Saskatchewan continued on the path to recovery as another year saw conditions remain closer to normal following the droughts earlier this decade.
The ag sector is hoping to see more progress on that with a good snowpack over winter helping to balance that moisture deficit.
Daryl Harrison, Saskatchewan's Minister of Agriculture, talks about the province's economic fortunes over 2024.
"I think more moisture-wise, some of our dryer pockets have seen some more moisture and our drought area certainly shrunk. There's certainly dry areas remaining out there and with our snowpack that we've received so far this winter, I think it's very optimistic that we're seeing the drought years behind us. We still need some spring rains to help enhance both the grass and hayland, but also prepare for spring seeding."
Harrison himself farms in the southeast corner and says he saw a great year in that area.
"Crop wise it was a great year, I thought cops across the board were generally average to above. So I think most producers were very pleased. They were hoping for better because it certainly looked better than what it probably yielded to some. But overall, I think they were very satisfied with the growing season."
Crops weren't the only successful ag industry as Harrison says that cattle had a great year.
"The beef industry, you know, feeder cabs were selling at near all-time highs and you know personally I've been waiting for a year like this since 2003 when BSE hit. So I think that would definitely be a highlight is the higher feeder prices."
Harrison has been agriculture minister since the fall when he was re-elected into his seat and took over the role.
"I can thank Minister Marit for leaving the staff behind here in the legislative building, they've been a very big help in myself transitioning into the role. I'm certainly humbled and honored to be chosen by Premier Moe to be Saskatchewan's ag minister. It's a very prestigious portfolio and following in the footsteps of Minister Marit and the late Minister Stewart, I'm in very, very, very good company here and I'm honored to be in this role."
Harrison says he's excited for the year ahead with plenty more work needing to be done.
"We have goals to increase the value out of the production here in the province and we need to extract more value out of the crops and livestock that we produce and we need to work on our export markets. We need to expand irrigation. We need to keep our business risk management programs strong and healthy and be there for producers when they have some challenging times."
"Being a beef producer and rancher I am extremely excited for the coming year. As I commented before, we have a nice snowpack. I'm looking forward to a good growing season and the hay and pastures, but our grains, oilseed, and pulse producers will be hopefully seeing sufficient spring rains to get the crop started and sustain it throughout the growing season and come in with a record harvest in the fall of 2025."