Weyburn

Two days of fastball action came to a close last night at Tom Laing Park, even if the ending was a bit delayed. Due to rain last night that ended up postponing the matchup on the other diamond between the Weyburn Beavers and the Saskatoon Berries, the final matchup of the 62nd annual Borderline Men's Fastball tournament had to be halted after the first few innings. The Gladmar Braves had the jump on the Weyburn Renegades 3-0 in the championship final before the rain started to fall. 

Tariffs and trade are top of the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations.

The premiers' summer gathering in Muskoka will also feature a Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as trade talks with the United States are expected to intensify.

After 45 years in their Jasper home, it took mere minutes for Wes Bradford's quaint mountain abode to burn to a pile of ash.

A year later, he and his wife are itching to rebuild. They've hired a contractor and designer, and their insurance will cover the expected $1-million price tag. But they can't start yet — not until their empty lot, currently a flat mound of dirt, has been declared contaminant-free.

"We're up against the wall," says Bradford, after meeting their builder in Jasper the day before.

Choosing the right replacement heifers is more important than ever for cattle producers, especially with today’s record-high calf prices.

“Replacement heifers represent the genetic potential of a producer’s operation,” says Alexis DeCorby, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Yorkton office.

“They’re a costly investment that requires about two years of inputs before they produce a live calf.”

The cooler temperatures lately have allowed local producers to make progress with haying operations and fungicide applications, according to the most recent crop report released by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.  

Producers will now move into the remainder of the growing season monitoring for the development of pests or disease, while also preparing equipment for the upcoming harvest season.  

The City of Weyburn is advising drivers of turning lane restrictions in effect this week, beginning on Monday, July 21. According to a release from the City of Weyburn, this is due to traffic signal work affecting the intersection of Fifth Street and First Avenue northeast.

The work was originally scheduled to begin last week but was postponed due to weather conditions. 

Speed will be reduced to 30 kilometres an hour. Drivers are asked to use alternate routes whenever possible and to exercise caution when traveling through the area, obeying all posted traffic signage. 

The Bank of Canada has largely kept to the sidelines as it tries to get a sense of how U.S. tariffs will impact the economy — and some economists think it might just stay there.

After a quarter-point cut in March, the central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.75 per cent in April and June.

With last month's jobs figures showing a surprise gain and core inflation levels holding steady at around three per cent, economists now broadly expect the central bank will continue its holding pattern at its next decision on July 30.

For the RM of Estevan Reeve, Jason Leblanc, it's become a routine for him to go to Ag in Motion (AiM). As a farmer, producer, and auctioneer himself, this year was no exception. 

"Well, up here, this is basically where the agricultural world meets. It's a fantastic show," he shared. 

Lawrence Farms, located south of Rosetown, recently hosted Labatt Canada and SaskBarley for the official launch of a new scholarship.

The event featured an educational tour led by Stuart Lawrence, a fourth-generation farmer who took over the family operation earlier this year following the retirement of his father, Garry Lawrence.

This summer has been a busy construction season in southeast Saskatchewan. In addition to the work on Highway 39 for the construction of the roundabout on the western outskirts of Weyburn, there is work happening on Highway 35 on the north edge of the city, culvert replacements in a number of locations, and ongoing work on Highway 18. With all of the construction that is happening, the province’s Minister of Highways, David Marit, is reminding drivers to slow down, exercise caution, and obey all the signage in work zones.