Ag News

RM delegates from around the province are in Regina for their Annual Convention and Trade Show.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities event gets underway today and wraps up on Friday.

Today delegates will hear from Merle Massie a historian, writer, editor and farmer talking about her work and efforts in Preserving Saskatchewan Stories, also addressing the group will be NDP Opposition Leader Carla Beck, and  Conservative MP Jeremy Patzer.

Manitoba Crop  Alliance has released a new study highlighting the economic impact the five crops they represent make to the province. 

The Global Data study looked at wheat (excluding durum), barley, grain corn, sunflower and flax.

The study found that the five crop types had a total economic impact of roughly $6.9 billion over the past three years, including more than 28,000 Manitoba jobs and $2.5 billion in wages.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay, and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Mary Ng, released the following joint statement in response to the final rule released by the United States related to the "Product of USA" voluntary labelling regulations for meat, poultry and egg products.

The USDA's voluntary 'Product of USA' labeling rule for U.S. meat, poultry, and egg products is now a reality.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says to qualify for the label meat must be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S.

The move is a key concern to Canada's pork sector.

Manitoba Pork chair Rick Préjet says three million pigs are exported to the United States from Manitoba every year, in addition to the over $400 million worth of Manitoba pork products.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has re-appointed Lonny McKague as Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. 

McKague has 40 years as a primary producer farming in south-central Saskatchewan in the Ogema area.

He was first appointed to the CGC in 2017.

MacAulay says Lonny McKague’s experience, expertise, and tireless advocacy for Canadian producers are incredibly valuable assets.

"I have no doubt that Lonny will continue to guide the organization in helping to ensure the long-term success of the sector."

The USDA has finalized it's voluntary "Product of USA" labeling rule.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the finalization of a rule at the National Farmers Union Annual Convention yesterday.

According to the new rule to qualify for the label - meat must be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S.

This could have a major impact on Canadian cattle moving into the U.S.

The average value of Canadian farmland continued its steady climb in 2023, increasing by 11.5 per cent, slightly less than the 12.8 per cent increase reported in 2022, according to the latest FCC Farmland Values Report. 

The  AgriRecovery program was designed to help livestock producers deal with the extraordinary feed costs related to last year's drought.

Agriculture Minister David Marit is reminding producers that they have until Friday to submit their receipts for the  2023 Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program.

The program is designed to help retain breeding stock and covers up to 70 per cent of extraordinary costs to a maximum of $200 per head related to feed and freight, incurred after May 1, 2023.

The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition will administer the new $20 million Canadian National Wheat Cluster.

Coalition Chair Jake Leguee says the wheat cluster is critical to the development of wheat varieties, better economic systems and everything else that makes farmers in Western Canada grow wheat more profitable and sustainable. 

CPKC is seeing an increase in grain movement. 

CPKC's Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Bulk Elizabeth Hucker says the crop year got off to a slow start as far as grain movement but things are starting to pick up. 

In the last couple of weeks, CPKC has seen an increase in grain heading to the West Coast, Eastern Canada and the U.S.