Ag News

Widespread rain last week slowed harvest in parts of Manitoba. That is according to Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson, after Manitoba Agriculture released its weekly crop report. 

Wilson says the week of September 8th started warm, which allowed for harvest to progress. But then came some intense thunderstorms and extensive rain events, particularly in the southwest and eastern regions of our province. Wilson says the wettest location in the eastern region was Steinbach, with more than 100 millimetres of rain recorded in 31 hours. 

September is Organic Month, letting people know some of the organic foods available in Canada. That's being spearheaded by the Canadian Organic Trade Association, through their Choose Canada Organic program.

Tia Loftsgard, the Executive Director at the Canada Organic Trade Association, talks about Organic Month and what they hope to share with Canadians.

"Organic Month is the national celebration of all things organic, and we have a series of events that are promoting and educating consumers and everybody about what organic is and the benefits of organic."

With weather systems continuing into the week dropping heavy rainfall amounts across the western half of the province, harvest is being pushed back even further.

Applied Research Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Scott Chalmers, believes we're about halfway when looking at the province as a whole.

Premier Scott Moe, back in Saskatchewan after a trip to China to try and resolve a trade dispute, said Monday he’s hopeful they can find a solution.

Moe told reporters he and Prime Minister Mark Carney's parliamentary secretary Kody Blois met last week with Chinese officials who oversee an agency responsible for imposing steep tariffs on Canadian canola products. 

They also met with Li Chenggang, the international trade negotiator with China's Ministry of Commerce, and other industry officials. 

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) wants to see two key pieces of infrastructure upgraded at the Port of Vancouver, the country's largest port.

The GGC says the federal government's major projects list remains incomplete if the 1969 Second Narrows Rail Bridge and 1904 New Westminster Rail Bridge upgrades are not included.

The flea beetle is a common pest for farmers and gardeners alike in this corner of the province. However, there is more to the species than meets the eye. PSaskatchewan's Insect and Vertebrate Pest Management Specialist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. James Tansey, says that the term “flea beetle” covers approximately 5,000 species worldwide, in a subfamily called the Alticinae.  

Members of Parliament return to the House of Commons in Ottawa this week. International trade is expected to dominate the fall legislative agenda with Canada facing mounting challenges from countries like the United States and China.

 The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) has engaged Synthesis Agri-Food Network to review Canada’s wheat breeding innovation system in an effort to safeguard its ability to serve the evolving needs of Canadian farmers.

A review of the current wheat breeding landscape will help the CWRC identify and address potential risks and opportunities in the Canadian system while ensuring it continues to generate elite varieties for farmers across the country.

The latest report from the Canadian Crop Hail Association shows minor hailstorms are still damaging crops in Western Canada as harvest continues.

CCHA member companies are investigating 310 claims of crop damage from storms that occurred August 31-September 6. Companies are still assessing damage from the storms that occurred in late August.

“Adjusters are out in full force to complete hail claims quickly as harvest is in full swing across the prairies,” said Brian Bernauer, Rain and Hail Insurance Services.

According to the latest Crop Report, 42 per cent of the provincial crop has been harvested; that's ahead of the five-year average of 40 per cent and the ten-year average of 32 per cent. 

Roy Larsen, Director of the Statistics and Data Development Section with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, says regionally, the South leads with 52 per cent of all crops harvested, followed by the Northeast and Northwest both at 41 per cent. The Peace is at 38 per cent and Central at 31 per cent.”