Ag News

Producers looking to keep their stands well-maintained may want to look at other methods such as introducing legumes in order to keep those fit.

Range Management Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Lynnae Ylinja talks about some of the benefits those can have for crops.

Last week members of Manitoba Beef Producers voted in favor of implementing mandatory livestock inspection with a strong majority vote at their Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg.

Manitoba's neighbors to the west have had mandatory livestock inspection for quite a number of years, but our cattle producers were skeptical about receiving value for the investment.  However, with healthy markets and the increase of cattle theft and fraud over the past few years, having this legislation in place makes sense.

As prairie farmers prepare for the upcoming growing season, entomologist John Gavloski with Manitoba Agriculture is urging them to keep a close eye on flea beetles, an insect that continues to pose challenges for canola growers.

“Flea beetles have been a chronic test for a long time, and I would say just bank on the fact that they're going to be there in high levels,” 

He eXplained that ideal growing conditions could minimize the need for foliar spraying, but if cooler weather lingers and delays plant development, flea beetles could become a much bigger problem.

On Jan. 29, the 41st induction ceremony for the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame took place at the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin.

In addition to the induction, a permanent exhibit at the museum was opened, which will showcase both new and former inductees, as well as the rich history of agriculture in Alberta.

Last month, Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) unveiled a brand-new ‘Grains of Saskatchewan’ interactive display. A new interactive display that will allow a more hands-on learning experience surrounding agriculture and crops grown in Saskatchewan. Sara Shymko, executive director with Agriculture in the Classroom, explains how hands-on learning can benefit when teaching about agriculture.  

Canola growers are encouraged to check their bins for heated seed during this cold weather.

Breanna Miller Friesen is an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. She says it is during cold spells, like what the Prairies have been experiencing when issues of bin heating start to pop up.

National Farmers Union (NFU) president Jenn Pfenning says Canadian farmers need greater support for domestic food production as uncertainty over tariffs continues to disrupt trade. 

"We in Canada have focused a lot of our efforts in agriculture around export markets. Successive governments have pushed Canadian farmers to scale up to meet export demand, largely outside our borders." 

That focus, she says, has increased reliance on imported food, leaving the country vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. 

Cattle producers are seeing a strong 2025 in what could be a good year to see prices rise and cattle herds repopulate following years of harsh conditions.

That was the focus of a recent look that Farm Credit Canada took for the cattle industry in Canada and what it has to contend with in 2025.

Leigh Anderson, a senior economist with the FCC, talks about his optimism for the industry for the year.

Manitoba Beef Producers has been looking at the western provinces’ program of mandatory livestock inspection, where livestock inspectors are at the auction mart drop-off sites to confirm ownership – and to ensure sales don’t happen without that proof of ownership. 

The mandatory livestock inspection proposal will be discussed at this week's 46th Annual General Meeting for Manitoba Beef Producers in Winnipeg.

Producers will be able to see a wide variety of webinars for agriculture practices as the province of Saskatchewan is hosting those through the winter and spring.

Those are set to begin next week, with Crops Extension SPecialist Meghan Rosso talking about what producers can expect.