Today is World Mental Health Day

Oct 11, 2024

Over the last few years, a real emphasis has been put on the importance of making your mental health a priority and removing the stigma around reaching out for help.

Farming is known to be one of the most dangerous occupations, it involves a lot of stress and factors unique to agriculture like the weather and markets both of which can have a major impact and are totally out of farmers' control.

Learning ways to recognize and release stress is key especially when trying to stay focused when working with large farm equipment or unpredictable livestock.

As a result, we now have multiple mental health organizations to link producers anonymously to mental health support agencies that understand farming and ranching.

The Do More Agriculture Foundation offers a variety of support systems provincially and nationally.

Click here to see more...

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.