Food Farm returns for Swift Current students
Not everyone grows up on the farm anymore, but that doesn't mean learning about where food comes from is being forgotten.
That's what the kids from All Saints Catholic School in Swift Current were doing during their field trip to the Stewart family ranch out by Morse yesterday.
Changes taking place at the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition
The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition Chair Jake Leguee says the Coalition is a collaboration between the Alberta Wheat Commission, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, and Manitoba Crop Alliance.
"The Canadian wheat research coalition is set up between the three organizations with a three-year hosting commitment. So, Sask Wheat hosted it for three years and then it flipped over to Alberta and now it's flipping over to Manitoba."
Farmers are already starting to report insect damage
Insect damage especially to newly emerged seedlings is always a concern for producers.
Farmers across the prairies will want to be monitoring for cutworm damage and flea beetles.
The Prairie Pest Management Network says growers should also keep an eye out for diamondback moths and grasshoppers.
According to the report, grasshopper eggs have already started to hatch across Alberta and western Saskatchewan with reports of grasshopper nymphs in both provinces.
That puts the grasshopper hatch about 10 days earlier than normal.
Seeding operations still behind the five-year average
Scattered rain showers throughout the province have been a welcome sight for farmers that have wrapped up their seeding operations.
Crops extension specialist Matt Struthers says at this point 68 per cent of the provincial crop is in the ground, that's still behind the five-year average of 76 per cent.
Spring seeding is moving along
Manitoba Agriculture's latest Crop Report shows farmers are making some good progress with spring seeding.
Provincial Pulse Specialist Dennis Lange says we've had some very good weather over the last week and seeding operations are now at about 62 per cent complete across the province.
Deadline approaching for Alberta Barley's $6000 scholarship program
Alberta Barley will be giving out three $2,000 scholarships for students actively engaged in barley research.
The application deadline is May 31, 2023.
The scholarship is available to full and part-time graduate and undergraduate students studying at Canadian academic institutions.
Preference will be given to students who intend to work in agriculture or academia in Western Canada.
Applicants need to send a one-page summary of their research project and how it could be beneficial to barley producers and the industry.
Applications open June 1st for the next round of funding under Ottawa's Agricultural Clean Technology Program
The ACT Program is a seven-year, $495.7 million initiative, comprised of two funding streams, with the Adoption Stream ending on March 31, 2026, and the Research and Innovation Stream ending on March 31, 2028.
Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced the new intake for the Agricultural Clean Technology Program will begin on June 1st.
Strength in the fed cattle market continues
In Manitoba, feeder steer and heifer prices were mixed.
The 701 to 800-pound feeder steers saw an increase of $11.25 cwt for an average price of $282.50 cwt, while the 401 to 500-pounders dropped $5.50 cwt for an average price of $351 cwt.
Feeder heifer prices for the 401 to 500-pound animals were up $34 cwt for an average price of $317.50 cwt, while the largest price drop was $17.50 cwt for the 701-800 pound animals for an average price of $224 cwt.
The Canola 4R Advantage program focuses on 4R Nutrient Stewardship
The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) saw a lot of interest in the first year of their 4R Nutrient Stewardship Advantage program as part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's On-Farm Climate Action Fund.
Warren Ward, an Agronomy Specialist with the CCC says the Canola 4R Advantage program offers financial enhancements to help cover some of the costs associated with 4R Nutrient Stewardship.
More support available province-wide for producers dealing with wildlife damage
Agriculture Minister David Marit recently announced additional support for the province's producers dealing with wildlife damage.
Marit says producers can receive funding for steps taken to prevent wildlife damage to feed supplies like fencing.
Producers who have received compensation greater than $2,000 per feed storage site may be eligible to receive a fence package to protect their future feed supplies.
SCIC will inform eligible producers of prevention options and work with them to determine the appropriate package.