Digging In with UFA

Emergency Strychnine Use: A Short‑Term Fix to a Long‑Term Problem

Farmers and ranchers are facing an unprecedented surge in the Richardson Ground Squirrel population with devastating effects to crops, pasture and farmland. The temporary lift of the nationwide ban on Strychnine in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan has aided in crisis mitigation, but when the ban goes into effect again in 2027, what will farmers and ranchers do to maintain stability knowing full well the problem will return? Should the PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) be able to ban the use of effective tools especially when there are few alternatives? What will happen in 2027 and will it affect food security for consumers or agricultural stability for farmers? How do we trust our farmers and ranchers with pest control autonomy while also ensuring proper use of dangerous chemicals? In this episode, we’re digging into emergency Strychnine use. Meet Our Guests Wade Nelson, Owner and Operator of Highwood Valley Ranch   Along with his wife and parents, Wade owns and operates Highwood Valley Ranch––a fourth generation family operation south of Calgary and west of High River, Alberta. The ranch offers a mix of Angus cattle that are started and finished on grass and free choice oats. With 1500 acres of grain and 700 acres of grass, Highwood Valley Ranch is a mixed farm operation. Jason Schneider, Rancher, Reeve of Vulcan County and Vice President of RMA Board Jason owns and operates a fourth-generation grain farm in Vulcan County with his wife and two kids. He has sat on Vulcan County Council since 2013, serving as Reeve since 2016. Jason joined the RMA Board (Rural Municipalities of Alberta) in 2020 as the Director for District 1 and was elected Vice‑President in 2025 which includes all 69 rural and specialized municipalities in the province. Within the RMA, Jason serves on several internal committees, including federal advocacy, policy review, and the RMA Resolutions Committee, where he serves as Chair.  About UFA  UFA Co-operative was founded in 1909. The co-operative was formed by farmers, for farmers, with the belief that more can be accomplished when we work together. 117 years later, UFA has grown into one of Canada's largest and most progressive agricultural co-operatives, offering the products, services and support for the farmers and ranchers who feed the world. As a co-operative, UFA is member-owned and today, its membership has grown to over 120,000. UFA continues the movement started over a century ago by serving and advocating for members of the agricultural community and beyond. At the heart of this commitment is ensuring the voice of the farmer is brought to the decision-making table. UFA is proud to give back to rural communities, ensuring they thrive for generations to come. Learn more at UFA.com. About Your Host  Don Shafer, PhD, is an award winning broadcaster, veteran media executive, and recipient of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He holds a PhD in Social Justice, bringing a rare blend of industry expertise and academic insight to the evolving media landscape. Credits Host: Don Shafer, PhD Guests: Wade Nelson, Jason Schneider  Senior Writer: Eric La Febre Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk Audio Producer: Scott Whittaker Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith Contributor: Trish Nixon

Fuel Forecast: What’s Driving Prices and What’s Next?

Please note: This episode was recorded in March 2026. The perspectives and forecasts shared reflect the conditions and information available at the time of recording. Given the rapidly evolving global, political, and market environment, circumstances have changed since this episode was recorded. Fuel is what drives us. It's what keeps our machinery running and our product moving. However, in times of tumultuous international disputes, farmers and ranchers are paying unprecedentedly higher prices because of decisions outside their control. How can ranchers and farmers attempt to navigate shifting fuel prices tied to global and geopolitical events? How can the industry protect itself through times of instability and unpredictability? In this episode, we’re digging in on Fuel Forecast: What’s Driving Prices and What’s Next? Meet Our Guests * Roger McKnight, Chief Petroleum Analyst for En-Pro International  [https://www.en-pro.com/index.html] Roger McKnight is the Chief Petroleum Analyst at En-Pro International, an Ontario based consultancy firm. With more than four decades of experience forecasting gasoline and diesel pricing in Canada and over two decades working with major oil companies with a focus in dealing with Imperial Oil [https://www.imperialoil.ca/company/about], Roger understands the ebbs and flows of fuel pricing and its importance to the industry. His expertise includes refining economics, rack and retail pricing mechanics, carbon and environmental policy impacts and regional distribution constraints. Roger provides daily price outlooks for Canadian news outlets [https://globalnews.ca/video/11727496/gas-prices-dip-after-weeks-of-increases] and is recognized for his practical, data backed forecasts that matter to commercial and agricultural fuel users. * Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy  [https://www.gasbuddy.com] Patrick De Haan is the Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy. For the better part of two decades, Patrick has been a widely respected energy market analyst who monitors real time gasoline and diesel pricing trends across North America. His research focuses on refinery utilization patterns, [https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/fossil-fuels/refining-sector-canada] inventory shifts, global crude dynamics [https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/fossil-fuels/crude-oil-industry-overview] and consumer demand behavior. Patrick appears regularly in national media [https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/business/video/gas-prices-oil-iran-war-lead-jake-tapper] and is known for translating complex market movements into clear insights for industry and consumers. About UFA  UFA Co-operative was founded in 1909. The co-operative was formed by farmers, for farmers, with the belief that more can be accomplished when we work together. 117 years later, UFA has grown into one of Canada's largest and most progressive agricultural co-operatives, offering the products, services and support for the farmers and ranchers who feed the world. As a co-operative, UFA is member-owned and today, its membership has grown to over 160,000. UFA continues the movement started over a century ago by serving and advocating for members of the agricultural community and beyond. At the heart of this commitment is ensuring the voice of the farmer is brought to the decision-making table. UFA is proud to give back to rural communities, ensuring they thrive for generations to come. Learn more at UFA.com [http://ufa.com]. About Your Host  Don Shafer, PhD, is an award winning broadcaster, veteran media executive, and recipient of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He holds a PhD in Social Justice, bringing a rare blend of industry expertise and academic insight to the evolving media landscape. Credits Host: Dr. Don Shafer, PhD Guests: Roger McKnight, Patrick De Haan Senior Writer: Eric La Febre Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk Audio Producer: Scott Whittaker Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith Contributor: Trish Nixon  #podcast #farming #fuel

