Ag News

Canada's Bison Industry will see new funding to help expand and grow its reach. 

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau announced an investment of over $133,611 during the International Bison Convention.

The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) is on a record pace in terms of the number of advances issued through the Advance Payments Program, as well as the dollars issued. 
    
"What we've seen so far is a record-breaking year in terms of the number of advances as well as the dollar value of advances," said David Gallant, Director of Finance & Operations. "One the first day of the program this year, we issued over 1,500 farmers over $275 million in the cash advance program."   

After five years of regulatory development, the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) says it was pleased to see the final Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) published last week. They will come into effect on July 1, 2023. 

CCGA says the regulations will provide the certainty that all parts of the biofuel supply chain, from farmers to renewable fuel producers, need to begin preparing for future market opportunities.

Formerly, the Canadian Cattlemen's Association was officially rebranded to better include all aspects of the industry.

Reg Schellenberg, CCA President says for 90 years, CCA has been the voice of beef farmers and ranchers across the country.

"The organization has grown to include the 60,000 members we represent today. It is important that our name, logo and brand also grow and be reflective of how our organization has evolved."

Tyler Fulton an officer with the Canadian Cattle Association says the group includes more than just ranchers and cow calf operators.

Arthur Ward operates Prairie Moon Acres near Hitchcock Bay where he runs a third of his acreage under irrigation. 

Over the last few weeks he and his neighbors have had problems with someone coming onto their property and shutting off the pivot points.

"During the night, every once in a while, we'll go out and there'll be a pivot that's just shut off. Then I'll go up to the tower and push the button and it starts again. Usually, if there's a problem with the machine, it'll tell you on the screen what the reason was that it quit. But if it just stops, it's been shut off."

The report commissioned by SaskCrops and APAS also shows that only 46 per cent of Prairie grain farmers feel that they are being treated fairly by contracts.

APAS President Ian Boxall says the groups commissioned Mercantile Consulting  Venture Inc to write the report in order to quantify and substantiate the concerns they were hearing from their members.

The recent summer storm activity brought heavy rain, high winds and hail to many areas.

With temperatures increasing and high humidity it can create the perfect environment for disease issues.

The Canola Council of Canada says sporadic moisture across much of the prairies and a quickly growing canopy mean sclerotinia stem rot may be a concern in many areas.

Plants tend to be infected with sclerotinia when the canola crop is flowering.

Canola fields are starting to bloom.

Justine Cornelsen is Agronomic and Regulatory Services Manager with BrettYoung.

"It's obviously been a slow start to the spring but things are progressing," she said. "We still do have a bulk of acres that are sitting around that four to six leaf stage getting ready to bulk. I imagine in the next week here, we're really going to see things start to turn yellow. We've had some high humidity and some heat and a lot of rain so there's going to be a fairly large risk for sclerotinia this year."

Farmers are out checking crops again for damage following another weekend of summer storms.

Environment Canada reporting three tornadoes in the Paynton area and another around Blaine Lake on Friday that caused a lot of damage, toppling grain bins and blowing debris.

The storms also resulting in pea to golf ball sized hail in many areas.

Crops Extension Specialist Shannon Chant says when it comes to hail damage to crops, farmers will want to give the crop a few days to see if there is any chance of recovery. 

Area farmers have a chance to check out equipment, network and take in some key information during the Thanks for Farming Tour this week.

The event runs Tuesday and Wednesday at the Stockade in Kinetic Park.

Jeremy Matuszewski, one of the Thanks for Farming Tour organizers says the "Thanks for Farming Tour" offers education, entertainment, and the opportunity to meet with and learn from innovative Ag businesses.