese tariffs on peas, the magnitude of these unstable markets is causing more farmers to reevaluate planting decisions. In this episode, SPG Board Member Shaun Dyrland talks to Chuck Penner, President of LeftField Commodity Research to discuss Statistics Canada’s Seeded Area Estimates Report and his insights on the state of pulse markets today.Read Chuck's Pulse Market Report

The 2025 winter pulse meetings have come to a close and we learned lots from leading industry experts on the latest developments in the pulse industry and what growers need to know. In this episode, SPG Agronomy Managers discuss their key takeaways from winter meeting presentations including research in advancing solutions for root rot, the state of herbicide-resistant weeds in Saskatchewan, and seed quality going into this year's production season. Learn more about the work discussed in this episode:RootRot.ca → Aphanomyces Risk Evaluation App (AREA) → Pulse Applied Research & Demonstration (ARD) Program → Herbicide Residues in Saskatchewan → Regional Variety Trial Portal → Pulse Replicated On-Farm Independent Trials (PROFIT) →  To contact Mark or Mike, email agronomy@saskpulse.com

In this episode, SPG Board Member Terry Youzwa interviews Vicki Dutton, the 2024 Pulse Promoter Award winner and a trailblazer in the pulse industry, to discuss her passion for pulses. She discusses the early days of growing pulses in Saskatchewan and offers insight into her vision for the future of sustainable food.

Winter is upon us, and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has several education and networking opportunities available to producers and agronomists in the coming months. In this episode, SPG Agronomy Managers give you a sneak peak of what to expect at the upcoming Pulse Variety Seminar, Winter Pulse Meetings, and Annual General Meeting. To learn more about these events and register, visit SPG's event page.

In this episode SPG's Seed Program Manager chats with Lynnell Pomedli from Seed Source and Ken McDougall from McDougall Acres. They discuss new pulse varieties including chickpeas, lentils, and peas. Are you aware of the regulatory changes coming to the faba bean market? This episode provides essential information for growers about low vicine/convicine (LVC) faba beans and considerations for producing them. 

In this episode, SPG’s Executive Director is joined by Kyle Larkin from Grain Growers Canada (GGC) and Brad Blackwell, SPG Director. Their discussion highlights many recent accomplishments and ongoing policy initiatives that GGC focuses on. From the Canada Entrepreneurs' Incentive Program to follow up on the rail strike, learn how GGC is working to advocate for Canadian farmers. Learn more about GGC's efforts: www.protectfamilyfarms.cawww.interswitching.cawww.keepcanadatrading.ca

In this episode, SPG’s Director of Research & Development is joined by a panel of experts: SPG Agronomy Manager, Research and Extension Manager with Alberta Pulse Growers, and Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers Executive Director. They discuss new developments in the fight against root rot in pulses, including the Root Rot Task Force, collaboration and new initiatives, significant investments in root rot research, and more. The Root Rot Task Force, consisting of contributors from Alberta Pulse Growers, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, created this online resource for anyone working with pulse crops to learn strategies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating root rot complex. Visit RootRot.ca to learn more.

Pulse harvest is underway in some areas of the province, while others are expected to begin soon. In this episode, SPG’s Agronomy Managers, Meagen Reed and Mike Brown, along with SPG summer student Emily Wudrick, discuss how pulses are faring as they make their way to the bin. Additional Resources: Review Harvest Aid Options for Pulses Check the 2024 Product Advisory Try the Pre-Harvest Interval Calculator Lentil Reproductive & Maturity Staging Guide Watch Staging Peas for Harvest

Missed our Ag in Motion kick-off breakfast? Catch the conversation in this episode, where RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney hosts a dynamic panel of industry experts to explore the innovative pathways shaping the future of pulse breeding, variety commercialization, and royalties. Hear why building a competitive breeding environment is essential for the pulse industry to remain competitive in Western Canada, learn the facts about this direction, and hear about exciting innovation to make you as producers more profitable through breeding and new variety development.This discussion was recorded live at Ag in Motion on July 16, 2024. Learn more about the future of pulse breeding here.