Lacombe

Prairie farmers may have to contend with rust this year, a disease that can significantly impact crop yields.

Dr. Kelly Turkington, a research scientist in plant pathology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Lacombe, explains that rust spores typically originate from the Pacific Northwest and the Texas-to-Nebraska corridor in the U.S. These spores, which include stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust, and crown rust in oats, are carried by the wind and usually start appearing in the prairies in June.

Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Coleman Miller as the division’s new Education Services Coordinator, with a focus on curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Miller is currently serving as assistant principal at Clive School and brings a strong foundation in leadership and instructional practice to the division-level role.

Almost no rain has fallen since April 1 in Nipawin and Prince Albert 

Rain has become a rarity in Nipawin, Sask.

In the 30 days of April, Nipawin received one millimetre of precipitation. In the first 27 days of May, the Environment Canada weather station in Nipawin recorded 1.5 mm of rain and snow.

It’s a similar story across the northern agricultural region of Saskatchewan. There’s been almost no rain this spring in Hudson Bay, Carrot River and Prince Albert.

The department says producer engagement, field demonstrations and making data available online are expected of its researchers

Agriculture Canada employs about 380 scientists at its 20 research centres across the country.

Their job?

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Red Deer RCMP were seeking the public’s help to identify the family of a young child who was found alone near Hunting Hills High School on Lockwood Avenue just before 9 a.m. on May 30.

The child's family has been located, and RCMP are asking the public to be kind about the situation, saying that you don't know the full details surrounding the investigation.

Comments on social media haven't been positive.

This week has seen significant fluctuations in the commodity markets, particularly in wheat and canola prices. Following the U.S. Memorial Day long weekend, wheat prices dropped sharply on Tuesday, falling by $10 to $15 per tonne.

Farmers have been making good progress in the field; so far 88 per cent of the provincial crop in the ground. 

According to Saskatchewan's weekly crop report seeding is most advanced in the southwest at 95 per cent, followed by the west-central region at 94 per cent, the northwest at 93, the northeast at 92, the east central at 81, and the southeast at 80 per cent seeded.

Alberta's government says it's extending the deadline for a former judge to investigate allegations of high-level conflict of interest and arm-twisting in health care contracts.

Former Manitoba provincial court chief judge Raymond Wyant was expected to submit an interim report to the government today, followed by a full report next month.

The government employee facilitating the investigation says the number of documents provided and interviews requested by the former judge means that initial time frame is no longer feasible.

With sunny weather in the forecast this weekend, it's a good time to remind residents to check for fire bans, advisories and restrictions in their area.

With information from Alberta Fire Bans website the following places are currently under bans and advisories.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has released its third Farmers and Food Price Report.

The report shows that while food prices remain high, the share of the food dollar reaching Saskatchewan farmers continues to decline.