KPPA hires new general manager
The Keystone Potato Producers Association board has a new general manager.
Susan Ainsworth is replacing Dan Sawatzky effective September 1, 2023.
Sawatzky will be working with Ainsworth over the next few months which will help with a smoother transition.
He says her past experience and exposure within the potato industry make her a perfect choice.
Burnett says moisture in most areas have improved, but timely rains are needed
Seeding operations continue to progress with warmer temperatures expected to help dry things up on the eastern side of the prairies - southeast Saskatchewan and into Manitoba.
Bruce Burnett, the Director of Markets and Weather for MarketsFarm says seeding operations began in Alberta.
Prairie Cattle Marketing Update
In Manitoba, feeder steer and heifer prices took a hit for the week ending May 12th.
The biggest drop for the feeder steers was in the 401 to 500 pound category down $9.54 for an average price of $347.00 per cwt, while the biggest gain was $2.66 in the 701-800 pound category for an average price of $286.95 per cwt.
Feeder heifer prices all took a hit last week with the biggest drop in the feeder heifers with 401 to 500 pound heifers dropping $10.96 for an average price of $292.04 per cwt.
Objectives for better flea beetle management
Flea beetles are the pest of greatest economic risk to canola production, according to the 2022 Canola Council of Canada survey of canola growers. With more striped species, which emerge earlier in the spring and seem more tolerant of common seed treatments, and with spring weather conditions that challenge rapid crop emergence, flea beetle damage seems worse than ever.
Keith Gabert an agronomy specialist and insect management lead for the Canola Council of Canada shared some key information for producers.
Canola growers have two major objectives to reduce the risk.
Voting is underway in the Growing Home with BASF contest
This week, BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions announced 15 finalists for Growing Home with BASF, a new initiative supporting the organizations that help their rural communities thrive.
One organization of the five finalists in each of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will receive $25,000 to further their important work.
Your community needs your support! From May 15-31, voting is open to the public to determine which organization in each province will receive a $25,000 investment.
Agriculture Minister David Marit optimistic about the province's ag sector
The start of the growing season has everyone feeling a little more optimistic.
Agriculture Minister David Marit says snow melt and runoff helped pasture conditions, and there's enough decent soil moisture to get the crop up and growing.
CPKC sees seasonal slowdown in grain movement
With spring seeding operations underway across the prairies, grain movement to port has slowed down.
The assistant vice-president of CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City) Elizabeth Hucker says in April they moved about 2.3 million metric tons of Canadian grain and grain products, with more than 994,000 metric tons moved in the last couple of weeks.
Saskatchewan releases first crop report of the year
It may have been a late start, but spring seeding operations are underway across the province.
The Ministry of Agriculture released its first crop report of the season on Thursday.
Crops extension specialist Matt Struthers says so far nine percent of the provincial crop is in the ground, as compared to the five-year average of 23 per cent complete.
Agriculture industry continues to deal with supply chain challenges
Farmers have been faced with a number of challenges from trying to access crop inputs to parts and new equipment.
Jim Wood, chief sales and operations officer for Rocky Mountain Equipment says there's definitely still a shortage of some products when it comes to farm equipment.
"The manufacturers still have most dealer groups on allocation. You can only order so many and definitely the demand is there."
He thinks labor is an issue, adding that hopefully, the manufacturers can get their manufacturing back online when it comes to production.
Farmers now have access to $350,000 interest-free through the Advance Payments Program
In the Federal Budget this spring Ottawa increased the interest-free limit on the 2023 Advance Payments Program.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says the enhancement which raises the maximum interest-free portion of a cash advance from $250,000 to $350,000 for the 2023 program became effective May 8, 2023.
The Canadian Canola Growers Association is one of the groups delivering the Advance Payments Program.