Ag News

Ottawa announced this week that Canada has regained market access to Taiwan for Canadian beef and beef products from animals over-thirty-months of age.

It was just last month that Federal Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau announced that an agreement had been reached.

The regained access now opens the door to expanding Canadian beef exports to Taiwan and diversifying export markets in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan had imposed import restrictions for under-thirty-month and over-thirty-month Canadian beef, following the discovery of BSE in 2003.

The federal and provincial governments joining forces to support the work being done at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.

Agriculture Minister David Marit kicked off the field day on Tuesday by announcing $6.6 million dollars in funding over the next five years.

Marit says the funding for the LFCE directly supports the kind of innovative work that helps our livestock sector not only stay globally competitive but remain a leader when it comes to best practices.

The ruling is in and Canada Bread Company Ltd has been fined $50 million for its role in a price-fixing arrangement that raised the wholesale price of fresh commercial bread.

The Competition Bureau of Canada says it's the highest price-fixing fine imposed by a Canadian court. 

Canada Bread pleaded guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act. 

A widespread drought on the prairies in 2021 resulted in producers taking a financial hit when they couldn't fulfill their grain contracts. 

The Federal Agriculture Minister is being asked to move ahead with regulations to provide more protection for farmers signing grain contracts.

 APAS President Ian Boxall says their calling on the minister to act after news that one company unilaterally canceled contracts involving gluten-free oats when its buyer pulled out of the deal.

AgTalk, a new peer-to-peer support platform was released Tuesday at Canada's Farm Show. 

Megz Reynolds, Executive Director of the Do More Ag Foundation says it's designed to support individuals in the ag sector in their next steps towards improving their mental wellbeing.

Honey Bee headers are a common site in fields at harvest time across the Prairies.

Tuesday at Canada's Farm Show the farm equipment manufacturer unveiled the AirFlex NXT.

Perry Gryde, Honey Bee's North American sales manager says it's the next innovation for the company.

He says several years ago, they introduced a flex table to the marketplace and this takes it to the next step.

Premier Heather Stefanson was in Portage la Prairie today to announce plans moving forward to bring a first in Canadian industry to our area, and top boost our local economy as well as help decrease greenhouse emissions.

This week's crop report shows crops are advancing quickly and are reportedly in good condition.

There is some concern for later planted fields that are showing uneven and thin stands due to dry topsoil.

Cereal crops are in the four-leaf to full flag-leaf stage. Winter cereals remain in good condition with staging for fall rye at the milk to soft dough stage, winter wheat has hit the flowering to milk stage. Corn has advanced rapidly with the recent heat and most of the fields are at the V5 to V8 stage. 

Saskatchewan's Outstanding Young Farmers (SOYF) for 2023 will be named during a luncheon on Thursday.

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program (COYF) recognizes farmers and farm couples who exemplify excellence in their profession and promote agriculture.

The program is open to farmers or couples who derive at least two-thirds of their income from farming operations.

Saskatchewan is one of seven regions in the program with each region holding an event with local nominees.

Railroads around the province will have a bit more money to put towards projects as the province has sent out additional funding for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

That comes out to $530,000, which is the same amount as was given out last year to 13 different short-line railways.

Ministry of Highways spokesperson Steve Shaheen says that those railways are important to keep the province running.