The Truth About Ag

Kristjan and Evan are joined by the renowned Arlene Dickinson, who shares how her early experiences with food insecurity shaped her thinking about food, business, and opportunity. From growing up without reliable access to groceries to building one of Canada’s leading marketing firms, her path into agriculture was not linear, but it was intentional. Through her work in venture capital, she began to question why a country with such strong agricultural production was not creating more value from what it grows. That realization led her to invest directly in the agri-food and consumer packaged goods space, where she now has a front row seat to both the opportunities and the gaps in Canada’s system. Arlene challenges the idea that agriculture ends at the commodity level, pointing to the missed opportunity in processing, branding, and commercialization. She speaks to the need for better access to capital, stronger partnerships, and a willingness to think differently about how agricultural products move from field to shelf. At the same time, she highlights the importance of understanding markets, building products people actually want, and recognizing what skills are needed beyond primary production.

After catching up with Kristjan and Evan on their recent travels and conversations, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture, David Marit, joins them on this episode of The Truth About Ag. David reflects on his path from farming near Fife Lake to municipal politics, leadership within the rural municipalities association, and ultimately cabinet. He speaks candidly about mentorship, the importance of surrounding yourself with strong people, and the responsibility that comes with representing agriculture at the federal-provincial table. The conversation quickly shifts to what is pressing on producers right now. Cost of production, return on investment, and the impact of trade disruptions sit at the centre. They discuss value-added processing and why expanding crush and processing capacity inside Saskatchewan changes the math for farmers. The discussion expands into research capacity, infrastructure gaps, and how Canada scales agricultural companies beyond small and mid-sized operations. There is also a clear focus on telling a better story about production practices, emissions performance, and the competitive advantage Western Canada already holds. Bank lending structures, grain storage capacity, business risk programs, crop insurance design, and how large farms fit within existing rules all come under the microscope. David shares his concerns about regulatory bottlenecks at the federal level and their impact on innovation and livestock movement.

The first recording of 2026 opens with a realistic read on the mood coming out of Crop Production Week. Many producers are still coming to grips with what 2025 actually looked like once yield met real pricing, and the optimism some were hoping for hasn’t fully shown up. The conversation walks through what that means for grain marketing right now, why so much grain remains unsold, and how flat spreads and cautious buyers are leaving more acres exposed than many are comfortable with.Evan and Kristjan discuss the pressure points showing up inside farm businesses. Fertilizer prices haven’t reset as expected, booking levels are low, and there are real questions about how the system will handle the spring push. They also dig into logistics and grain movement, highlighting how managing trucks and timing can be just as challenging as growing the crop, and why 2026 is forcing more producers to truly understand their numbers.The episode wraps with a wider look at the industry and the year ahead, pulling in takeaways from Texas and a candid discussion on land, capital, trade uncertainty, and what the next 12 months could mean financially. Things may get tighter before they get easier, but for farms willing to stahttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truth-about-ag/id1740590178y engaged and strategic, opportunity can still show up in tough cycles.

It’s a catch-up Christmas special on The Truth About Ag. With nearly 50 episodes behind them, Evan and Kristjan look back at the conversations that shaped the show. From CEOs who started on the ground floor to guests who opened up about health, mindset, and the realities of modern farming. They revisit the moments that stuck, the one-liners they still use, and the guests who shifted how they think about leadership and life.The conversation moves into the big issues farmers are facing now: grain dryer grants and why infrastructure, not price, is the real bottleneck; rising land values and the wave of recent farm sales; and why some operations are choosing to exit at the top. They dig into succession, working capital pressures, and the growing need for farmers to think beyond the next season and start planning for the next decade.They wrap with a look at growth, hiring before you’re drowning, performance reviews that don’t blindside anyone, and the mentors and books that shaped their own paths. It’s a reflective, honest episode that sets the stage for where agriculture and the show is headed next.

In this episode of The Truth About Ag, Kristjan and Evan are joined by longtime friend and Canadian agriculture executive Bryce Eger. They get into how their small-town roots shaped the people and professionals they’ve become, despite all three of them ending up in careers they were once told not to pursue.Bryce’s leadership has guided teams through mergers, cultural shifts, and major innovations in seed technology and commercialization. Today, Bryce continues to bring his trademark people-first approach to an industry that’s constantly evolving.The conversation ranges from leadership and business advice to technology and personal fulfillment. They also discuss the realities of technology adoption, the ongoing debate between generic and non-generic products, and how purpose and happiness shift as careers mature. Bryce offers thoughtful insights on the fundamentals of leadership and the role that lifelong learning plays in both professional success and personal balance.It’s a candid, thoughtful conversation about growth, perspective, and finding meaning in the work you do - on the farm, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.

