Ag News

Canadian grain customers like the quality and consistency of our crops.

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) provides customers with statements of assurance and letters of analysis.

Derek Bunkowsky,  the CGC's chief grain inspector says statements of assurance are based on cargo monitoring on all bulk vessels of grain that are leaving Canada.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association have sent a joint letter to the Federal Agriculture Minister regarding changes to the Federal Government's 2024 Advance Payments Program (APP). 

Starting in 2024, Ottawa is changing the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program back to $100,000 from the current $350,000 level.

The groups are calling on Ottawa to reconsider its decision and reinstate the $350,000 interest-free portion.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has officially opened Canada's Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office in the Philippines.

"I’m so pleased to be in Manila to open Canada’s first-ever Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office. We export nearly half of what we produce in Canada and the global demand continues to grow. I have no doubt this office will play a central role in growing export markets for our world-class Canadian farmers and increasing collaboration and cooperation in this important region.”

Premier Scott Moe is leading a trade delegation to India this week.

The goal is to grow trade opportunities and increase India's investment in the province.

India is a key partner for us,  stats show that in 2023 Saskatchewan's agri-food exports to India were valued at over $700 million.

As part of the visit, the Premier will be speaking in New Delhi where he'll talk about the province's sustainable agriculture practices and reliable supply chain. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's 2023 National Survey for Potato Wart shows the pest was not detected in any of the soil samples tested. 

Over 2000 soil samples were collected from fields in key potato-growing areas like PEI, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

The national survey results have been provided to provinces, the Canadian Potato Council, and the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

A successful canola crop needs a lot of nitrogen, which is why nitrogen earns A-list buzz. That same successful crop also depends on a strong supporting cast – phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients.

University of Saskatchewan researchers recently updated the nutrient uptake and removal guidelines for 14 annual crops grown in Western Canada. The researchers, in doing their surveys, discovered considerable variability in uptake and removal due in part to differences in weather and management, which is why they say these numbers are guidelines only, not prescriptions. 

We should see some improvement in the weather as we get into the second half of Spring.

Drew Lerner, the senior agri-meteorologist with World Weather Inc says in the meantime we're going to continue to deal with the same below-normal precipitation bias that's been with us all winter long.

CN Rail has gotten through the cold snap that caused problems for them near the end of January and is seeing positive results in February.

Vice President of Grain David Przednoweck says that the difference can be seen in how much they were able to ship.

The prairies are staying dry over the winter as the federal government's newest drought maps are showing the lack of moisture is sticking around.

The map, released monthly, details moisture levels across the country and classifies them between D0, abnormally dry, and D4, exceptional drought.

Trevor Hadwen, an agri-climate specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says the assessment isn't changing much month-to-month.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities is asking the province for an update on the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project.

The project seeks to expand irrigation options for farmers in Saskatchewan by way of canals off of Lake Diefenbaker.

SARM President Ray Orb says they're hoping to get an update as to the progress the province has made.