A group of mostly Cuban burglars, led by former intelligence agents Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, were found ransacking filing cabinets and planting listening devices.

By the time the whole tawdry tale came out, a new naming convention for political scandals was firmly ensconced in the public imagination, senior members of president Richard Nixon’s administration were jailed and Nixon was forced to resign in August 1974.

Over time it’s become apparent that Nixon knew nothing of the mission until after the fact. Yet he and his administration were held accountable because once they did know, they attempted to cover it up. They destroyed evidence, obstructed investigators and bribed the arrested burglars.

In the end, Nixon was forced from office when the contents of a tape recorded conversation between he and his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, were made public. They can be heard scheming to influence the investigation, and Nixon can be heard ordering the FBI to end its investigation.

Fifty years ago that sort of conduct by a sitting president was taken seriously by the American public, and American politicians. Eleven Republicans on the judiciary committee, who had previously voted against impeachment, announced they would change their vote. Rather than delay the inevitable, Nixon resigned.

An idiom that exists to this day emerged from this scandal: “It’s not the crime, it’s the cover up.” Essentially, something can be bad, but taking the wrong action can always make it worse.

I couldn’t help but think of this recently, when word of the retraction of a landmark study on the safety of glyphosate reached my desk. The study, published 25 years ago in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, concluded glyphosate was safe for humans.

The study has been described as “foundational” to many public regulatory reviews, including Health Canada’s. Not surprisingly, there are now calls worldwide for further review, including here in Canada.

In retracting the study, the journal noted that documents released as part of litigation suggest employees of Monsanto were the ghostwriters of the study and that the company paid the study’s authors of record.

The retraction notice further stated that the conclusions on whether glyphosate causes cancer in the study were based entirely on unpublished studies from the chemical firm.

This scandal — Glyphos-gate, if you will — is just another nail in what could be the coffin of a keystone weed control agent that underpins the minimum tillage production systems used so widely on the Canadian Prairies.

Last March, Bayer chief executive officer Bill Anderson warned that the firm was likely to stop producing Roundup if costly lawsuits continued.

He told the Wall Street Journal payouts had already cost the company US$10 billion, and were causing annual losses of $2 to $3 billion on total Roundup sales of $2.8 billion last year.

“We’re pretty much reaching the end of the road,” Anderson told reporter Patrick Thomas in an interview.

“We’re talking months, not years.”

Losing the glyphosate molecule would be difficult to imagine, given its near-total adoption in Prairie production systems. But the greater issue for the agriculture sector is going to be how this will undermine public trust.

Agriculture has long counselled critics to “stick with the science” because decisions can’t be made on feelings.

However, when a scientific study has been deemed by reviewers to be unduly influenced or ghostwritten by those seeking to benefit from regulatory approval, it’s going to be a tough sell to the public.

If agriculture does have to face up to a post-glyphosate world, Monsanto will have a lot to answer for.

Unlike Nixon, who had to face his nation for the coverup, Monsanto has disappeared by way of corporate merger, leaving farmers nobody to kick around for the consequences.

Near the entrance to their booth they highlighted notable corn hybrids the firm has launched over the years under its Dekalb brand.

Kate Hyatt, marketing portfolio lead with the firm, said the idea came earlier this year when she and her colleagues were talking to growers, who spoke about why they chose a certain hybrid. After a while, the discussion morphed into hybrids they’ve used and liked over the years.

“The history makers campaign is about celebrating everything we’ve brought to the market in the past,” Hyatt said, while highlighting the display to Farmtario. “Just like in a music hall of fame, there’s platinum and gold levels. We’ve included those in showcases and captured some tidbits of information from our breeders that worked with them and the staff that have sold them in the field for many years.”

Hyatt noted the effort reflects the interactions farmers have with Dekalb in the field. It’s there that they put the hybrids to the test in real world conditions, and where winners emerge.

“It was about a particular soybean variety or corn hybrid, and what their experience was with that,” she said.

For more of our coverage of Canada’s Outdoor farm show, visit our landing page.

“We’re very pleased with attendance, response from exhibitors and the overall tone of the show this year,” said Rob O’Connor, Ag In Motion show director.

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“It amazes me how important Ag In Motion has become to all levels of the agriculture industry.”

O’Connor also noted the growing trend of international visitors attending the outdoor farm show.

“We saw three times more international visitors than last year,” he said.

He also said the ride and drive programs continue to draw huge crowds, and many companies have begun to use the show as a customer appreciation event.

Trade supercharger

Canada’s chief trade commissioner says Ag In Motion is a one-of-a-kind venue to introduce international buyers to Canadian farm equipment and the companies that make and sell it.

“I’ve never been to an outdoor show like this before,” said Sara Wilshaw July 16 after touring the show site and speaking to equipment manufacturers.

“This is amazing. Incredible. And the live demonstrations are so important, I think.”

