Dr. Bill Biligetu is an Associate Professor, at the Crop Development Center of the University of Saskatchewan. Growing up on the Mongolian Plateau, Dr. Bill Biligetu (PhD) has seen first-hand the effect climate change can have on grasslands. As the Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program (SRP) Chair in Forage Crop Breeding, his program has focused on developing new varieties of perennial forage species crucial to the western Canadian beef and forage industries such as alfalfa, hybrid ...
Jul 02, 2025•23 min•Ep. 92
Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-J...
Jun 18, 2025•55 min•Ep. 91
Andrea White is the Director of Marketing and Stakeholder Relations with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). She leads the marketing and communications strategies for the CRSB and its CRSB Certified program. She is a key liaison with the CRSB’s multi-stakeholder membership and supports marketing initiatives of those using the CRSB Certified program. Andrea Chairs the Communications Council of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and sits on Communications working gr...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 90
Donna married her high school sweetheart Les directly out of school and has been married to him for 39 years this July. She was raised in Virden and moved to the farm when they married. For 5 years they lived in a trailer and had one daughter there. They started into cattle with 6 mixed breed cows in 1989. In 1991 they moved to the home farm where the Odell's began in 1892. They are the 4th generation of Odell's on that land. Donna's family also had connections to Hargrave and she too is the 4th...
May 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 89
Gerry Friesen, AKA the Recovering Farmer, is a co-founder of the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program. He comes from a diverse background of experience, learning and discovery through farming and as a stress and conflict management specialist. Gerry’s passion is in helping others find solutions for the various issues that life throws at us. A combination of his own journey with anxiety and depression, training in conflict resolution and intensive counselling training provide him the tools to help ot...
May 21, 2025•44 min•Ep. 88
Dr. Briana Hagen is a leading voice in Canadian agricultural mental health. As CEO and Lead Scientist of the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing, she combines academic research with real-world solutions, co-creating programs alongside farmers to build resilience and break down barriers to mental health support. Dr. Hagen’s work spans policy advocacy, educational programming, and crisis support systems, all grounded in the lived realities of farmers. Her mission is to ensure that farmers a...
May 14, 2025•34 min•Ep. 87
Lesley Kelly is a farmer, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate who farms with her family in Watrous, Saskatchewan. As the voice behind High Heels & Canola Fields , she bridges the gap between farmers and consumers by dispelling agricultural myths and fostering meaningful conversations about food and farming. Her passion for advocacy began while building a snack food company using her family’s grain, inspiring her to create an online community of over 100,000 followers to share stories, b...
May 07, 2025•34 min•Ep. 86
Josh Dillabough is a dedicated natural area manager for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, he’s been with the organization since 2010. When not pursuing efforts to protect critical natural habitat or being coerced into media interviews or podcasts, he endeavours to be a loving husband and dad. Josh is an outdoor enthusiast that enjoys hunting, fishing, paddling and thick rib-eyes hot off the grill. Gordon Beddome is a cow-calf producer who lives near Shilo, Manitoba. His previous work at the Rese...
Apr 30, 2025•48 min•Ep. 85
Tyler Fulton and his wife, Dorelle, along with their kids Evan and Mae own and operate Tyton Farm Ltd, a 600 head cow/calf/backgrounding operation south of Birtle, MB. The farm operates about 6000 acres in prairie pothole country, which consists of mostly tame pasture, hay, and some annual crops. Tyler has spent most of his off-farm career in the field of livestock price risk management after he received a degree in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba. He is passionate about improving t...
Apr 16, 2025•43 min•Ep. 84
Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-J...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 83
Dr. Christy Morrissey is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on issues related to agricultural pesticides and other chemicals and the use of birds and insects as indicators of ecosystem health. Dr. Morrissey has published over 95 highly cited journal articles and book chapters and in 2020 was named to the Royal Society College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Her work has also been featured broadly in the national and internati...
