Ag News

As calving season progresses, many of us look forward to green spring pastures and summer turnout for the cow herd. However, our cows still have several challenges ahead: colostrum production, initiation of lactation, and returning to estrus prior to the start of breeding season. Closer nutritional management during these periods may help to set your herd up early for a successful breeding season.

Canada's Farm Show held its official launch on Thursday.

The event presented by Viterra runs June 18th to 20th in Regina.

Over the years it has become a key event on the calendar, attracting farmers, industry reps, farm equipment dealers and manufacturers, visitors from around the province, the prairies and internationally.

The show has become a staple for many producers allowing them to do side-by-side comparisons with all of the latest farm equipment and technology on site in one location.

India is once again extending the exemption on its import tariffs on yellow peas.

India initially imposed a 50 per cent duty on peas in November of 2017, followed by other restrictions limiting import volumes in 2018.

That move virtually shut Canada out of the market at that time, up until that point India had been Canada's number one market for peas.
 
On December 8, 2023, India announced it would temporarily lift the import tariffs from December 8, 2023  to March 31st, 2024 allowing unrestricted imports.

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) have released their Road to 2050 policy recommendations to help shape federal programs while making farming more profitable and sustainable.

Chair Andre Harpe says the launch comes as we face the urgent need to feed more people, tackle climate change, and keep grain farms profitable.

"Canadian grain growers are leading with innovative sustainable practices. These efforts not only reduce our carbon footprint but also play a crucial role in achieving Canada's climate goals."

Agriculture Minister David Marit announced Monday that the top-up for eligible livestock producers through the 2023 Canada Saskatchewan Feed program, is on its way.

The program was put in place last fall to help producers maintain the breeding herd in drought-impacted areas of the province, by covering up to 70 per cent of extraordinary costs related to feed and freight from May 1st, 2023 to March 15th, 2024.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says drought conditions are having a serious impact on livestock producers right across Saskatchewan.

Manitoba Pork recently highlighted some of the top producers during their Pork Quality Competition.

The event held during the Manitoba Winter Fair gives producers the opportunity to showcase their operations and the high-quality, sustainably produced pork raised here in Manitoba. 

The winners of this year's Pork Quality Competition:

Grand Champion and 1st Place - Wellwood Colony
Reserve Champion and 2nd Place - Sprucewoods Colony
3rd Place - Boundary Lane Colony

The Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) have named this year's recipient of the 10th annual Alberta Pulse Industry Innovator Award. 

Each year, APG recognizes a person or organization whose progressive thinking and tireless efforts helped build Alberta’s pulse industry into the flourishing sector that it is today.

Chair Shane Strydhorst says this year's honoree is Dr DJ Bing with Agriculture and AgriFood Canada's Lacombe Research and Development Centre. 

For many reasons, paperwork is often at the bottom of our priority list, especially as calving or lambing begins. Consider this your friendly reminder that we are headed into the season where record keeping should be bumped up on your to-do list.

The Province has announced this year's funding allocations under Saskatchewan's Short Line Railway Improvement Program.

Saskatchewan has 13 short line railways operating on 2,123 kilometres of track.

This year $530,000 will be split between the short-line railways based on the cost of their project, and the amount of track each shortline owns with the lines with more tracks receiving more money.

The money will be used for track upgrades and expansion, improved crossing surfaces and sightlines, bridge maintenance, track rehabilitations and other projects.

On Friday, the federal government announced funding for new innovative solutions to help deal with the ongoing labour challenges in the ag sector. 

Under Phase 2 of the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program - Challenge Stream, five projects will each receive up to $1 million in funding.

The projects target the Canadian meat processing industry and the Canadian controlled environment agriculture industry - the concept is to advance automation and robotic technologies.