In her role, Wilshaw is responsible for helping Canadian businesses secure and explore international markets, find new customers and partners and grow Canadian exports.

Wilshaw told the Western Producer that the buyers she met at the event welcomed the opportunity to escape the meeting room, observe equipment in the field and touch and test it.

“The feedback I’ve gotten has been so positive,” she said.

Wilshaw said the current volatile trade environment means it’s more important than ever to take a systematic approach to growing trade and exports.

“This is why we need partnerships, and why you’re hearing folks talking about our trading partners,” she said.

Wilshaw said Canada has 15 trade agreements covering 51 countries and spanning the globe. She also noted that the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement remains in effect in North America, and trade continues to flow between the three countries, even in the face of tariff threats.

“It is still working, there’s a lot going in CUSMA-compliant to the United States,” she said.

“It is still, and always going to be, an extremely important trading partner for us.”

When asked about Canada’s canola trade to China, she said she’s not directly involved in it, but that the entire Canadian government is aware of the issue and working on it.

“The government, and ministers, are acutely aware of it, up to the prime minister,” she said.

Fun events

A show highlight was the first run of the daily junior cattle show.

“That was really fun to watch and a lot of those participants and their families were really happy with things,” O’Connor said.

He also reported a packed tractor pull and enormous interest in drone demonstrations.

“I was thrilled to see how many people went to the southeast corner of our show site to watch those drones,” he said.

High profile vistors to the site included Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe. provincial agriculture minister Daryl Harrison and many prominent agricultural business leaders.

Cruising the grounds of the event, a common sight was families walking hand in hand to explore the show. O’Connor noted those scenes are a clear reflection of the unique culture of agriculture in Western Canada.

“Ag in Motion was developed because of the business of agriculture, but the business of agriculture means families,” he said.

“It’s a family business.”

Kids get to explore equipment, sitting in tractor cabs, becoming comfortable with agricultural technology. They play corn hole, which is becoming a rural family staple at many of the exhibitor booths, as their parents get more information. Agronomists do their best “Bill Nye the Science Guy” as youth learn about how their family’s crops thrive on the best farming practices and technology.

The show intentionally creates opportunities for multi-generational farm families to make decisions together, which helps maintain agricultural interest across generations. The event aims to create an engaging environment that can inspire young people about agriculture’s future and their own.

“It’s not like we’re directly trying to attract children, but we certainly do want to attract families,” O’Connor said.

“We want them to come here as a family to help make the decisions that improve their farm.”

“This is sort of giving kids a positive impression of our business and of the exhibitors here of what they have to offer. I think by having the next generation here, it also gives them that comfort level as they get older and have to start thinking about their life.”

Innovation awards

Another show highlight was the annual innovation awards, granted over five categories.

Jeremy Matuszewski of Thunderstruck Ag Equipment didn’t mince words when asked what winning an innovation award at Ag In Motion 2025 felt like.

“It’s like winning an Oscar,” Matuszewski said.

He noted that AIM is one of three key outdoor farm shows in North America, including Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, set for September near Woodstock, Ont., and the U.S. Farm Progress Show, set for Decatur, Illinois, in August. Winning an award at that level made it all the more meaningful, he said.

The founder and president of Thunderstruck was celebrating recognition in the equipment category for the firm’s new Razor’s Edge concave line that’s been designed around individual combines.

It eliminates the need to change from crop to crop and increases the separating capacity and cleaning efficiency of the machine by balancing the separating area with the bar spacing.

— With files from Greg Price

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Western Producer Markets Desk analysts Bruce Burnett, Ranulf Glanville and Jerry Klassen were on hand during the show to answer these and more questions.

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QOTD: Bruce Burnett

What is happening with red lentil production and prices in Western Canada?

We planted more pulse area, including lentils. The problem we’re going to have is we’ll have relatively large supplies in the demand picture for lentils, or I would say vegetable protein in general, is fairly negative right now. So, the crop that’s been hurt the most so far is yellow peas. I think probably lentils are going to have to trade sideways here in through the harvest period, and until we see some new demand emerge. One of the things that’s been happening is we’ve been seeing a lot of production from the Black Sea region in the pulses in general, and that’s providing some competition for us. I think it’s just going to be a case where we’ll see flat markets on the lentils, unless we get some policy moves that change some of the dynamics of the pulse industry.

QOTD: Jerry Klassen

You indicated beef production will remain low in the first quarter of 2026. Why?

That is when beef production will be at its lowest level, based on the current, our current projections, like the young, the young calves that are going into the feedlot now, already, they’re going to be fattened in that first quarter, right? So the placement data on that so far, I think what’s what you usually see in the cattle market in this transition stage, is that the cattle market, when it transitions from contraction to expansion, there are less heifers supplied to the market, and then that feeder market overextends to the upside because there’s a tighter supply beyond normal market fundamentals. And we’re likely entering that state right now because the U.S. cow-calf producer usually makes that decision to hold back heifers in September and October, November, in the fall period, because that’s when they usually sell their calves, and then they say, “no, we’re going to hold them back.”

