Ag News

As a nationwide labour dispute looms between Canada’s two major freight railways and the union representing workers at each, the associations representing rural municipalities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are extremely concerned about the impacts that a rail work stoppage would have on Prairie agricultural producers, consumers and other industries crucial to rural communities.

The Canadian Cattle Foundation (the Foundation) presented the second annual Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award to support the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Program last night at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference. 

The recipient of the 2024 award Cassie Marchand from Vernon, BC was presented by Lynn Grant, Vice President of the Foundation & Canadian Cattle Association Board member. 

Saskatchewan Agriculture's crop report from last week shows six percent of the provincial harvest is now in the bin.

Harvest is most advanced in the southwest where 16 per cent of the crop is in.

Amber Wall, the assistant manager for the Wheatland Conservation Area, says they are well ahead of schedule when it comes to harvesting their research plots.

"Harvest is moving along quite quickly. We haven't received any of the showers that passed throughout August."

The Canadian Beef Industry Conference is being held this week in Saskatoon for the first time.

The four-day event brings together 500 attendees from cattle producers, to government agencies, beef industry representatives and researchers from across the country to share ideas.

Vice President of the Canadian Cattle Association Tyler Fulton says its an opportunity for participants to hear from some keynote speakers and take part in the CCA committee meetings.

With the threat of a potential rail strike by CN and CPKC just days away, a reminder to let politicians know the potential impact this will have on the agriculture sector.

Farm groups across the prairies have a link on their websites allowing farmers to send a form letter out calling for the Federal Government to intervene and stop the rail strike and "Keep Canadian Grain on Track".

The Federal Government announced over $6.5 million on Monday for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)  through the AgriScience Program.

Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, announced the funding on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

"This funding underscores our commitment to advancing technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the value of Canadian agricultural products. Together, we are strengthening our agricultural sector and building a greener future."

The Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association gave some participants in this week's Canadian Beef Industry Conference a taste of Saskatchewan.

CEO Grant McLellan says this is the first time the event has been held in Saskatchewan and they're excited to welcome everyone here.

He says the sold-out tour involved several stops at cattle operations around Saskatoon.

The tour stops focused on rotational grazing, Longhorns and a Farm-to-Fork business, a Simmental operation with a solar watering system, and a fifth generation farm established in 1906.

With the start of harvest season, you’ll likely come across farm equipment on highways and grid roads in Saskatchewan.  

Jeremy Pilon, communications consultant with SGI, reminds motorists to pay attention when they encounter slow-moving machinery on highways. “You come up to that machinery really quickly – especially at highways speeds.” 

Alberta's latest crop report shows the Provincial harvest is now three per cent complete.

The fall rye and winter cereal harvest is now at the halfway point in some areas. Farmers have started desiccating pulse crops, while other crops are just a few weeks away from maturity. 

The warm weather is pushing crops out of flowering with spring cereals in the soft dough stage, and 98 per cent of major broadleaves now podding.

The Canadian Entrepreneurs' Incentive program is undergoing some changes, but agriculture groups say that's not enough to help out farmers.

That's meant to help out small business owners with a tax break, but that's been out of reach for many farmers.

Kyle Larkin, the Executive Director at the Grain Growers of Canada, says now that's been changed but it may not be enough.