Ag News

The Saskatchewan Provincial election is just a week away, with the province's parties looking at what they can do for the agriculture sector.

That includes working with other provinces and the federal government and responding to disaster years such as the droughts that have come up through the 2020s.

Trent Wotherspoon is one provincial candidate, who served as the Saskatchewan NDP's official critic for agriculture, finance, and transportation during his previous term.

Farmers in Manitoba are being called upon to aid critical research aimed at improving wheat production amid changing climate conditions. 

The University of Manitoba's "Mani Wheat Project," led by Dr. Cristina Rosell’s food science group, is gathering wheat samples from farmers to study the effects of pre-harvest sprouting, a significant issue caused by excessive rain and humidity before harvest.

Harvest is nearly wrapped up in the Central Region with 99 per cent of the crop in the bin. The provincial average is sitting at 96 per cent complete.

There is still about three per cent of total canola left to combine in the Central Region.

The five-year average for this time of year for the Central Region is about 87 per cent completion for major crops.

Alberta MP and Conservative Agriculture Critic John Barlow has been receiving a number of emails from Canadians who are concerned about Private Members' Bill C-293, which now sits before the Senate.

He says while the primary objective of the bill is pandemic prevention and preparedness, it contains content and language that will adversely affect Canadian farmers and ranchers.

CPKC had another strong week of grain delivery during Week 10 of the 2024-25 crop year, moving nearly 623,500 tonnes of Canadian grain and grain products October 6th through 12th.

Western region farmers were pleased to see the strong yield with their soybeans this fall, landing anywhere between 35-60 bushels to the acre, and averaging about 45 bu/acre.

"Just hot off the press here, I just calculated our yield results of our variety trials, and it is a pleasant yield, I don't know if it would be our record-breaker, but certainly it will pay the bills and maybe a little bit more," shares Scott Chalmers, Applied Research Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. 

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is going to be reaching into its surplus for the first time in a while in order to cover its cost.

That comes as grain volumes are falling for Canada, and the commission needs more funds to keep up with their costs.

That's why they're dipping into their surplus, with Head Commissioner David Hunt explaining that came from their most recent financial review.

No significant rain in the region last week is allowing producers a good opportunity to finish the harvest.  

The latest crop report shows precipitation for the past week ranging from 0mm to 15.1mm at Vivian, north of Ste. Anne, Manitoba and 10.6mm at Morris.  

September was a record month for CN when it comes to grain movement in Western Canada.

CN's Vice President of Grain David Przednowek is pleased with the numbers considering they are still working out some of the kinks from the Grain Workers Strike at the Port of Vancouver.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has unveiled its key policy priorities for the October 28, 2024, Saskatchewan election.

APAS priorities focus on program enhancements, business competitiveness, and infrastructure renewal. These priorities aim to position Saskatchewan agricultural producers, rural communities, and farm and ranch families for future success.