We won’t see significant heifer retention on the semi-annual cattle inventory report that’s coming up, but likely in the next one. And like I said, right now already, we already have that low cow slaughter. So we are in that period where feeder cattle prices will overextend to the upside, so that the feedlot operator starts to have negative margins. And when they have negative margins for about five or six months, that’s when you see a significant shift in the feeder market because that’s when they finally have had enough and they say, “OK, we’ll lower our price for replacements.”

Read the Day 1 and Day 2 One beer market updates on our Ag in Motion 2025 landing page.

Cattle markets analyst Jerry Klassen and grain market analyst Bruce Burnett were on hand to lend their insight and clarity to these muddy waters.

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QOTD: Bruce Burnett

How would a U.S. war impact global grain trade and fertilizer prices?

I guess it depends on with who with. If they go into the Middle East, and I don’t think they will, because they really have very little to gain. The big concern for me would be basically a little bit on the on the export market side. We do sell a fair amount of canola and wheat into Dubai, and that’s close to the Strait of Hormuz, that that could lead to some drop in demand there.

But it’s also a very important urea fertilizer producer in the Gulf. And so that increases the price of urea. Just an announcement of the bombing of Iran urea prices jumped about $200 bucks a pound down in the states and in Brazil. So, it does have a big impact. There’s a number of things that can happen. Most of them, quite frankly, aren’t good.

QOTD: Jerry Klassen

How will cattle producers in Western Canada manage herd culling and herd liquidations in the coming months? Will they dump feeders or bred cows? What’s the future of the cattle business?

Drought in some areas will definitely be a factor, but I’m hearing from auction marts they’ve got quite a few dispersal sales coming up, even in good areas.

It’s going to be a bit different, I think. In the past couple years, buyers would pick up a cow-calf pair, split them, sell the cow and fatten the calf. Now cow-calf prices are very steep – around $7,000 a pair. People buying an expensive cow-calf pair, or bred heifers, I think they’re planning to keep them.

A big challenge in the cattle sector is demographics, and in a lot of areas, the younger generation isn’t interested in cattle — but not in all areas. For example in Alberta, there the region all along the base of the mountains, in the foothills, all the way up into the Peace, where you basically can’t do anything else. People forget that Western Canada’s largest crop is really grass and pasture. Like a grain farm, these operations see multigenerational transfers, where ranches pass from one generation to the next. When herds are dispersed, they’re going to generally be bought up by other producers.

So we’re turning the corner on the calf crop. The first quarter of 2026 is expected to be the lowest production of this cycle, and remember, a small change in supply has a big effect on price.

Check out One beer market updates live from Ag In Motion 2025 – Day One here.

“I’ve never been to an outdoor show like this before,” said Sara Wilshaw on Wednesday afternoon, after touring the show site and speaking to equipment manufacturers. “This is amazing. Incredible. And the live demonstrations are so important, I think.”

Follow all of our Ag in Motion coverage at the Western Producer.

In her role Wilshaw is responsible for helping Canadian businesses secure and explore international markets, find new customers and partners and grow Canadian exports.

Wilshaw told the Western Producer that buyers she met at the event welcomed the opportunity to escape the meeting room, observe equipment in the field and touch and test it.

“The feedback I’ve gotten has been so positive,” she said.

Wilshaw said the current volatile trade environment means it’s more important than ever to take a systematic approach to growing trade and exports.

“This is why we need partnerships, and why you’re hearing folks talking about our trading partners,” she said.

She noted Canada currently has 15 trade agreements, covering 51 different countries and spanning the globe. She also noted that CUSMA remains in effect in North America and trade continues to flow between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. even in the face of tariff threats.

“It is still working, there’s a lot going in CUSMA-compliant to the United States,” she said. “It is still, and always, going to be an extremely important trading partner for us.”

When asked about Canada’s canola trade to China, she noted she’s not directly involved in it, but that the entire Canadian government is aware of the issue and working on it.

“The government, and ministers, are acutely aware of it, up to the Prime Minister,” she said.

For more stories on international trade from Ag In Motion, see future issues of Glacier FarmMedia publications.

“I’ve never been to an outdoor show like this before,” said Sara Wilshaw on Wednesday afternoon, after touring the show site and speaking to equipment manufacturers. “This is amazing. Incredible. And the live demonstrations are so important, I think.”

Follow all our Ag in Motion coverage here

In her role Wilshaw is responsible for helping Canadian businesses secure and explore international markets, find new customers and partners and grow Canadian exports.

Wilshaw told the Western Producer buyers she met at the event welcomed the opportunity to escape the meeting room, observe equipment in the field and touch and test it.

