Dylan Fiessel

Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is a neurological disease that affects animals such as deer, mule deer, elk, and moose (cervids). Once an animal is infected, there is no cure, and it is 100% fatal. It can take several years from the time an animal is initially infected until they start showing symptoms such as weight loss, hair loss, poor co-ordination, and erratic behaviour before it inevitably dies. Iga Stasiak is a wildlife health specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, who’s tracked this growing problem over the last few decades.  

Farmers within the Weyburn and surrounding area will be able to gain some knowledge and insight before the 2025 growing year thanks to a new Top Notch Farming extension meeting event on February 11th. From 9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. at McKenna Hall, SaskOilSeeds in partnership with SaskBarley will be hosting this event to share information and look ahead to the new year. Kaeley Kindrachuk is a canola agronomy extension specialist with SaskOilSeeds who’s hosting this event, and she’s excited about what this could bring for farmers in Weyburn.  

Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is a neurological disease that affects animals such as deer, mule deer, elk, and moose (cervids). Once an animal is infected, there is no cure, and it is 100% fatal. It can take several years from the time an animal is initially infected until they start showing symptoms such as weight loss, hair loss, poor co-ordination, and erratic behaviour before it inevitably dies. Iga Stasiak is a wildlife health specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, who’s tracked this growing problem over the last few decades.  

Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is a neurological disease that affects animals such as deer, mule deer, elk, and moose (cervids). Once an animal is infected, there is no cure, and it is 100% fatal. It can take several years from the time an animal is initially infected until they start showing symptoms such as weight loss, hair loss, poor co-ordination, and erratic behaviour before it inevitably dies. Iga Stasiak is a wildlife health specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, who’s tracked this growing problem over the last few decades.  

Those interested in relaying information from the fields to the masses can sign up to be a Volunteer Crop Reporter. Every year, producers, agrologists, and those simply interested in agriculture can sign up to be a volunteer crop reporter to help improve the quality of the weekly crop reports that the Ministry of Agriculture puts out. Tyce Masich, Crop Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture recommends it to anyone interested. 

Earlier this week, the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC), announced they’ve committed $11.8 million of funding over the next five years to the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC). With the CWRC’s previous funding agreement with the CDC expiring this year, CWRC’s president Lori-Ann Kaminski knew that this was a deal that needed to be done. 

Nickle Lake Regional Park announced they’ll be opening up registration and online bookings for their temporary camping spots for the 2025 camping year on Monday, February 3rd. This online booking allows people to plan their summer camping adventure and book holidays even with winter in full effect. Darren Wheeler, park manager with Nickle Lake Regional Park, is excited for the bookings to open and for the 2025 summer. 

Mainprize Regional Park announced they’ll be opening their online booking for their temporary camping on Saturday, February 1st. This will allow people to plan and book their upcoming camping adventure in the summertime even if there’s still snow on the ground. Michelle Walsh, the general manager at Mainprize Regional Park, is excited for the upcoming 2025 camping year. 

The Weyburn Chamber of Commerce is celebrating their 85th anniversary this year and are hosting two Lunch & Learn events this February. The first event will be held on February 4th at McKenna Hall from 11:30 – 1 P.M. Chris Fields will be the guest speaker at this first event, an addition that executive director with the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce’s Monica Osborn is proud and excited to introduce. 

Winter is a tough season for everything, and animals are certainly no exception.

As freezing temperatures, snow, and wind make up the landscape the wildlife call home, recent winters have caused population declines in many animals such as deer, moose, and pronghorn.

Leanne Heisler is a wildlife ecologist with the Government of Saskatchewan. She said while winter can be tough, some animals thrive.