Ag News

The recent release of the final ‘Product of USA’ voluntary labelling regulations for meat, poultry and egg products is raising concerns on this side of the border.

Canada is concerned it could lead to unfair trading practices and discrimination.

Agriculture Ministers Kostyshyn, Marit and Sigurdson all released statements following the news this week.

Manitoba's Ron Kostyshyn says the government is concerned that this final rule discounts our long-standing and positive trade relationship that benefits Manitoba producers and consumers. 

The Province announced two key funding agreements for Saskatchewan's irrigation industry this week.

During the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities Convention Premier Scott Moe announced that the province is ready to begin work on the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project.

SARM has been calling on the province to move forward with the project which was originally announced back in 2020. 

Consultation with land users and design work on the Lake Diefenbaker expansion will begin with construction expected to start next year.

An experiment that could provide some valuable insight for local farmers is the newest masterpiece created by a Swift Current Comp. High School student that's now won the Chinook Regional Science Fair two years in a row.

Mapalo Mushoriwa's "Effect of Climate Conditions on Cadmium Uptake in Wheat" placed first last week and helped her book a ticket to the Canada-Wide Science Fair again. 

This week is Canadian Agricultural Safety Week!

This year's theme is Your Farm, Your Family, Your Success: Safety is our Heritage.

Agriculture Minister David Marit says Agricultural Safety Week is a critical reminder that safety, both physical and mental, should be at the forefront of all the work we do.

He says because the work in the agriculture industry never stops, it is important to remember to work safely year-round.
Agriculture is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous occupations.

This week is Canadian Agricultural Safety Week!

This year's theme is Your Farm, Your Family, Your Success: Safety is our Heritage.

Agriculture is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous occupations.

That's because farms and ranches are not just worksites, but places where producers live with their families, young children and seniors.

Stats show that from 2011 to 2020 Canada recorded 624 agriculture-related fatalities 58 per cent of those killed were farm operators while 11 per cent were their children.

The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association is looking for producers to take part in their 2024 Green Gold program.

The goal of this program is to encourage growers to be strategic with their alfalfa hay crop harvest, making decisions based on specific feed, market needs and field observations.

Producers with hay fields that are mostly alfalfa, fairly new and in good condition are being asked to sign up.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities Annual Convention got underway in Regina yesterday.

President Ray Orb addressed the economic challenges people are facing noting that every family in this province is feeling the pinch in their household budgets. 

On Wednesday, Agriculture Minister David Marit announced more than $19 million for irrigation development to help sustain irrigation infrastructure once owned by the province.

Six irrigation districts will share in the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program funding:

Stats Can released its Principal Field Crop estimates for 2024 this week.

Canadian farmers are expected to plant more wheat, corn for grain, oats, lentils and dry peas in 2024, while the area seeded to canola, soybeans and barley is anticipated to drop compared with 2023 levels.

Nationally, wheat acres are expected to hit 27 million acres up slightly from last year, with 19.2 million acres of spring wheat, 1.5 million acres of winter wheat and 6.3 million acres of durum wheat.

Saskatchewan's acreage is anticipated to hit 14.2 million acres. 

This week, the USDA published the final Product of USA labeling rule for the voluntary labeling of  U.S. meat, poultry, and egg products.

The rule stipulates that to qualify for the label meat must be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S.

The new policy, which is being referred to as voluntary country of original labelling (V-COOL),  is set to come into effect by January 1, 2026.