Mar 19, 2025•48 min•Ep. 82
Joey Pankiw grew up on a family farm in the Red River Valley. Joey is a graduate from the University of Winnipeg with a B.A. in Geography, and obtained a MSc. in Geography from the University of Regina. He started working with the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District in 2019 as a Watershed Assistant and also held the ALUS/Grow Coordinator position before becoming District Manager in 2022. In today’s episode, Joey gives us an overview of what the ALUS Growing Roots program is and what the goals of...
Mar 05, 2025•32 min•Ep. 81
Justin Girard is the Manitoba Program Manager for Young Agrarians, a peer to peer educational resource network for new, young and aspiring farmers. He is also the team lead for the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program, a program that sets up aspiring farmers with their first farm job and provides support to both the apprentices and the seasoned farmer mentors. Justin grew up on a farm, worked on farms, and farmed himself and is excited to help carve out opportunities for the next generation of...
Feb 19, 2025•45 min•Ep. 80
Carson Callum is the General Manager with Manitoba Beef Producers. Carson joined MBP in 2019, and comes with an extension background in agriculture. He has a Master’s of Science in Agriculture, specifically related to beef cattle. Carson has worked in many areas of the ag sector, and the beef industry is near and dear to him. He grew up on a small beef farm south of Miami Manitoba. He now lives in Winnipeg with his family, which includes his wife Britni, and sons Cohen and Sullivan. Carson admit...
Feb 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 79
Brent VanKoughnet M.Sc. P.Ag. is Owner / Manager of Agri Skills Inc. a company that specializes in agricultural innovation and human resource development services. Agri Skills provides market development consulting services, custom skills development and training programs, and field scale precision trial services to several major manufacturers and retailers in western Canada and the northern United States. He completed a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Manitoba in...
Jan 29, 2025•59 min•Ep. 78
Kristen Phillips is a mother, agronomist, farmer and she is the General Manager of Manitoba Ag Days. Her and her husband Garret have 3 beautiful daughters, Leah, Bailey and Jordyn. They farm ~ 4000 acres in partnership with Kristen's parents Doug and Denise Williamson. Kristen loves spending time with her girls and you will often find them out scouting fields, playing catch in the front yard or swimming in their pool. Kristen is the head leader of the Brandon Explorers 4-H Club and a leader in t...
Jan 15, 2025•30 min•Ep. 77
Dallas Mount is the owner of Ranch Management Consultants (RMC), home of the Ranching for Profit School and the Executive Link program. Dallas has led RMC since 2019 and worked with thousands of ranchers across North America, Australia and the UK to position their business for economic profit and ecologic health. After working with University of Wyoming Extension for 18 years, Dallas started teaching the Ranching For Profit School in 2012 and quickly established himself as an elite instructor. D...
Jan 01, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 76
In today’s episode, Brock Taylor shares his history in agriculture and about his experiences in the cattle industry. He is the second generation at Taylor Auctions and his oldest son is now involved in the business as well. Brock is the Past President of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada and shares a bit about his role with this organization. Brock gives us a breakdown of what is involved in livestock marketing and the main considerations for a producer over a production year. He also ...
Dec 18, 2024•36 min•Ep. 75
Trevor Atchison operates Poplarview Stock Farm with his wife Melissa, their two children Reese and Wyatt, his parents Lloyd and Joan Atchison and nephew Tyler Scott. Poplarview Stock Farm was recognized as a Century Farm in 2005. Trevor’s children and nephew are the 5th generation. The farm is located just east of Pipestone, MB in sandy soils bordering Plum Lake. The operation utilizes a land base of 9000 acres of deeded and rented land for pasture, hay, and 700-900 annually cropped acres that p...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 74
Elaine Froese has coached over 1000 families helping decrease their anxiety over the uncertainty of their future. She has authored 5 books and written a Grainews column for 30 years. Froese Family Farms, a certified seed farm near Boissevain in Southwestern Manitoba is her home base, where she farms with her husband, son, and daughter in law. Faith Today magazine calls her “Canada’s Farm Whisperer”. CBC radio calls her the “Dr. Phil for farmers. “ Penny ,Ruby, and Read call her “Gramma.” Elaine ...
