The Extensionists

The Extensionists Conversations with great thinkers in agriculture. Find The Extensionists on all major podcasting platforms with episodes released every other week on Tuesdays.

07/02/2025

And with that, it’s a wrap on the first season of The Extensionists.

Thank you to all of our amazing guests who took the time to sit down with us this past year. We enjoyed getting to know you and hearing your insights on the world of agriculture extension.

Thank you to our loyal listeners. We loved bringing you interesting interviews every other week. Thanks to those who reached out or stopped at us at events to share how much you enjoy the podcast.

We look forward to sharing more interviews and meeting more fans. We will be back for our second season in October.

While you’re patiently awaiting our next season, listen to your favourite episodes of The Extensionists wherever you get your podcasts. Share, rate, and review to help grow our audience.

https://theextensionists.com

06/26/2025

How can a producer organization connect with growers (farmers) to find out what their research should be focused on? At the P.E.I. Potato Board, Ryan Barrett works with growers to learn exactly what they want when it comes to research.

“They’re keen, interested growers, who either have ideas for projects or they have ideas that other people tell them or they just want to put their hand up to try something,” Ryan says in this week’s episode of The Extensionists.

Learn to learn more about how this approach helps guide Ryan’s research work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt248U18JTM

06/25/2025

Is P.E.I. really the potato capital of Canada or are potatoes the capital of P.E.I.?

“I come from a place where potatoes is king. Agriculture’s the number one industry in Prince Edward Island, has been forever, still is. And then potatoes are half of net cash receipts,” Ryan Barrett explains in the latest episode of The Extensionists.

Potatoes are what drives the economy on P.E.I. and is the history of the Island. They have been a key player for centuries. Listen to learn more about the intriguing world of potatoes and P.E.I.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt248U18JTM

For Ryan Barrett, the research and agronomist specialist with the P.E.I. Potato Board, his work is all about doing resea...
06/17/2025

For Ryan Barrett, the research and agronomist specialist with the P.E.I. Potato Board, his work is all about doing research that matters and then finding the best ways to teach growers about it.

In next week’s episode of The Extensionists, Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck chat with Ryan about extension and life in P.E.I. The three dive into the world of potatoes and how Ryan works to fit the format to the presenter when it comes to sharing information.

Listen on June 24 to learn more.

Listen to The Extensionists wherever you get your podcasts. Share, rate, and review to help grow our audience.

https://theextensionists.com

06/12/2025

Why is data collection important on the farm? John Burns has spent years compiling data in order to improve his operation and make the growing season easier.

“People say, ‘what do you do in the wintertime?’” We plan. If you plan, then the summer's fun because you’ve addressed the questions. You’ve got a plan a, a plan b, and ultimately, you’re ready because we have a very short season,” John says in this week’s episode of The Extensionists.

Data collection and review may not be the most fun task, but it can make a world of difference when it comes to farm management. Listen to learn more about how John does it on Windy Poplars Farms.

Thank you to our episode sponsor SaskOilseeds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzHgqxHUZkA

06/10/2025

Is it worthwhile to spend time away from the family farm? According to John Burns with Windy Poplars Farms, it is.

“Farming is an enterprise that requires commitment and if you’re always thinking, ‘Well, the grass is greener on the other side,’ there’s opportunities you’ve missed,” John says in the latest episode of The Extensionists.

Leaving the farm opens the world and gives you connections that will benefit you as a farmer. Listen to learn more.

Thank you to our episode sponsor SaskOilseeds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCkQxkyUP7Y

John Burns found himself repeatedly using his chemistry background over his decades as a farmer. He approached every iss...
06/04/2025

John Burns found himself repeatedly using his chemistry background over his decades as a farmer. He approached every issue he faced on his farm like a scientist would. But what does that look like?

In next week’s episode of The Extensionists, Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck chat with John about his farm, Windy Poplar Acres, and how his role on it has changed over the years. He also shares the role extension specialists have played in his career and what advice he has for the next generation.

Listen on June 10 to learn more.

Thank you to our episode sponsor SaskOilseeds.

Listen to The Extensionists wherever you get your podcasts. Share, rate, and review to help grow our audience.

https://theextensionists.com

05/29/2025

How do you handle an emergency situation as it unfolds? Jenelle Hamblin has some ideas. In 2011, when the Manitoba flood happened, she was in charge of helping livestock farmers respond to the emergency as it developed.

“You find that your best laid plans will work sometimes but you have to have a plan A through Z in order to effectively respond because something could change while you’re responding,” Jenelle says in the latest episode of The Extensionists.

Listen to learn more about how to pivot and make it through when emergency situations arise. How does time management, flexibility, and communications play into this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tE8jiYduQA

05/27/2025

Would you rather clean a pig pen or work at a desk? Jenelle Hamblin likes getting her hands dirty.

“Looking back on it with rose coloured glasses, there are times, especially now working in an office or a desk job, where I just want to go clean out a barn. Could I just go muck stalls, please?” Hamblin, director, swine health with Manitoba Pork, says in the latest episode of The Extensionists.

Listen to learn more about how Jenelle’s childhood on a cattle ranch shaped her career in the beef and swine worlds.

05/27/2025

Would you rather clean a pig pen or work at a desk? Jenelle Hamblin likes getting her hands dirty.

“Looking back on it with rose coloured glasses, there are times, especially now working in an office or a desk job, where I just want to go clean out a barn. Could I just go muck stalls, please?” Hamblin, director, swine health with Manitoba Pork, says in the latest episode of The Extensionists.

Listen to learn more about how Jenelle’s childhood on a cattle ranch shaped her career in the beef and swine worlds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tE8jiYduQA

How do you get the correct information out to producers if there’s a disease outbreak or natural disaster? In next week’...
05/21/2025

How do you get the correct information out to producers if there’s a disease outbreak or natural disaster? In next week’s episode Jenelle Hamblin, Director, Swine Health with Manitoba Pork, shares how to deal with emergency extension in the livestock world.

Jenelle discusses messaging and how to be effective in urgent situations. For example, using all communication services available in order to reach everyone, as people prefer to receive information in different ways.

Listen on May 27 to learn more.

Listen to The Extensionists wherever you get your podcasts. Share, rate, and review to help grow our audience.

https://theextensionists.com

05/15/2025

Are research farms in Western Canada ahead of the curve when it comes to growing new crops? According to Scott Day, his experiences testing various crops at WADO in Melita, MB are serving him well in the Silicon Valley.

“There’s certainly not a week goes by where I’m not referencing something I did at the research group WADO,” Scott says during this week’s episode of The Extensionists. “I have experience with spelt and camelina and all these crazy ideas that come up from entrepreneurs in San Francisco.”

Scott is using his specialty crop information knowledge and other tidbits he picked up at WADO to help move the agriculture industry forward. Listen to this week’s episode to learn more.

Thank you to our episode sponsor .

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