Evan and Kristjan welcome Warren Kaeding, third-generation farmer and MLA for Melville-Saltcoats, for a conversation that ties farm life to global trade. Warren shares how his roots in pedigreed seed and recognition through Outstanding Young Farmers shaped his path into politics, and why “engagement, engagement, engagement” is the thread running through both farming and government.The discussion ranges from recent trade missions in Asia to the role of Saskatchewan’s trade offices and STEP in opening doors, building trust, and keeping Canada competitive. Warren explains how volatility today is driven less by supply and demand and more by geopolitics and policy, pushing farms toward longer-term strategies like storage and procurement planning. From rebuilding producer trust to asking buyers what they really want, the episode highlights why communication and collaboration remain the foundation for agriculture’s future.

In this episode, Evan and Kristjan welcome Leta LaRush, Vice President of Business Management for BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions. What follows is a conversation that weaves together agriculture, leadership, innovation, and the realities of life outside of work.Leta explains why it takes as long as twelve years to bring a new agricultural product to market, how regulation and red tape impact innovation, and what Canada needs to do to stay competitive. She talks about the importance of spending time in the combine each year, the debate between brands and generics, and the role trade barriers play in shaping the industry.The conversation also touches on the realities of building a career in agriculture. Leta discusses the choices she has made as a working parent, the value of equal parental leave, and why she has focused on roles that offer opportunities to learn and grow rather than just the ones with the most prestige. She shares the influence of mentors and executive coaches on her career and offers practical advice on leadership, scheduling, and professional development.

In this episode, Evan sits down with Dallas Simmonds of Raptor Enterprises for his second appearance on the podcast. This time, the conversation goes deeper.Dallas opens up about what it really means to find fulfilment after farming. He reflects on the coaching programs he's taken, the leadership skills he's built, and how his personal definition of success has shifted over time. Together, Evan and Dallas talk about the emotional toll of generational succession, the pressure to conform to old-school work expectations, and why guilt often follows those who step away from the family operation—even if it's for the right reasons.They explore the idea that less can be more, the mindset shift from a tired farmer to an energized leader, and how younger farmers are starting to prioritize their health and longevity. It’s a conversation about accountability - physical, mental, and business - and why doing the inner work matters more than ever in an industry that often hides it.

In this episode, Evan sits down with Kristjan and Jeff to talk about the lead-up to harvest, a time filled with anticipation, preparation, and pressure. They start by comparing planning the night before versus the morning of, and how that small difference can shape the tone of the entire day. The conversation quickly broadens into how harvest has evolved over the last decade, largely due to advances in technology. They get into how to train effectively, especially when every hour counts. They discuss the importance of knowing whether a breakdown is due to process or people, and how to set your team up for success when the stakes are high. As the season kicks into gear, they reflect on how to balance it all - equipment, timelines, decision-making, and family dynamics. The discussion also touches on team structure: why having a mix of personalities and skills matters, how divide and conquer plays out on the ground, and how leadership styles need to adapt. They explore what it would look like to have a non-family CEO on a family farm, and why the next generation might be better suited to strategy, while the older generation thrives in execution and operations.

Ben Voss has lived many lives in one: engineer, CEO, global ag-tech leader, and farmer. In this episode, he shares how his career has taken him around the world—everything from orange juice farms in Brazil to dairy operations in Europe—only to circle back to his roots in Saskatchewan. Now splitting his time between leading sales at Raven Industries and working on his family farm, Ben brings a rare perspective that blends international ag-tech with day-to-day farm realities.We get into how leadership styles shift between the boardroom and the farm, how equipment decisions reveal more than just financial strategy, and why the used equipment market is telling a new story in agriculture. Ben talks about equipment life cycles, succession plans, and the differences he sees between Canadian and U.S. farms—from buying habits to maintenance approaches.

In this episode of The Truth About Ag, Kristjan and Evan are joined by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and widely known as The Food Professor. They discuss the complex dynamics shaping Canadian agriculture—from the persistent misunderstandings about farmers and food production, to the political realities of how ag policy actually gets set.They talk about the pecking order in Ottawa, the gap between policy conversations and execution, and what’s holding Canada back when it comes to global competitiveness. Dr. Charlebois offers a candid perspective on growth, sustainability and shares his take on how Canadian agriculture can raise its profile on the world stage.The episode also takes a closer look at the controversial topic of supply management, unpacking the details and misconceptions surrounding the system. And as always, there’s a straight-up discussion about what’s changing in agriculture, what isn’t, and what myths need to be put to rest.

In this episode of The Truth About Ag, Evan Shout sits down with Tyler McCann, Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), for a candid conversation about the state of ag policy in Canada. They start with the role CAPI plays in shaping agri-food dialogue, including the value of its regular newsletter, before diving into the aftermath of Canada’s recent federal election.They examine how policies around capital gains, tax incentives, and trade disputes are shaped, not always by evidence or industry needs, but by shifting politics. The conversation also takes a critical look at Canada’s supply management system, comparing it to the U.S. model and asking hard questions about long-term competitiveness and economic resilience.For anyone trying to understand where Canadian agriculture policy is headed—and what’s getting in the way—this episode brings needed clarity.