Ag News

A map has just been released after extensive surveying in Saskatchewan revealing the places most ravaged by grasshoppers over the spring and summer. 

A map has just been released after extensive surveying in Saskatchewan revealing the places most ravaged by grasshoppers over the spring and summer. 

As winter approaches it's a good idea to take some time to review your farm or ranch operations.

Taking time to look at what worked for you over the last year and what didn't is always key.

It's also a good time to look at your future plans personally and for the business making sure your wills, estate plan, and/or succession plans are up to date.

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture is holding a couple of one-day Back to Business 2023 seminars next week, one in Moose Jaw on December 7th and one in Saskatoon on December 8th.

The provincial government released the mid-year financial numbers Monday morning, and they show what was a surplus budget in the spring, is now expected to be a deficit thanks in part to a nearly 60 percent increase in agricultural expenses. A drop in non-renewable resource revenue was also said to contribute to the increase in expenses for the province.  

You may not realize it, but Canada is a major supplier of oats with some of our key export markets located in the U.S. Mexico, and Japan.

According to the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) website Saskatchewan typically produces more than 50 per cent of Canadian oats each year, making Saskatchewan the largest oat-producing region in the world. 

For growers, the 2023 growing season went better than expected.

POGA president Brad Boettger, says there were definitely some areas that struggled due to the drought and weather conditions.

Canola growers are being reminded there's still time to get involved.

The Manitoba Canola Growers are looking to fill four seats at the board table. 

The positions on the Board of Directors each hold a four-year term.

Nomination forms are available on the website and now only require the nominee’s signature and at least three signatures from Manitoba Canola Growers members (although six or more are recommended).

The nomination period closes at 4:30 pm CST on Thursday, November 30, 2023.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Viterra are now into their eigth year of  working together to end global hunger.

The partnership sees Viterra donate land around its facilities in Balgonie, Grenfell and Raymore, Saskatchewan, as well as Trochu, Alberta for growing projects. 

Kyle Jeworski, CEO of Viterra Canada thanked farmers that work on these growing projects noting that as a global industry leader, they recognize the critical importance of food security and moving food ingredients to areas of need safely and efficiently.

For week 16,  November 12th to the 18th, CPKC moved approximately 539,000 metric tonnes of grain and grain products to markets throughout North America and to the port for export. 

Elizabeth Hucker, CPKC'S assistant vice president of marketing and sales for bulk says grain movement is still well below their available capacity.

She adds rail car fulfillment performance has remained above the 90 per cent threshold.

It looks like Rogers Sugar and the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) Local 8 representing workers at the company’s Vancouver refinery will be going to mediation.

Rogers Sugar put a request into the BC Labour Relations Board for mediation which the union has accepted.

The union members at the facility walked off the job eight weeks ago with a key issue being continuous shifts.

Earlier this week, the Union put out a statement on their website on the current situation and some of their key concerns.

Livestock producers that use the province's Agricultural Crown Land Leases (ACL) for forage are getting an early Christmas Gift.

Premier Wab Kinew and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announcing a temporary increase in the reduction for 2024 ACL forage lease rates from 33 per cent to 55 per cent.

Premier Kinew noted that Manitoba producers, like all Manitobans, continue to experience a rise in prices in all aspects of their business, including production and market costs, making it increasingly difficult to recover.