In this episode of The GrainsWest Podcast, we explore how Western Canadian agriculture evolved from horse-and-plow to the mechanized age of tractors, threshers, and field implements. As farming equipment became obsolete, many machines disappeared—until a dedicated group of enthusiasts stepped in.
Learn how members of the Westlock Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club founded the Canadian Tractor Museum to preserve this vital history. Editor Ian Doig visits the museum to speak with president Steven Miller and vice president Brent Sterling about the collection, its legacy, and why preserving farm equipment matters.
GrainsWest magazine is published by Alberta Grains with a mission to connect farmers, food, and ideas. For more stories, or to subscribe to our e-newsletter, visit grainswest.com.
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Canadian agriculture and Trump’s trade war: Part Two
This is the second of a two-part examination of the effects of U.S. trade war on the Canadian agriculture. What are the potential economic impact on farmers, and what has it done to crop input markets and the agricultural manufacturing sector?
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Canadian agriculture and Trump’s trade war: Part One
This is the first of a two-part examination of the effects of the U.S. trade war on the Canadian agriculture industry. In this episode, we examine the fallout and response from a policy and markets perspective.
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The need for certified seed
The work of certified seed growers is challenging. In the magazine’s spring 2025 issue, GrainsWest introduced readers to three successful Alberta seed growing operations. In this episode of The GrainsWest Podcast, Trevor Bacque picks up where that story left off and talks with Larry Penner of Penwest Seeds about the variety registration system and innovation in seed genetics.
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To read more about the work of Alberta seed growers, visit https://grainswest.com/
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Canadian agriculture’s short line manufacturers
In this episode, Trevor Bacque goes inside the Canadian short line equipment
industry, a sector led by enterprising farmers. While they represent a surprising
amount of economic activity, these relatively small, independent manufacturers are
a pivotal part of the farm equipment ecosystem.
For the digital edition of the story, please visit: https://grainswest.com/