Ag News

Harvest is always a challenging time for farmers, especially in a year like this.

We got some farm safety tips from Morag Marjerison, a farm safety consultant with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP).

A Southern Manitoba pumpkin farmer says he's seeing average to above average yields this year.

Scott Friesen, who operates Snowland Vegetable Farms near Halbstadt, commented on the timing of this year's harvest.

"They're about 10 days to two weeks later than I would have liked to have started, just due to the wet spring. Our planting delay was also about two weeks. The wholesalers were looking to buy much earlier but we were just unable to deliver product. It just wasn't quite ready yet."

The number of Avian Influenza cases continues to climb.

Saskatchewan's Chief Veterinary Officer has issued an Animal Health Order limiting the transport and comingling of poultry in the province.

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or "bird flu" affects food-producing birds including chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and quails, as well as pet and wild birds. 

The goal of this Animal Health Order is to limit the spread of the virus to new flocks.

Over 11 thousand head of feeder cattle moved through Saskatchewan Auction Marts last week, up from 3500 head the week before.

Provincial Cattle Specialist Fonda Frotts says feeder steer prices were mixed across all weight categories.

Cool, damp weather over the last week slowed harvest operations in some areas of the province.

In addition, many producers also reporting frost, and a hard frost - which is described as below -2 celcius for at least four straight hours.

Crops Extension Specialist Matt Struthers says while a number of areas reported frost it shouldn't do much damage now with crops beings so far advanced.

The rains may have caused some bleaching and minor downgrading to standing or swathed cereal crops.

The Canadian Safety Train Express reminding everyone: See Tracks? Think Train!

Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada says raising public awareness about the dangers of failing to comply with rail safety laws is critical to preventing rail-related deaths and injuries in communities.

Stats show that 100 or more people are killed or injured in Canada in crossing or trespassing incidents each year.

This year alone there have been 174 crossing/trespassing incidents in Canada.

Some basic rail safety tips to keep in mind:

The Canadian Safety Train Express reminding everyone: See Tracks? Think Train!

Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver Canada says raising public awareness about the dangers of failing to comply with rail safety laws is critical to preventing rail-related deaths and injuries in communities.

Stats show that 100 or more people are killed or injured in Canada in crossing or trespassing incidents each year.

This year alone there have been 174 crossing/trespassing incidents in Canada.

Some basic rail safety tips to keep in mind:

Farmers across the prairies are hoping for some good weather as they wrap up the harvest.

There's a wide variety of sources where people go for the weather. 

A popular source for many years has been the Old Farmer's Almanac, given its long range forecasts.

According to the Almanac the rest of this month we can expect it to be about a degree cooler than normal and ever so slightly wetter than normal.

Jack Burnett, the Managing Editor says October, should be three degrees warmer with about average precipitation, and then we get into winter.

Wednesday marked the five year anniversary for CETA - the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and European Union. 

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) remains a leading supporter of opening access for Canadian beef exports to the European Union. Although the CETA created quotas for nearly 65,000 tonnes of duty-free access for Canadian beef, unresolved technical barriers have 
prevented CETA from delivering its full potential. 

Manitoba Agriculture's latest crop report says harvest progress sits at 40 per cent complete across the province, approximately 3 weeks behind the 5-year average of 71 per cent for Week 38.

Steady rainfall late last week stalled progress and farmers are waiting for drier weather to return to straight-cutting cereal and canola crops, and for windy days to dry down damp swaths.

Anne Kirk is a cereal specialist with the province.