Digging In with UFA - The Truth About Beef Part 2

What does the future hold for beef production in Canada? In part two of this two-part episode of Digging In with UFA, we continue digging into beef production, cattle ranching and the myths and realities around the steak on your plate. Comedian, media personality and rancher, Dickson ‘Quick Dick McDick’ Delorme [https://www.producer.com/farmliving/what-makes-quick-dick-mcdick-tick/] joins cattle rancher, agriculture advocate and blogger, Adrienne Ivey [https://www.instagram.com/viewfromtheranchporch/?hl=en], for a conversation about what it means to be a beef producer today. What does government oversight look like when it comes to stability within the cattle industry? What happens to consumers and producers during unprecedented economic shifts? Grab your forks and join us as we dig in with another episode of Digging In with UFA.  Our Guests Dickson Delorme - Quick Dick McDick Dickson Delorme [https://farmingfortomorrow.ca/quick-dick-mcdick/] created the Quick Dick McDick character through Snapchat as a way to capture the everyday humour of life on the farm. Now with a successful YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/QuickDickMcDick/videos] and a stand-up comedy career under his belt buckle, Quick Dick has become a humorous voice for agriculture’s finest, with an engaging personality that resonates with anyone experiencing the wins and woes of cattle ranching. Adrienne Ivey - Evergreen Cattle Co. / View From The Ranch Porch Adrienne Ivey [https://x.com/adrienneivey?lang=en] loves raising the beef on your plate, and talking about it! She is a rancher, agriculture advocate and blogger from Ituna, Saskatchewan. Alongside her family, she owns and runs Evergreen Cattle Co. and educates the public about the realities of ranching on social media and her blog, View From The Ranch Porch [https://viewfromtheranchporch.com].  About UFA  UFA Co-operative [https://ufa.com/] was founded in 1909. The co-operative was formed by farmers, for farmers, with the belief that we can accomplish more when we work together. 117 years later, UFA has grown into one of Canada's largest and most progressive agricultural co-operatives, offering the products, services and support for the farmers and ranchers who feed the world. As a co-operative, UFA is member-owned and today, its membership has grown to over 180,000. UFA continues the movement started over a century ago by serving and advocating for members of the agricultural community and beyond. At the heart of this commitment is ensuring the voice of the farmer is brought to the decision-making table. UFA is proud to give back to rural communities, ensuring they thrive for generations to come. Learn more at UFA.com [http://ufa.com]. Credits Host: Dr. Don Shafer, PhD Guests: Dickson Delorme, Adrienne Ivey Senior Writer: Eric La Febre Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk Audio Engineer: Scott Whittaker Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith Contributor: Trish Nixon #podcast

