Ag News

Rainfall over the last week caused some farmers a slight delay in harvest activity, but it's a welcome sight for areas that have been fairly dry.

Crop Extension Specialist Tyce Masich says it's not ideal to see rain in the middle of harvest, but the moisture has been a relief for dry areas.

"It has been absolutely incredible this summer. Here we are in mid-September and the grass looks greener than June a lot of years," says Killarney Auction Mart's Allan Munroe. 

"Hay is far easier to source... there is lots of good hay out there with lots of volume.  The cows, it looks like are going to have pasture for quite a while yet," he adds. "The grain prices are certainly to the benefit of the cattle feeder right now."

There's some good news for Canada's pulse sector as industry representatives gather this week in Winnipeg for the Annual Pulse and Special Crops Convention.

India announced late last week that it would once again extend the timeline for duty-free imports of yellow peas until December 31st, 2024.

India originally lifted the duties on pea imports on a temporary basis in December of 2023 and has continued to issue temporary extensions since then, while the import duty exemption on lentils is in place through March 31, 2025.

P&H Milling Group, a division of Parrish & Heimbecker Limited, have started construction on a new, state-of-the-art flour milling facility in Red Deer County. 

A sod-turning event earlier this month marked the start for the $241 million facility which will have the capacity to mill an estimated 750 metric tonnes of wheat daily from Western Canadian farmers.

Four Provincial grower organizations have announced $13.4 million in funding for the newly launched Gate Capital Campaign.

Led by Cereals Canada, the $102 million Global Agriculture Technology Exchange project (otherwise known as Gate) will be built in downtown Winnipeg.

The new facility will provide office space for Cereals Canada as well as new state-of-the-art technical areas such as analytical labs, pilot processing and research facilities.

With bird flu outbreaks popping up more and more in the United States, officials are asking Canadian producers to not bring their own cattle over in case of contamination.

That comes as multiple producers will be unable to attend cattle shows below the border due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

In a release from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), they advised against " all Canadian cattle travelling to and participating in agricultural exhibitions in the U.S. at this time."

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank has once again received federal government funding with a grant for $100 million over the next four years.

Split into $25 million per year, that will go towards their programs which help Candian-produced food go to hungry mouths internationally.

Andy Harrington, the executive director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, says he's happy to be able to help more people over the next four years.

Canadian farmers can take advantage of a program that can give them a leg up this harvest season through the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC) annual Harvest Sample Program.

Through that farmers get an unofficial grading from the CGC which they can use to help market their commodities.

Program Manager of Analytical Services Kerri Pleskach talks about the program and how it helps out Canadian producers.

A new resource for farmers and researchers has been launched with the Root Rot Network covering advances in combatting diseases for crops in the prairies.

That includes both resources and research papers featured on rootrot.ca.

Sherrilyn Phelps, Director of Research and Development for the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, talks about the partnership behind the website.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released their Canadian Drought Monitor Map earlier this month, painting an expected picture of drought conditions throughout Canada, including here in southeast Saskatchewan.