Nov 20, 2024•51 min•Ep. 73
Dr. Aaron Glenn is a Research Scientist specializing in micrometeorology and has worked at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Brandon since 2011. He has a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Manitoba. His area of expertise and research interests relate the impact that weather and climate have on crop production and the influence that agricultural production systems have on greenhouse gas emissions and air quality. Dr. Glenn is a past President of the Canadian Society of Agricultural an...
Nov 06, 2024•51 min•Ep. 72
Glen and Pam own and operate a Beef Farm near Darlingford, MB. They are dedicated to raising their cattle using sustainable practices. The land they farm on has been in their family for 125 years, and they raised their three boys on the original homestead. Their commitment to the land is illustrated by the fact that they are participating in a Agriculture and AgriFood Canada long term research project that compares the carbon sequestration of their grassland pastures to the methane emission of t...
Oct 30, 2024•50 min•Ep. 71
Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-J...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 70
Alex Koiter is an associate professor in the Department of Geography & Environment at Brandon University. His research program focuses on investigating the interactions between land and water management practices and geomorphology on soil and water quality. His research group investigates a wide range of agricultural issues including soil erosion, downstream sedimentation, nutrient dynamics, greenhouse gas fluxes, and extremes of moisture. Today, Alex is sharing information from his research...
Oct 02, 2024•51 min•Ep. 69
Carson Callum is the General Manager with Manitoba Beef Producers. Carson joined MBP in 2019, and comes with an extension background in agriculture. He has a Master’s of Science in Agriculture, specifically related to beef cattle. Carson has worked in many areas of the ag sector, and the beef industry is near and dear to him. He grew up on a small beef farm south of Miami Manitoba. He now lives in Winnipeg with his family, which includes his wife Britni, and sons Cohen and Sullivan. Carson admit...
Sep 18, 2024•39 min•Ep. 68
Dwayne recognizes that efficient use of on-farm produced feedstuffs impacts farm profitability. In his role as livestock and feed extension specialist, Dwayne provides information and recommendations to match feedstuffs to livestock feeding programs with a focus on maximizing livestock productivity and well-being. Dwayne has 20 years of experience advising clients in various aspects of livestock management, ration development, forage production and utilization. Dwayne has a master of science wit...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 67
Join us as we introduce MBFI's 2024 Summer Students! Briel Lemoing is from a grain farm near Basswood, Manitoba. She is entering her second year of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan. She plans on pursuing a career in cattle genetics and hopes to eventually return to her home farm and working cattle into their operation. Megan Harris grew up in Brandon, Manitoba and is entering her fourth and final year of her Bachelor of Science...
Aug 21, 2024•13 min•Ep. 66
Dr. Greg Penner is a Professor in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science and holds a Centennial Enhancement Chair in Ruminant Nutritional Physiology at the University of Saskatchewan. He was hired in 2009 after obtaining his bachelor’s degree and M.Sc. degree at the University of Saskatchewan, and his PhD from the University of Alberta. Dr. Penner’s research focuses on forage utilization, beef and dairy cattle nutrition, and regulation of gastrointestinal function in ruminants. Individual ...
Aug 07, 2024•54 min•Ep. 65
Today we are talking with Dr. Mary-Jane Orr about MBFI’s Sod Seeding Trial and the Forage Living Library. Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders ...
Jul 31, 2024•41 min•Ep. 64
At Deer Meadow Farmacy, Sean and Kristi-Lyn Buckley prioritize the health and wellness of their entire ecological system- knowing the well-being of nature is parallel to that of human health. With this correlation at the forefront of their minds, they strive to maximize diversity above and below the soil to create a resilient, holistic ecosystem which produces flavourful, nutrient-dense food that is beyond food. It is medicine. They are passionate about creating food that can heal and understand...
Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 63
