Ag News

$700,000 is going to agricultural producers and local governments in an effort by the Water Security Agency to support water management projects.

The funding comes from a $1.5 million two-year commitment meant to support agricultural growth and sustainability in the province.

The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission are looking to round out their board of directors.

Nominations are now being accepted until September 6th for open director positions.

SaskBarley is hoping to fill three director positions, while Sask Wheat has four vacancies as it increases its board size from seven to eight directors.

All nominations must include the contact information of the nominee and signatures from at least two registered producers within the organization. 

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay was in Saskatchewan this week.

MacAulay announced an investment of over $4 million to the Western Grains Research Foundation.

The funding will go towards the WGRF's AgriScience Program - Clusters Component, part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

During his visit to Saskatchewan, the minister also visited Stone Farms in the Davidson area.

Stone Farms is owned and operated by Rob and Donna Stone.

The Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association has written to the Province's Agriculture Minister David Marit calling for more support for the beef industry.

Over the last few weeks the SCA held town hall meetings in various locations to talk about the impact of the drought and producer needs, those meetings attracted well over 400 producers.

SCA Chair Keith Day says they heard numerous concerns about current programs.

The Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award was announced this week during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference.

Reg Schellenberg, a rancher from Beechy, Saskatchewan was President of the Canadian Cattle Association when he passed away suddenly in December of 2022.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations to be made through the Canadian Cattle Foundation to support the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Program.

The hot, dry conditions in many areas have meant that grasshoppers have been a key challenge for producers again this year.

Conventional farmers and organic producers have seen significant damage from grasshoppers over the last couple of years.

Marla Carlson, the executive director of Sask Organics says they did a grasshopper survey this year between June 30th and July 16th to try and gauge the impact.

Motorists may have seen an increased number of combines and farm machinery take to rural and major highways, as harvest is in full swing in most areas of Saskatchewan.  

Due to the size of combines, sprayers, and other equipment, motorists will need to use extra caution when approaching one this harvest season.  

Harvest operations are underway in the province with three per cent of the crop in the bin.

That's on par with the five-year average

Anne Kirk, the province's cereal crop specialist says a general rain delayed the harvest last week but things are back on track.

With crops dried out for harvest, that can also pose a decent fire risk that farmers in their combines should be ready for.

Whether through a mechanical breakdown, the machinery running too hot, or just a freak accident, fires should be something every farmer is prepared for.

Mike Kwasnica, President of the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs, details some of those tips.

The federal government has announced new funding for grain research in western Canada focused on a number of topics.

Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, announced the investment of over $4 million to the Western Grains Research Foundation.

That will go towards the WGRF's AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.