“The feedback I’ve gotten has been so positive,” she said.

Wilshaw said the current volatile trade environment means it’s more important than ever to take a systematic approach to growing trade and exports.

“This is why we need partnerships, and why you’re hearing folks talking about our trading partners,” she said.

She noted Canada currently has 15 trade agreements, covering 51 different countries and spanning the globe. She also noted that CUSMA remains in effect in North America and trade continues to flow between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. even in the face of tariff threats.

“It is still working, there’s a lot going in CUSMA-compliant to the United States,” she said. “It is still, and always, going to be an extremely important trading partner for us.”

When asked about Canada’s canola trade to China, she noted she’s not directly involved in it, but that the entire Canadian government is aware of the issue and working on it.

“The government, and ministers, are acutely aware of it, up to the Prime Minister,” she said.

For more stories on international trade from Ag In Motion, see future issues of Glacier FarmMedia publications.

Those signs boldly declare “Squid Juice — From Sea to Soil.”

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The Ontario-based firm is moving into the western Canadian market with a premium fertilizer made from the byproducts of processing squid into calamari rings.

Greenflow bills the product as a sustainably sourced all purpose liquid fertilizer.

Sammy Prantera, the company’s director of marketing, says it might seem like a strange idea and generate a bit of amusement, but it’s based in science from the public sector.

“A 2016 paper from the USDA identified it as a possible sustainable source of fertilizer,” Prantera said.

“Over half of the squid is considered waste when they’re making calamari. They were putting that back into the ocean, and they wanted to find something better to do with it.”

The idea of adding an aquatic product to crops isn’t entirely novel. In pre-contact days, Indigenous farmers planted small fish with corn to nourish the plants. In the 17th century, European farmers used fish waste on their fields.

However, it’s the explosion in popularity of calamari as a restaurant appetizer that’s led to a ready supply of raw material for the fertilizer maker.

The resulting fertilizer is a 2-2-2 NPK product, which also includes micronutrients such as copper, calcium and magnesium.

Prantera says he’s also excited about the naturally -occurring chitin — squid are the only non-shellfish aquatic being that contain this compound. It’s a common additive in other natural fertilizers, and some studies show it promotes plant growth and defense.

The company is four and a half years old, and has been active in Ontario, Atlantic Canada and the United States. This is its first foray into Western Canada.

“We’re supporting the organic and regenerative agriculture producers, of course,” Prantera said.

“But we’re also starting to bridge that gap with the conventional producer.”

Farmers can apply the all-purpose concentrated liquid fertilizer from germination to harvest as a drench, in-furrow as a liquid starter and as a foliar spray application.

Rob O’Connor, show director, said Day One got off to a slightly slow start, perhaps due to air quality issues related to forest fire smoke.

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“We did notice for the first hour of the show, people were slow getting here and I wondered if perhaps that was the reason,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the streets were packed and there were a lot of people here.”

O’Connor pegged attendance at just over 9,700 on the day.

“That is a pretty strong first day,” he said.

A show highlight was the first run of the daily junior cattle show.

“That was really fun to watch and a lot of those participants and their families were really happy with things,” O’Connor said.

He also reported a packed tractor pull, and enormous interest in drone demonstrations.

“I was thrilled to see how many people went to the southeast corner of our show site to watch those drones,” he said.

High profile vistors to the site on Day One included Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and provincial agriculture minister Daryl Harrison.

Key activities for today include a continuation of the junior cattle show, a livestock happy hour and speaker series, more of the antique tractor pull, the ag tech breakfast and other activities.

A key visitor on Day Two will be Canada’s Chief Trade Commissioner Sara Wilshaw.

Bruce Burnett

What’s the crop look like this year?

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Especially in the south we’ve missed the rains. I did a little crop tour on the way to Ag In Motion, driving from southern Manitoba through Saskatchewan and into southern Alberta. There’s definitely areas in stress. Everyone on the Prairies need rain — say an inch or two — and cooler temperatures in the 20s over the next couple of weeks and some sporadic rain will help. It’s going to make a big impact, but for crops in the south, even this won’t help. It’s not going to save them, they’re destined for lower production. Durum will see about 400,000 tonnes lower production, down to 5.5 million tonnes. It should support prices. For spring wheat and canola, I am expecting close to normal overall, with some dry pockets. Barley is actually going to be up slightly. Will it be a bin buster? No. But we’re really looking at a good solid crop from the central to northern regions.

Jerry Klassen

What do you look at to understand cattle markets?

The cattle market is unlike grain. Two things are very specific. First, a one per cent change in consumer income equals a one per cent change in price of beef. Secondly, demand in inelastic. A small change in supply has a huge influence on the price. That’s what we’ve seen this past year, we’ve seen prices skyrocket. Small change in supply, huge change in price.