Ag News

Potato producers from across the country logged in last week for the 2024 Canadian Potato Summit.

Victoria Stamper, the General Manager for the United Potato Growers of Canada says Stats Can figures show as of 2022 we had 951 potato farms across the country with total sales of over 1.5 billion dollars.

"Our average yield in Canada is 332 hundredweight per harvested acre for this year. Major potato growing provinces in acres 83,500  PEI is still at the top, but the West is closing the gap Manitoba at 81,000 and Alberta at 80,000 acres."

Are you a student living in Wheatland County interested in pursuing a career in an agricultural or environmental-related field?

The Wheatland County Agricultural Service Board (ASB) recognizes the importance of youth within the agricultural industry and is offering annual bursaries of up to $10,000.

There is a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $2,500.

Applications are now open and will close on September 15, 2024.

The decision is in, members of the Grain Services Union have voted in favor of accepting Viterra's latest offer.

Steve Torgerson, bargaining spokesperson and GSU general secretary says while the changes in the final offer achieve part of what members were looking to gain, it doesn’t go far enough. 

He says members will continue to press the company during the term of the new agreement to address their concerns.

Remember back not that long ago when community came together at Farmer Brown's farmyard for his auction sale, and two auction rings would rotate throughout the yard, the larger equipment featured in one ring, and the smaller pallets and bundles in the second ring?

And who can forget the conversations with your neighbors over the burger, pie, and coffee! Or a friend you haven't seen for some time!  "How's it goin'? How're the kids?"

Covid-19 changed all that!

The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers held a  virtual pulse variety seminar this week where they focused on some key varieties for producers.

In the yellow pea category, CDC Meadow remains the dominant variety while other varieties like CDC Inca, CDC Spectrum,  AAC Carver, and CDC Chrome are
gaining acres.

Agronomy Manager Meagan Reed says new and emerging and upcoming yellow pea varieties that have been released over the last four years are hitting the market now.

Farmers and Ranchers still have time to register for next week's Ag Outlook 2024.

This year's event runs Tuesday, January 23rd, and has a virtual or in-person option with the event taking place in Swift Current.

Mark Clements is the senior vice president of business advice with Innovation Federal Credit Union:

Women from around the southwest will be gathering in Rockglen this year for the 7th annual Celebrating Rural Ranching Women event.

The two-day event is dedicated to celebrating the strength of Saskatchewan’s rural women. 

Livestock and feed extension specialist Jordan Johnson says this year's event runs February 1st and 2nd with Thursdays session focusing on ranch management.

Fusarium Head Blight is considered by many to be the worst fungal disease for cereal crops.

The disease is mainly driven by warm humid conditions, the last time we saw a major outbreak in the Prairies was back in 2016.

Dr Paul Bullock is a senior scholar and former professor at the University of Manitoba.

He says the best line of defense when it comes to fusarium is growing a variety that has a good level of resistance.

This week, Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced nearly $10 million in funding through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) to strengthen local food security.

This funding will support up to 192 new community-led projects across the country through investments in equipment and infrastructure needs to help improve the accessibility of nutritious, local food.

Do More Agriculture is excited to announce the fifth year of the Community Fund.

The Fund offers free mental health education to rural communities throughout Canada. The goal is to empower these communities with the necessary tools to support themselves and others.