Ag News

Many producers have wrapped up harvest with 91 per cent of the provincial crop in the bin, ahead of the five and 10-year averages of 73 per cent. Producers around the province are eagerly waiting for rain. 

The southwest and west-central regions completed harvest this week, with 98 and 97 per cent of crops off, respectively. The northwest is 90 per cent complete, followed by the southeast at 89 per cent and northeast at 88 per cent. The east-central region has made significant progress this past week, with 82 per cent of crops off. 

Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of their "Food Farm Event" this year.

Executive Director Sara Shymko says Agriculture in the Classroom plays a really important role in helping students understand where their food comes from. 

Alberta has developed a new management plan to deal with the growing number of feral horses.

The province says it's the first major step towards the animals long-term sustainable management.

Currently, more than 1400 feral horses are located across six equine management zones at Brazeau, Nordegg, Clearwater, Sundre, Ghost River and Elbow.

Some of those zones face significant challenges to their ecosystem and long-term sustainability as a result of the number of feral horses grazing on the landscape.

Another week of good weather has meant farmers are making good progress with the harvest.

Alberta's latest crop report shows 65 percent of the crop in the bin.

Harvest of the spring cereals and pulses at or nearing completion in the South.

The central, north east, north west and peace regions are wrapping up the pulses, as they focus on the spring cereals.

Where the crop is ready the canola harvest is underway, but significant portions of the crop are still drying down in swaths.

Cereal Crop Specialist Anne Kirk says the spring cereal harvest is almost done with 97 per cent of the spring wheat in and 98 per cent of the barley and oat crops now complete.

"Field peas are complete, canola is about 78 per cent complete, soybeans we have at 41 per cent, dry beans at 84 per cent and the grain corn harvest has just started in the central region and we're estimating that at about five per cent complete."

Saskatchewan is reporting its first case of anthrax this year.

Anthrax can live in the soil for decades and with this years dry conditions in many areas animals are rooting in the soil stirring up those spores which can lead to exposure.

Over the years, the soil borne disease has been found in each of the prairie provinces, the last reported case in Alberta was in 2022, and in Manitoba in 2007.

Agriculture Minister David Marit is leading a trade mission this week to Mexico.

He says its important for us to get out and tell our sustainability story across the globe, especially in key jurisdictions like Mexico who is our fourth largest trading partner,.

"As we work to keep Saskatchewan's economy strong, it's important to prioritize important markets and the relationships we have with them. We look forward to using this mission to grow our network, increase collaboration and explore new ventures that benefit both parties."

Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez says they have called for the review in order to ensure that we have fair competition at Canada's ports.

The transaction will be reviewed under the mergers and acquisitions provisions of the Canada Transportation Act.

Rodriguez says a public interest assessment will also be held which will include consultations with Canada's ports and marine industry, stakeholders, other government departments, other orders of government, and Canadians.

Checking the prairie cattle marketing reports for last week  ... all prices in per hundred weights.

In Manitoba, Feeder Steer prices were up across the board with the largest increase  ( $28.79) for the 401 to 500 pound weight category for an average price of $452 

In Saskatchewan, feeder steer prices ranged from $505.63 for the 300-400 pound weight category to $313.80 for the 900+ category.

In Alberta, the price for fed steers averaged $232.87 that's up from the average price of $181.94 for the same week last year.

The countdown is on as voters get set to go to the polls in the provincial election on October 3rd.

Cam Dahl, the general manager of Manitoba Pork says its important for producers to meet with all their candidates no matter their political stripe and talk about the importance of agriculture.