Ag News

This year farmers were tested with tough conditions that ranged from a drought out west to challenging financial issues.

In Manitoba, crops were a bit wetter but those costs still played a part in the industry.

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn says the area did alright over 2023.

2023 was a tough year for some producers, though few areas saw the variety that Saskatchewan did when it came to conditions.

The province saw an eastern half with a good amount of moisture and a western half that was thrust into a drought.

Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit talked about what they did to help producers.

The Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) will once again see a substantial cash injection from the railways as part of their maximum grain revenue entitlements overage.

The Canada Transportation Agency has determined that grain-related revenue for both CN Rail and CPKC exceeded their allowable entitlements.

CN’s grain revenue of $1,079,522,039 was $3,457,939 above its entitlement of $1,076,064,100. 

How much have you paid in carbon taxes for essential farming operations such as drying grain, heating barns and greenhouses, irrigating land, or preparing feed?

The Agriculture Carbon Alliance (ACA) has launched a campaign around that question asking producers to show the impact the carbon tax is having on their operations.

The '#ShowYourReceipts' encourages producers to upload their receipts showing the carbon tax portion of the bill.

CPKC has announced the winners of the Elevator of the Year Award for the 2022-2023 crop year.

Elizabeth Hucke,  CPKC's assistant vice president of marketing and sales for bulk says the award is presented annually to grain elevators that achieve high volumes from a single loading point while consistently demonstrating efficient railcar loading and a strong commitment to safety.

Farm equipment manufacturer Bourgault Industries is being sold to Ontario-based Linamar Corporation.

The CAD 640 million deal represents the purchase of 100 percent of the equity in Bourgault.

Linamar President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Jarrell says Bourgault is a well-known agricultural brand that Linamar has admired for some time.

The province and Ottawa announced plans this week to expand the eligibility of carbon sequestration and grassland resilience practices under Manitoba’s Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program.

Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn says with increased climate variability making it even more difficult for producers, we need to make sure our programs align with the needs of Manitoba producers to encourage sustainable farming.

Earlier this week, the Federal Government extended the term of Chief Commissioner Doug Chorney to April 30, 2024.

Chorney's three-year term was set to expire this month. 

He moved into the role of acting chief commissioner in June of 2020 and was officially appointed to the role in December of 2020.

Stewart Wells,  a member of the National Farmers Union says it's still a little unclear as to what may happen as no other names have been mentioned for the role.

Multiple years of drought can result in lower overall forage production on pastureland. Impacts of the prolonged drought not only reduce the amount of plant material available for livestock consumption but reduce the amount of plant material retained as carryover litter on the soil surface at the end of the grazing season.

A new lentil and faba bean breeder has been hired at the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre. 

Dr Ana Vargus grew up in Central America where she worked in common bean and corn breeding and completed her PhD at the University of Saskatchewan.

"The Crop Development Centre and the University of Saskatchewan have a great history of excellence, innovation, and collaboration that make our institution the best place to work. I look forward to building upon this great history through my experience and passion for pulses and crop improvement."