The conversation explores how tan spot impacts cereal crops across Western Canada, the role of genetic resistance and fungicides in disease control and what researchers are learning about the pathogen through surveys and pathotyping work.

We then hear from Jonathan Driedger, vice president of LeftField Commodity Research, and Neil Blue, crop market analyst with the Government of Alberta. They discuss what is top of mind heading into the 2026 growing season, including rising input costs, market uncertainty and key factors shaping crop decisions. The conversation also explores the outlook for grain markets and practical tools producers can use to manage risk and plan for the year ahead.

Relevant Links:

Agricultural Marketing Guide – Articles on numerous marketing-related topics to help farm managers improve their farm income through improved marketing.

Cropping Alternatives – Annual cost and returns forecast reports based on average Alberta data, to be used as a guideline for crop choice decisions.

CropChoice$ - Free downloadable computer program to predict revenues and margins for Alberta farm enterprises based on knowledge of the individual farm.

AgriProfit$ - Program that gathers financial information from producers in exchange for individual farm financial analysis.

Alberta Climate Information Service – An interactive tool for Alberta weather forecasts with access to historical data and maps from Alberta’s weather stations.

Leftfield Commodity Research

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Charles Geddes, a weed research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge. Geddes discusses with us the challenges of managing kochia and some tactics producers can implement to fight back. Geddes discusses the impacts of different crop types as well as cultural practices that can push back on kochia pressure.