Scott Boulton

The federal government's committee on agriculture and agri-food has released a new report recommending 10 different methods which they believe can help with high food prices.

The Committee says they held seven meetings on efforts to stabilize food prices between 4 December 2023 and 27 February 2024, with the report summarizing the evidence provided during these meetings.

They recommended the following:

The Manitoba crop report shows that Manitoba's seeding progress is slowing thanks to some recent rainfall.

The current report has the area sitting at 64 per cent complete, a jump from last week's 47 percent, though that's still behind the five-ear average of 75 per cent.

Dennis Lange, the author of Manitoba Agriculture's crop report, says that the province saw significant rainfall. 

The Manitoba crop report shows that Manitoba's seeding progress is slowing thanks to some recent rainfall.

The current report has the area sitting at 64 per cent complete, a jump from last week's 47 percent, though that's still behind the five-ear average of 75 per cent.

Dennis Lange, the author of Manitoba Agriculture's crop report, says that the province saw significant rainfall. 

Insects in the prairies are getting ready to jump into fields and potentially damage crops this summer once conditions warm.

Some of the most damaging insects, such as grasshoppers and flea beetles, have yet to emerge this year in many areas of the prairies as it's been too cold.

While recent rain has also affected crops, those insects are unbothered, explains Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Meghan Vankosky.

Insects in the prairies are getting ready to jump into fields and potentially damage crops this summer once conditions warm.

Some of the most damaging insects, such as grasshoppers and flea beetles, have yet to emerge this year in many areas of the prairies as it's been too cold.

While recent rain has also affected crops, those insects are unbothered, explains Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Meghan Vankosky.

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU) and the province have reached a tentative agreement on a contract for the future.

The SGEU declared an impasse with the province back in February, leading to the possibility of job action if the two sides couldn't reconcile their differences.

Now the two sides have reached a tentative agreement, with the Chair of the negotiating committee for the PS/GE Lori Bossaer saying it was a lengthy process.

Negotiations for a new provincial collective agreement will resume today and Thursday in Saskatoon.

The previous agreement was proposed back in April, with teachers voting on that and rejecting it with a wide majority last week.

The Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee have agreed to return to the bargaining table following discussions held Monday and Tuesday between the chairpersons of the respective committees.

Updates on those negotiations will be provided when appropriate.

Saskatchewan residents are being reminded to take precautions against Hantavirus as spring cleanup continues.

Hantavirus infection is caused by breathing in contaminated airborne particles from the droppings, urine, or saliva of infected deer mice. It can cause a rare, but potentially fatal lung disease known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Hantavirus infections are rare but are serious. Between 1994 and 2023, 38 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome were reported in Saskatchewan; 13 of those cases were fatal.

CAA has released its Worst Roads Top 10 for the year, and Highway 2 near Cudworth ranks 3rd on the not so honour roll.  

The portions of Highway 2 between the north junction of Highway 5 and the junction of Highway 27 were rebuilt in the last decade or so. Venture north of Highway 27 and things have deteriorated on the stretch to Wakaw with potholes being the major concern.  

CAA's rankings are as follows: 

With the big game draw coming next month, hunters are preparing for the upcoming hunting season.

The draw begins May 1, with a deadline of May 30, and draws are expected to head out to hunters sometime in July.

Matthew Weiss, licensing and allocation specialist with the Ministry of Environment's Fish and Wildlife Branch, gives some advice on the draw.