Ag News

CN Rail recording its best week ever for grain movement.  

CN moving over 806,000 metric tonnes of grain from Western Canada during the week of October 16th.

That exceeds its previous record by over 50,000 metric tonnes. 

The record also comes on the heels of CN’s second best September ever for grain movement from Western Canada, with over 2.64 million metric tonnes moved.

Pumpkins for pigs? Believe it or not, pumpkins are loved by pigs, and you can make a pig's day by donating your old pumpkins to farms rather than throwing them out!

EH Farms, located 10 minutes North of Strathmore, is back this year and will be collecting your old pumpkins for their pigs. They will have their truck parked outside of the 104.5 More Country radio station located at 250 Edgefield Place (next to Pet Valu).

Representatives from the Canadian Cattle Association recently took part in the United Nations Committee on World Food Security Meetings (#CFS50) in Rome.

Jessica Radau, the CCA's Youth Leadership Coordinator took part in the meetings. 

She says it was a global discussion on improving food systems on the planet. and working in a coordinated way toward ensuring food security and nutrition for all.

Time is running out for Alberta wheat and barley farmers to cast their vote on amalgamation. 

A plebiscite is currently underway focusing on the formal amalgamation of the Alberta Barley and Alberta Wheat Commission.

Farmers, who have paid a levy on wheat or barley sales from January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2022, including farmers who have requested refunds are eligible to vote. 

Farmers will have received a voting PIN in the mail to use when they cast their vote online or over the phone.

Voting is open until 12 noon on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

Farmers are being encouraged to let their name stand for the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.

Monday, October 31st is the Director nomination deadline for Regions 1, 4, 7, and 10. 

Farmers are eligible to be a director if they or the farm operation has paid a check off to the Alberta Canola Producers Commission for canola grown in one of these regions since August 1, 2020.

Olymel has announced plans to cut 177 management positions.

The job cuts are primarily in Quebec and will mainly focus on administration.

The company says  57 current employees have received their layoff notices, while the remaining 120 positions are currently vacant.

Yanick Gervais, President and CEO of Olymel says after careful analysis, the difficult decision to significantly reduce our management staff is an answer to the need to adapt to unpredictable market conditions and to better position the company for the future.

Yesterday, marked Saskatchewan's Speech from the Throne. 

The speech highlights some key projects that will benefit rural Saskatchewan and the ag sector.

Including the signing of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, along with the federal government and all provinces and territories.

Farmers and ranchers are also expected to benefit from the government's plans to continue the expansion of rural internet service by SaskTel.

Manitoba Agriculture's latest crop report shows the provincial harvest is now 95 per cent complete.

Harvest is wrapping up or done in most parts of southern Manitoba.

The corn harvest is most advanced in the Red River Valley with yields running 150 to 200 bushels an acre on average, and between 120 to 150 bushels an acre in the Southwest. The corn harvest was delayed due to  wet field in the Interlake and Eastern regions.

The Competition Bureau of Canada is launching a study into grocery store competition.

Announcing the move in a press release, the bureau says with inflation on the rise, Canadian consumers have seen their purchasing power decline. 

Stats show that grocery prices have been increasing at the fastest rate seen in Canada in 40 years.

A number of factors are believed to play a role in the increase including extreme weather, higher input costs, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and supply chain disruptions. 

Olds College is expanding its Agricultural programming for next fall.

Jay Steeves is the Dean of the Werklund School of Agriculture and Technology at Olds College.

He says one of the new programs is the Bachelor of Digital Agriculture degree which focuses around precision agriculture.