Weyburn

The ongoing fire situation in Manitoba, resulted in the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Agriculture Ministers meeting virtually last week.

They discussed a number of issues, from the weather impacts to international trade, improving interprovincial trade opportunities, and enhancements to AgriStability.

For the 2025 program year only, they agreed to increase the AgriStability compensation rate from 80 per cent to 90 per cent and increased the maximum payment limit from $3 million to $6 million. 

Severe thunderstorms moved through southern Saskatchewan Sunday night, the second night in a row of active weather. Around 7 p.m., the system made its way to Weyburn, where it showed some rotation, but no funnel clouds were reported. The storm, which lasted around 45 minutes, dumped 12.8 millimetres of rain on the city and had sustained wind speeds of 60.2 kilometres per hour, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada data.

Drivers in downtown Weyburn will need to adjust their routes starting today, as the City of Weyburn has announced a new road closure. 

Effective Monday, the intersection at 5th Street and Souris Avenue is fully closed to traffic. The closure is necessary for crews to perform vital watermain infrastructure work. City officials anticipate this closure will last for a few days. 

Two days of fastball action came to a close last night at Tom Laing Park, even if the ending was a bit delayed. Due to rain last night that ended up postponing the matchup on the other diamond between the Weyburn Beavers and the Saskatoon Berries, the final matchup of the 62nd annual Borderline Men's Fastball tournament had to be halted after the first few innings. The Gladmar Braves had the jump on the Weyburn Renegades 3-0 in the championship final before the rain started to fall. 

Tariffs and trade are top of the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations.

The premiers' summer gathering in Muskoka will also feature a Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as trade talks with the United States are expected to intensify.

After 45 years in their Jasper home, it took mere minutes for Wes Bradford's quaint mountain abode to burn to a pile of ash.

A year later, he and his wife are itching to rebuild. They've hired a contractor and designer, and their insurance will cover the expected $1-million price tag. But they can't start yet — not until their empty lot, currently a flat mound of dirt, has been declared contaminant-free.

"We're up against the wall," says Bradford, after meeting their builder in Jasper the day before.

Choosing the right replacement heifers is more important than ever for cattle producers, especially with today’s record-high calf prices.

“Replacement heifers represent the genetic potential of a producer’s operation,” says Alexis DeCorby, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Yorkton office.

“They’re a costly investment that requires about two years of inputs before they produce a live calf.”

The cooler temperatures lately have allowed local producers to make progress with haying operations and fungicide applications, according to the most recent crop report released by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.  

Producers will now move into the remainder of the growing season monitoring for the development of pests or disease, while also preparing equipment for the upcoming harvest season.  

The City of Weyburn is advising drivers of turning lane restrictions in effect this week, beginning on Monday, July 21. According to a release from the City of Weyburn, this is due to traffic signal work affecting the intersection of Fifth Street and First Avenue northeast.

The work was originally scheduled to begin last week but was postponed due to weather conditions. 

Speed will be reduced to 30 kilometres an hour. Drivers are asked to use alternate routes whenever possible and to exercise caution when traveling through the area, obeying all posted traffic signage. 

The Bank of Canada has largely kept to the sidelines as it tries to get a sense of how U.S. tariffs will impact the economy — and some economists think it might just stay there.

After a quarter-point cut in March, the central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.75 per cent in April and June.

With last month's jobs figures showing a surprise gain and core inflation levels holding steady at around three per cent, economists now broadly expect the central bank will continue its holding pattern at its next decision on July 30.