Ag News

The County of Lacombe is reminding local residents to exercise caution around farm equipment. The harvest season has begun and drivers will be more likely to see farm equipment out on the roads. 

Meat costs continue to rise for many people across Canada, as prices have stayed high since they began rising at the start of the year.

That was caused by a drought last year which had farmers selling off cattle thanks to low stocks of water and feed.

Now we're still feeling the effects of that price increase, and many consumers are looking for ways to avoid that increased price at the grocery store.

One way to do so is to go partways on cattle and to have that animal processed at an independent meat business.

While many areas have received what they needed in terms of moisture to get plenty of hay for producers, others have been left dry.

Good spring runoff and occasional rains have resulted in stable hay yields in the northern and eastern parts of the province, but that's not the case out west.

That area, especially the southwest, is still under dry conditions and hay stocks haven't quite recovered from last year.

Saskatchewan stock growers association president Garner Deobald says he hopes that hay producers in other areas of the province can lend a helping hand..

The search for a new Executive Director for the Western Grains Research Foundation is over.

Wayne Thompson will replace Garth Patterson when he retires in December after eleven years in the role.

WGRF Board Chair Dr. Keith Degenhardt says they believe Wayne’s background and experience in agriculture research and his education make him uniquely suited to serve as the WGRF Executive Director.

Forward hog contract prices continue to soar.

Paul Marchand is the senior risk management analyst with Hams Marketing Services.

"Seasonally, we've been seeing some really good value in the forward contracts, relative to history...From a historical sort of standpoint, we're looking at basically the highest forward contract prices that the market has seen compared to almost every other contracting timeframe on record. The markets have been very strong."

Meanwhile, daily U.S. cash markets started the week off on a lower note.

Representatives from Argus Media and LeftField Commodity Research recently toured the Prairies to get a better idea on this years crop quality and production. 

The Western Canadian crop tour involved two cars traveling about 2000 kilometres each, visiting about 40 farms during the first week of August.

Jonathan Dreidger, Vice President of LeftField Commodity Research says based on producer comments and random plot counts they have been able to come up with some early yield estimates.

Representatives from Argus Media and LeftField Commodity Research recently toured the Prairies to get a better idea on this years crop quality and production. 

The Western Canadian crop tour involved two cars traveling about 2000 kilometres each, visiting about 40 farms during the first week of August.

Jonathan Dreidger, Vice President of LeftField Commodity Research says based on producer comments and random plot counts they have been able to come up with some early yield estimates.

Seeds Canada celebrated its first anniversary at the organization's annual meeting held in Winnipeg last month.
 
“We’ve made considerable progress in our first year,” said Seeds Canada President Ellen Sparry. “Thanks for a successful event. Strengthening Canada’s supply chain is critical for our economy, our ability to feed ourselves and our ability to feed the world."

The Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Security has been busy criss-crossing the country meeting with producers.

John Barlow says he's been trying to hit every province and this week they're in Atlantic Canada speaking to producers.

He says a key topic of concern everywhere is the Liberal's Fertilizer Reduction policy.

Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) highlighted its On-Farm Network at an event held earlier this month in Morden.