Liberals agriculture will benefit from new strategy to transform the economy; while farm groups raise concerns

On Friday, Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced a series of new, strategic measures for workers and businesses in those sectors most impacted by U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions including the agriculture sector.

The Prime Minister talked about a new strategy to transform our economy to one that is more resilient to global shocks. 

Premier Moe looks to strength trade relationships in Asia

A trade delegation for Asia is set to leave on Saturday (September 6).  

The focus of the trip is on relationship building and trade engagement with government officials and industry stakeholders in China, Japan and South Korea.  China imposed a 75.8 per cent tariff on canola seed last month on top of tariffs already in place for canola oil, meal, peas, pork and seafood. 

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is leading the delegation that includes his Trade and Export Minister Warren Kaeding, and Prime Minister Carney's Parliamentary Secretary Kody Blois. 

Community gears up for BMW Foodgrains harvest day near Fairfax - Today!

The Boissevain-Morton-Whitewater (BMW) Foodgrains grow project near Fairfax is ready for harvest, and the community is preparing to come together for the annual event on today.

The field is located 1/2 a mile south of the community of Fairfax and 1.5 miles west.

The 290-acre wheat field has benefited from favorable growing conditions this summer, with timely rains and warm weather helping the crop mature well.

MacGregor firefighters train for anhydrous ammonia emergency

Chris Leckie, fire chief in the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk, says firefighters recently took part in an emergency exercise involving anhydrous ammonia, a hazardous farm fertilizer widely used in the region. The scenario was organized with Portage Agri Sales and Agrium, both of which wanted to ensure crews were ready for a potential incident.

“Portage Agri Sales wanted to do an exercise with anhydrous ammonia, so they asked us if we could be involved,” notes Leckie. “We are the closest response unit for this area, and they would like us to be part of it.”

Hundreds of hail damage claims filed after widespread August 20 storm

A late-summer storm left its mark across Manitoba on August 20, with hail falling in nearly every area covered by Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation offices.

“It was a very active day from a weather perspective right across Manitoba. We got 10 offices scattered across Manitoba and we recorded some hail activity in almost all of them,” notes David van Deynze, chief product officer with MASC.

Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada concerned by Conservative call to end the Temporary Foreign Workers Program

The Conservative Party is calling for an end to the Temporary Foreign Workers program; in its place, they are calling for a single program for the agriculture sector.

Leader Pierre Poilievre quoting the latest employment stats from July, points out we now have 14.6  per cent unemployment rate and 1.6 million Canadians unemployed.

He says the principle behind ending the program is very simple. "Canadian jobs for Canadian Workers"

Could farmers face another tariff?

It looks like India is thinking about implementing an import duty on yellow peas. 

India Pulses and Grains Association is concerned that an increase in yellow pea production in Canada and Russia could result in more imports.

They say ongoing imports have brought down prices, which could discourage Indian farmers from expanding their own pulse production.

The IPGA says in order to raise the price of yellow peas in the domestic market, they are calling on the Indian government to impose a 30 to 40 per cent import duty.

Alberta marks 75 years of rat-free status

The province’s Rat Control Program has helped make it one of the few rat-free zones in the world

Alberta is marking 75 years of rat-free status.

An aggressive control program had made it the largest inhabited area in the world that is free of true rats.

There is no resident population of rats, and the rodents are not allowed to establish themselves.

NEXAT Turns Heads in Moose Jaw: A Farming Machine Like No Other

A revolutionary piece of agricultural technology is making waves in the fields of southern Saskatchewan. The NEXAT, a multi-functional farming system manufactured in Germany, has arrived at Chute Farms Joint Venture at Moose Jaw.

Rhett Chute says NEXAT reached out to them earlier in the summer to see if they would be interested in trying the prototype, and they were able to reach an agreement.