As the trade war between the United States and Canada continues, it’s time to talk about what is going on, why it’s happening, and what we can do to prepare ourselves for any possible outcome. Joined by guests Al Mussell, Founder and Research Lead for Agri-Food Economic Systems, and Kelvin Heppner, Field Editor at Real Agriculture, we dig in on the history of trade relations between the US and Canada, the evolution of this contentious trade war, and ultimately who pays the price. What does the future hold for Canadians if an agreement isn’t reached? How can farmers and folks in agriculture help ease the economic impacts? What does the future look like for Canadian dairy? Join us as we dig in on Trade Wars and Agriculture.

Meet Our Guests

● Al Mussell: Founder and Research Lead of Agri-Food Economic Systems

Al is the Founder and Research Lead of Agri-Food and Economic Systems, a Senior Research Fellow at the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute and a C.D. Howe Institute Fellow-in-Residence and Trade and Supply Chains Policy Scholar focused on agriculture and agri-food. Al has appeared on BNN Bloomberg Commodities discussing agricultural pricing and Canadian agricultural supply chains, on CTV’s Your Morning discussing dairy tariffs and on The Global Exchange podcast discussing Canadian agri-food productivity and trade.

● Kelvin Heppner: Field Editor at Real Agriculture and Manitoba Family Farmer

Robert Kelvin Heppner is a Journalist and Field Editor at Real Agriculture with an emphasis on agricultural policy, agri-food current events and essential agricultural news. Kelvin is also a Co-Owner of Buffalo Creek Chicken, a family-run broiler breeder and hatching egg farm in Manitoba with a flock size well over 10,000.

About UFA

Founded in 1909, UFA Co-operative Limited is an Alberta-based agricultural co-operative with more than 125,000 member-owners. UFA’s network comprises more than 121 bulk fuel and Cardlock Petroleum locations, 35 Farm & Ranch Supply stores and a support office in Calgary, AB. Independent Petroleum Agents and over 1,200 UFA employees provide products, services and agricultural solutions to farmers, ranchers, members and commercial customers in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. UFA has been named the 2026 Large Co-operative of the Year by Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC), a national recognition that celebrates co-operatives making a meaningful contribution to communities and co-operatives and mutuals across Canada. 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: Al Mussell, Kelvin Heppner
Senior Writer: Eric La Febre
Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk
Audio Producer: Scott Whittaker
Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith
Contributor: Trish Nixon

As we continue our conversation on AI, Data Centres and Agriculture in Western Canada and what AI usage looks like for both the consumer and the farmer, we dig in a little further on resource allocation and consequence. Our guests David Gerhard and Robert Saik look at the realistic fears presented by those most affected and long-term predictions on how data centres will affect rural communities, Western Canada’s economy, and the industry at large.

Is there enough water to allocate between new data centre usage and the expansive agricultural industry? What does addressing realistic fears from industry leaders and the farmers most affected look like and how do we square the circle of a booming industry? What does the future of AI hold for farmers and their land? On this episode we continue to dig in on AI, Data Centres and Agriculture.

Meet Our Guests

David Gerhard: Head of Computer Science University of Manitoba

Dr. David Gerhard is Professor and Head of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba. With more than two decades of experience in technology, education, and research, he specializes in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and human-computer interaction. Known for making complex technology topics accessible and engaging, David is a sought-after speaker who helps people understand how emerging technologies are shaping the way we live, work, and learn. David brings a grounded perspective on tech advancements to people from all different walks of life. Between TED talks and media coverage on savvy social media consumption, David connects with people in a real and approachable way.

Robert Saik: Professional Agrologist and CEO of T1 Technology Corporation

Robert Saik is a distinguished agrologist, entrepreneur, and international consultant with over forty years of experience in the agriculture industry. In 2021, he was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Most Influential Agriculture Leaders and one of Canada’s Top 10 Ag Mentors. He is the founder and CEO of T1 Technology Corporation which is the developer of AGvisorPRO a global mobile connectivity platform for agriculture as well as visorPRO.ai a solution leverage AI in the farm equipment and construction sectors. Robert has worked with prominent figures, including Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Bill Gates, and was one of only three private citizens to address the 2020 FAO-UN High Level Special Event on agriculture sustainability.

About UFA

Founded in 1909, UFA Co-operative Limited is an Alberta-based agricultural co-operative with more than 125,000 member-owners. UFA’s network comprises more than 121 bulk fuel and Cardlock Petroleum locations, 35 Farm & Ranch Supply stores and a support office in Calgary, AB. Independent Petroleum Agents and over 1,200 UFA employees provide products, services and agricultural solutions to farmers, ranchers, members and commercial customers in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. UFA has been named the 2026 Large Co-operative of the Year by Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC), a national recognition that celebrates co-operatives making a meaningful contribution to communities and co-operatives and mutuals across Canada. 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: David Gerhard, Robert Saik
Senior Writer: Eric La Febre
Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk
Audio Producer: Scott Whittaker
Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith
Contributor: Trish Nixon

In the face of increasing global interest in artificial intelligence, data centres that train and run complex artificial intelligence models are beginning to pop up in rural communities. In this Part 1 of a two-part conversation, David Gerhard and Robert Saik dig into the realities of data centre expansion, why Western Canada is such an attractive location for these facilities, and the impact of AI on agriculture in general.

What do data centres do exactly and how much power do they need to run? What fears do people have when it comes to new data centres in their communities? How do we have an earnest conversation between those on either side of the argument and address the pros and cons in a balanced way? On this episode, we begin to dig in on AI, Data Centers and Agriculture.

Meet Our Guests

• David Gerhard: Head of Computer Science University of Manitoba

Dr. David Gerhard is Professor and Head of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba. With more than two decades of experience in technology, education, and research, he specializes in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and human-computer interaction. Known for making complex technology topics accessible and engaging, David is a sought-after speaker who helps people understand how emerging technologies are shaping the way we live, work, and learn. David brings a grounded perspective on tech advancements to people from all different walks of life. Between TED talks and media coverage on savvy social media consumption, David connects with people in a real and approachable way.

• Robert Saik: Professional Agrologist and CEO of T1 Technology Corporation

Robert Saik is a distinguished agrologist, entrepreneur, and international consultant with over forty years of experience in the agriculture industry. In 2021, he was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Most Influential Agriculture Leaders and one of Canada’s Top 10 Ag Mentors. He is the founder and CEO of T1 Technology Corporation which is the developer of AGvisorPRO a global mobile connectivity platform for agriculture as well as visorPRO.ai a solution leverage AI in the farm equipment and construction sectors. Robert has worked with prominent figures, including Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Bill Gates, and was one of only three private citizens to address the 2020 FAO-UN High Level Special Event on agriculture sustainability.

About UFA

Founded in 1909, UFA Co-operative Limited is an Alberta-based agricultural co-operative with more than 125,000 member-owners. UFA’s network comprises more than 121 bulk fuel and Cardlock Petroleum locations, 35 Farm & Ranch Supply stores and a support office in Calgary, AB. Independent Petroleum Agents and over 1,200 UFA employees provide products, services and agricultural solutions to farmers, ranchers, members and commercial customers in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. UFA has been named the 2026 Large Co-operative of the Year by Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC), a national recognition that celebrates co-operatives making a meaningful contribution to communities and co-operatives and mutuals across Canada. 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: David Gerhard, Robert Saik
Senior Writer: Eric La Febre
Showrunner: Jessica Grajczyk
Audio Producer: Scott Whittaker
Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith
Contributor: Trish Nixon

#podcast #farming #datadentres