Ag News

North America is currently in a transitory period in terms of weather systems, with the timing of that transition likely to affect conditions for crops around the prairies.

That'll eventually change into a LaNinna system, which for our southern neighbours means that frosts could creep in early and disrupt harvest.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says that people in the Canadian prairies don't need to worry as much.

Manitoba has seen its fields dry out and warm up over the week as the harvest season is pushing closer and closer.

Manitoba Agriculture Cereal Crops Specialist Anne Kirk says they're even seeing harvest kick-off in a couple of areas.

Power line safety is one topic farmers should memorize as harvest approaches with plenty of work on the horizon.

Many farmers will be moving giant machinery across fields for over 12 hours a day, and between the stress of harvest and fatigue, there's a lot of room to make a mistake.

SaskPower Spokesperson Scott McGregor talks about how farmers can prepare for the upcoming season.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways is reminding landowners in the southwest to remove all hay bales from ditches by the end of tomorrow.

Landowners or lessees adjacent to a highway ditch have the first option to cut or bale free hay prior to and including July 8; after that anyone may cut or bale material without permission, as long as the same activity or mowing is not underway. 

North America is currently in a transitory period in terms of weather systems, with the timing of that transition likely to affect conditions for crops around the prairies.

That'll eventually change into a LaNinna system, which for our southern neighbours means that frosts could creep in early and disrupt harvest.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says that people in the Canadian prairies don't need to worry as much.

The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) has set out its principles for sustainable trade and what it hopes to see from international organizations in the future.

Those include global food security, trade stability, climate measures, and pest practices for countries and organizations.

Micheal Harvey, the Executive Director of CAFTA, talks about the need to get out and let others know about Canada's values.

Ranchers have observed an increase in woody species, such as western snowberry (or buckbrush) and wolf willow in their pasturelands. With the increase of woody species or brush density; comes reduced acres for livestock grazing.  With the loss of grazing acres, comes a large economic cost. With the increased density of woody species, the grassland is also negatively impacted through a shift in the desired plant community. Major barriers to addressing woody encroachment are, that it is time consuming and costly.

Since 2020, over 58,000 acres of irrigation have been developed, the largest growth since the early 1980s.  The Province says this is on track to achieve and exceed the goal of 85,000 acres in the Saskatchewan Growth Plan for 2030. 

Part of that Growth Plan includes the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project.

The Province recently awarded Prairie Engineering Partners, a joint venture from Stantec and MPE engineering firms the next planning and engineering design work for Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (WIRP).

From Thursday, August 1, 2024 to Friday, November 15, 2024 crop residue burning is NOT AUTHORIZED, except by permit, in the municipalities of Rosser, Headingley, St. François Xavier, Cartier, Macdonald, Ritchot, Taché, Springfield, East St. Paul and West St. Paul.

For information about applying for a burning permit, please call 204-745-5646 or

Last week Thursday Manitoba Agriculture hosted their annual WADO Field Day & Bus Tour in their Melita area and came upon a not-so-welcome surprise.

Applied Research Specialist with the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization, Scott Chalmers, says their crop discussions covered a large variety of topics including the presences of pea leaf weevils found in their crop trial.

"I've never seen a pea weevil and we had lives ones," he explains. "They were eating nodules in peas, and they make little birdhouses out of them."