The GrainsWest Podcast

After years as the go-to malting barley on the Prairies, CDC Copeland is giving way to a new favourite: CDC Churchill. Farmers, maltsters and brewers don’t usually switch varieties quickly, so when a new one takes the top spot, there’s a story behind it. In this episode, GrainsWest writer and beer expert Don Tse talks with people from across the barley industry about what’s driving the move to Churchill and what it means for the full chain, from the field to the malt house to the brewery. GrainsWest magazine is published by Alberta Grains, with the goal of connecting farmers, food and ideas. For exclusive online-only stories or to subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter, visit grainswest.com.

Agriculture is on the edge of an AI revolution, and farmers are about to feel it. In this episode of The GrainsWest Podcast, Trevor Bacque sits down with businessman and ag tech visionary Robert Saik, who makes the case that artificial intelligence is already reshaping how farmers gather data, manage operations, and make decisions in the field. From precision ag platforms to marketing portfolio management, Saik breaks down where AI fits into the modern farm, and where it's headed next. GrainsWest magazine is published by Alberta Grains, connecting farmers, food, and ideas. Visit grainswest.com to read exclusive stories and subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter at: https://grainswest.com/

No one knows farming like farmers. To produce its latest AgIntel Index Report, AdFarm turned to farmers for their perspectives on Canadian and U.S. agriculture. The report’s authors discuss insights into the farm economy, AI, regenerative ag and more.   Read the exclusive online story at grainswest.com

In this episode of The GrainsWest Podcast, we explore how Western Canadian agriculture evolved from horse-and-plow to the mechanized age of tractors, threshers, and field implements. As farming equipment became obsolete, many machines disappeared—until a dedicated group of enthusiasts stepped in. Learn how members of the Westlock Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club founded the Canadian Tractor Museum to preserve this vital history. Editor Ian Doig visits the museum to speak with president Steven Miller and vice president Brent Sterling about the collection, its legacy, and why preserving farm equipment matters. GrainsWest magazine is published by Alberta Grains with a mission to connect farmers, food, and ideas. For more stories, or to subscribe to our e-newsletter, visit grainswest.com.

This is the second of a two-part examination of the effects of U.S. trade war on the Canadian agriculture. What are the potential economic impact on farmers, and what has it done to crop input markets and the agricultural manufacturing sector?