Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ont., have been named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for 2026, following the regional competition held April 7 to 9 in St. Jacobs, Ont. Based at Binbrook, the Spoelstras operate Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd., a diversified family farm producing grains, hay, dairy, and beef. Heather Spoelstra leads the Roy-A-Lea Clydesdales... Read More
Category: Farm Management
I know better than to ask a farmer when they plan to retire. Most will tell you....they don't. But many more do have ideas about things they'd like to do and see when they're maybe not so busy (ahem). The question of "retirement" is two-fold: what will you do with your time, but, more importantly,... Read More
Time is a constant pressure point on cow-calf operations, but where it actually goes — and how well it’s understood — is often less clear. In this episode of Ruminating with RealAg, Brenda Schoepp, mentor and industry veteran, and Kathy Larson, agricultural economist with the University of Saskatchewan join host Amber Bell, to unpack how... Read More
By Margaret Zafiriou This past year has been one for the books – such a lot has changed from a year ago. These dramatic changes have had repercussions for Ontario consumers, the economy, and for the province’s agriculture and agri-food sector. Record high population growth, lack of housing affordability and food security concerns, on top... Read More
Farmers have spoken loudly in a RealAgristudies survey on land ownership restrictions —and 75% agree that there should be stronger limits on who can own farmland. Farmland has been a high-returning asset for farmers, individuals, families, or investment funds over the past couple of decades. While price appreciation has helped farmers' balance sheets by increasing... Read More
Mental health continues to be a growing focus in agriculture, as farmers face increasing pressure from weather, markets, and the complexities of running multi-generational operations. In Alberta, the Agknow project has taken a closer look at what meaningful, farm-specific mental health support could look like, identifying both gaps and opportunities within the current system. Speaking... Read More
The federal government is extending the higher interest-free portion on cash advances for 2026. Coinciding with the start of the government's new fiscal year on April 1, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced the interest-free limit under the Advance Payments Program (APP) for 2026 will be maintained at $250 thousand for non-canola advances. By default in... Read More
On this episode of The Agronomists, your host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Norm Sutherland of Syngenta and Warren Bills of MNP to discuss sales relationships, team approaches to agronomy, communication, what the data says and how AI and tech is shaping client/retail/farmer relationships. The Agronomists is brought to you by RealAg on the Weekend,... Read More
Working with family on the farm can create unique challenges, particularly when personal relationships and business responsibilities overlap. Questions around roles, expectations, and accountability can become more complicated when spouses, parents, and children are all part of the same operation. Nicole Davis of UnCommon Farms works with farms across North America on these issues, drawing... Read More
The federal government is planning to extend the income tax deferral period for livestock producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who received compensation for animals ordered to be destroyed due to the 2024 and 2025 bovine tuberculosis events. On Friday, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Heath MacDonald, announced that the government intends to propose... Read More