Ag News

It’s annual general meeting time for the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) and president Jill Verwey from the Portage area says there is plenty to cover. The AGM is happening today, February 4th, at the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg.

Verwey noted that, overall, Manitoba producers experienced a productive year in 2024. However, she highlighted concerns regarding crop pricing and the logistics of shipping grain.  

"It's been a tight fall and going into spring there several challenges faced by farmers.” 

A new position was unveiled at the University of Saskatchewan that aims to bolster crop breeding in Western Canada. 

The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Centre will be spending a total of $6.5 million to open up a new Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission Applied Genomics and Pre-Breeding Chair at USask. This announcement was made at the Durum Summit held in Swift Current last week. 

The Canadian Beef Advisors (CBA) have released the 2025-30 National Beef Strategy. 

“The National Beef Strategy is about the future. We want people to know that the beef industry is preparing the way for the next generation”, states Bob Lowe, Chair of Public and Stakeholder Engagement.

The threat of tariffs from America has local producers making plans to stay ahead of the market.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will be enacting various tariffs of 25 per cent or more on Canadian produced products starting Saturday. Local agriculture markets are waiting to see how they'll be effected.

Producers from across the southwest and beyond crammed into the Living Sky Casino's Event Centre Thursday to gain valuable knowledge about durum wheat. 

Over 230 people attended the fourth bi-annual Durum Summit in Swift Current to learn from nearly 20 durum experts who provided farmer, market, research and agronomy, customer, and transportation perspectives.

Earlier this week, the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC), announced they’ve committed $11.8 million of funding over the next five years to the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC). With the CWRC’s previous funding agreement with the CDC expiring this year, CWRC’s president Lori-Ann Kaminski knew that this was a deal that needed to be done. 

The 48th Manitoba Ag Days was considered a huge success again this year.  

Teresa Hildebrand, the event's Media Coordinator, said the event drew tens of thousands of visitors over the 3-day event from across the region and beyond. She had their 50/50 jackpot was the largest ever and everyone was very pleased with the event. 

The Canadian Cattle Association has been looking for ways to keep Canadian beef producers going strong even as the U.S. is threatening a 25 per cent blanket tariff on the country.

That work has included speaking with American representatives and charting a course through new trade realities.

Nathan Phinney, the President of the CCA, says that having the time to discuss the tariff is one small positive in the situation.

The 45 Feeder Associations of Alberta will be meeting in Red Deer Jan. 30 - Feb. 1st to talk business and do future planning.

“By being partners in livestock financing, our associations have helped grow Alberta’s livestock business by making credit more accessible and flexible,” says FAA Executive Director Craig Guthrie.

2024 was one of the largest years on record, with FAA loans accounting for 20 per cent of the ag lending market in Alberta.

Insects are always a challenge for farmers on the prairies. The unpredictable weather in Manitoba played a significant role in shaping that province’s insect activity in 2024. According to John Gavloski, an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, the cold, wet spring had both positive and negative effects on various pest populations. Gavloski shared insights into the challenges farmers faced and what they can expect heading into 2025.