Ag News

Just what the cost will be is not yet known, as refineries will have a year to comply with Ottawa's new Clean Fuel Regulations.

The new regulations will cover everything from fuel production and transport to consumption. 

Ray Orb, President of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities says once again we will see an increase in the cost of gas and diesel for consumers, municipalities, and farmers.

He's concerned about the impact this could have on the agriculture sector and more specifically the viability of farmers' operations.

Ottawa and the province have committed $9.5 million in funding for Ag-West Bio over the next five years.

Investing in Ag-West Bio supports the growth of innovative ag, food, and bioscience businesses in Saskatchewan.

Agriculture Minister David Marit says Ag-West Bio is a key organization that connects businesses, entrepreneurs, and scientists so that
 we advance research into the hands of producers and industry.

Ag-West Bio will use the money to support its new 2023-28 strategic plan.

Thursday marked the first full day of competition in the Bernie Kemick arena.

There was some tough competition in the show ring as producers and 4H members brought some top-quality cattle to the show.

Kodie Doetzel, the judge for the Purebred Cattle Show had a tough job but managed to pick out the top winners.

Judging a livestock show is always tough and everyone has their own opinions based on what they'd want to see in their own herd.

The report provides an overview of how the organization worked to support the Canadian cereals value chain.

Board chair Jennifer Marchand says in 2022, Cereals Canada celebrated 50 years of providing both technical services to both domestic and international customers.

"Collaboration and connections have been pivotal to our success in the past year, and throughout the history of our organization."

In the 2022 growing season, Canadian farmers planted over 36 million acres of common wheat, durum, barley, and oats, meeting domestic and export demands. 

Dry conditions in many areas of the prairies remain an issue.

Weekly crop reports focus on the ongoing impact of the hot, dry conditions, which resulted in some seeds not germinating, and now the fact that crop stress could result in lower-than-expected yields.

In some cases, crop stress has resulted in some durum fields starting to head out at only ten inches tall.

Crops are maturing rapidly and in some areas are short and thin, as are some hay fields.

Hot, dry conditions continue to rapidly advance crop development with crop stress becoming more of a concern and some crops starting to deteriorate.

In the Southeast, the Beinfait, Whitewood, and Weyburn areas have seen some moisture, but there are concerns throughout the region that if the hot dry weather continues we could see crops deteriorate in the July heat.

Crop conditions range from fair to excellent with 66 per cent of the lentils and 63 per cent of the spring wheat and canola reported to be in good condition.

Dry conditions are growing in parts of Saskatchewan with some livestock producers starting to raise concerns about feed supplies.

Keith Day, chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association (SCA) says the persistent drought conditions are leading to feed shortages in some parts of the province that have existed for years. 

Growing conditions vary across the region, but the large majority of crops are suffering from drought and heat stress which is likely to hurt their potential yields. Without substantial moisture soon, many producers are expecting below average crop yields. Crops are beginning to mature rapidly and some cereal crops are starting to yellow and brown off due to the stressful growing conditions.

With this year's crop in the ground and the 2022-23 crop year coming to an end in a few weeks grain movement on the railways is starting to pick up again.

Assistant vice president of sales and marketing for bulk Elizabeth Hucker says in December of last year CPKC added 7300 high-capacity hopper cars to its fleet.

She says almost half of its hopper car fleet are now the new high-capacity hopper cars, which can carry 10  per cent more weight and 15 per cent more volume.

Richardson International has announced plans to expand eight grain elevators in the prairies.

The expansion includes an upgraded track system at some of its facilities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta will start in the summer of 2023 and be complete by the end of 2024.

The locations for the rail track upgrades will include Richardson's elevators at Lacombe, Carseland, Provost and Olds, Alberta; Estevan, Whitewood and Nokomis, Saskatchewan; and the Dundonald elevator about 20 km north of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.