Digging In with UFA - The Truth About Beef Part 1

Season 2 Episode 2 - Is beef production bad for the environment? Should you feel bad about enjoying a nice, juicy steak? In this episode of Digging In with UFA, we unearth some of the myths and realities of beef production, cattle ranching and public perceptions of one of the world’s most cherished foods. Comedian, media personality and rancher, Dickson ‘Quick Dick McDick’ Delorme [https://www.producer.com/farmliving/what-makes-quick-dick-mcdick-tick/] joins cattle rancher, agriculture advocate and blogger, Adrienne Ivey [https://www.instagram.com/viewfromtheranchporch/?hl=en], for a conversation about the realities of beef production in the modern age. What should consumers know about beef that isn’t often discussed? How do ranchers maintain momentum during tumultuous economic times? Grab your forks and get ready to dig into another episode of Digging In with UFA.  Our Guests Dickson Delorme - Quick Dick McDick Dickson Delorme [https://farmingfortomorrow.ca/quick-dick-mcdick/] created the Quick Dick McDick character through Snapchat as a way to capture the everyday humour of life on the farm. Now with a successful YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/QuickDickMcDick/videos] and a stand-up comedy career under his belt buckle, Quick Dick has become a humorous voice for agriculture’s finest, with an engaging personality that resonates with anyone experiencing the wins and woes of cattle ranching. Adrienne Ivey - Evergreen Cattle Co. / View From The Ranch Porch Adrienne Ivey [https://x.com/adrienneivey?lang=en] loves raising the beef on your plate, and talking about it! She is a rancher, agriculture advocate and blogger from Ituna, Saskatchewan. Alongside her family, she owns and runs Evergreen Cattle Co. and educates the public about the realities of ranching on social media and her blog, View From The Ranch Porch [https://viewfromtheranchporch.com].  About UFA  UFA Co-operative [https://ufa.com/] was founded in 1909. The co-operative was formed by farmers, for farmers, with the belief that we can accomplish more when we work together. 117 years later, UFA has grown into one of Canada's largest and most progressive agricultural co-operatives, offering the products, services and support for the farmers and ranchers who feed the world. As a co-operative, UFA is member-owned and today, its membership has grown to over 180,000. UFA continues the movement started over a century ago by serving and advocating for members of the agricultural community and beyond. At the heart of this commitment is ensuring the voice of the farmer is brought to the decision-making table. UFA is proud to give back to rural communities, ensuring they thrive for generations to come. Learn more at UFA.com [http://ufa.com]. Credits Host: Don Shafer, PhD Guests: Dickson Delorme, Adrienne Ivey Senior Writer: Eric La Febre Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk Audio Engineer: Scott Whittaker Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith Contributor: Trish Nixon #podcast #farming

Digging In with UFA - Women In Agriculture

Season 2 Episode 1 Did you know women could own cattle before they could vote? In this episode of Digging In with UFA, we learn about the realities, misconceptions and histories of women in agriculture. Joined by beef producer and educator, Josie Pashulka [https://albertabeef.org/team-member/josie-pashulka/], and rancher and author, Rachel Herbert [https://trailsendbeef.com/values-practices/about-us/], we take a look at the reality of women’s roles in Canadian agriculture from generations past to present day. What unique perspectives do they bring to the industry? What does innovation and leadership look like for women in Ag? What role does gender play in the history of legacy ranches and homesteads? Grab your shovels and join us as we dig into another fascinating topic on Digging In with UFA.  Our Guests Josie Pashulka - Rusylvia Cattle Co.  Josie Pashulka and her husband Ken co-founded the Rusylvia Cattle Co. [http://www.rusylviacattleco.com] 31 years ago. With the help of their three sons, they operate the 400-cow operation in Derwent, Alberta. Josie advocates for producers and helps strengthen the industry as an Alberta Beef Producers Delegate [http://abpdaily.com]. She also leads the industry as an educator and a preeminent voice in artificial insemination at Lakeland College, where she helps train the next generation of livestock professionals. She has been recognized for her work with a 2025 Women in Ag Award by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) [https://afsc.ca/about-afsc/community/afscs-women-in-ag-award/] highlighting her impact, resilience and dedication to agriculture.  Rachel Herbert - Trail’s End Beef Rachel Herbert co-owns and operates Trail’s End Beef [https://trailsendbeef.com/] near Nanton, Alberta, where she and her husband Tyler raise grass-fed, grass-finished, red and black Angus cattle using regenerative practices [https://rr2cs.ca/]. As advocates for sustainability, their ranching model emphasizes rotational grazing, watershed protection and ecological stewardship of native grasslands in Porcupine Hills. Holding an MA from the University of Calgary, Rachel is the author of Ranching Women in Southern Alberta [https://press.ucalgary.ca/books/9781552389119/], a groundbreaking book that challenges myths and highlights the vital roles women have played in ranching history. As a fourth-generation rancher raising the fifth, Rachel draws on her family’s deep roots in Alberta ranching, including stories of her great-grandmother’s resilience during the Great Depression. About UFA  UFA Co-operative [https://ufa.com/] was founded in 1909. The co-operative was formed by farmers, for farmers, with the belief that we can accomplish more when we work together. 116 years later, UFA has grown into one of Canada's largest and most progressive agricultural co-operatives, offering the products, services and support for the farmers and ranchers who feed the world. As a co-operative, UFA is member-owned and today, its membership has grown to over 180,000. UFA continues the movement started over a century ago by serving and advocating for members of the agricultural community and beyond. At the heart of this commitment is ensuring the voice of the farmer is brought to the decision-making table. UFA is proud to give back to rural communities, ensuring they thrive for generations to come. Learn more at UFA.com [http://ufa.com]. Credits Host: Dr. Don Shafer, PhD Guests: Josie Pashulka, Rachel Herbert Senior Writer: Eric La Febre Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk Audio Producer: Scott Whittaker Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith Contributor: Trish Nixon