FortSask

The Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) has a new affiliation agreement with its seven regional branches.

The agreement includes the Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers, Saskatchewan Seed Growers and the Manitoba Seed Grower Associations.

CSGA Executive Director Doug Miller says with the industry going through a seed industry modernization initiative it's important to have unity and a clear message.

No case has ever been found in Canada, but the disease has had a major impact in countries like Asia, Europe and the Carribean.

African Swine Fever is a fatal swine disease.

Earlier this week, Ottawa announced applications are now open for Agriculture Canada's African Swine Fever prevention and preparedness program. 

Funding for the new program will support projects such as biosecurity assessments and improvements, wild pig management, the retrofit of existing abattoirs, sector analysis and ASF-related research.

The outdoor rinks in Fort Saskatchewan have a definitive opening day. 

According to the city manager in a Facebook post, depending on the weather, the two boarded rinks will be flooded next week with an estimated opening on the week of Nov. 27.

The snowbank rinks will start being built at the same time, with the city hoping to have them open in early December. 

As of Thursday (Nov. 17) morning, the ice at the snowbank rinks is currently five centimetres thick. The city needs at least fifteen centimetres to be able to build the rink.

Manitobah Mukluks are a popular Christmas gift this time of year.

Lor Brand, marketing coordinator and artist relations for the company is warning customers about a rise in scam websites pretending to sell their products.

Brand says that several ads and websites have been using their name, logo, and images to trick others into believing they're selling genuine Mukluks. 

"People who place orders through those kinds of websites aren't receiving anything, because the product doesn't exist," 

Since yesterday, several Fort Saskatchewan residents have noticed something strange in the sky -- meteors, and a whole lot of them!

These meteors are a part of the Leonids, an annual meteor shower known for its spectacular storms that occur every 33 years.

The showers started earlier this month and will end on November 30. On Thursday night (Nov. 17) the shower will reach its peak, with around 250 meteors falling every hour.

The 2023 Strathcona County budget looks like it will include a tax increase. 

The county says that inflation has caused the price of fuel and materials to skyrocket over the last year. 

This rise in costs will impact the next budget and the county is proposing a 5.5 per cent tax revenue increase to help maintain services. 

Jennifer Cannon, the county's chief financial officer (CFO), is aware of the hardships that this has caused on the community. 

The Grain Growers of Canada is urging all Members of Parliament to pass the legislation as it moves back to the House of Commons.

Bill C-234 will amend the federal government's carbon pricing legislation to provide an exemption from the carbon tax for natural gas and propane used on-farm for grain drying, irrigation, heating and cooling barns.

The City of Fort Saskatchewan is considering putting in some upgrades to the iconic water tower. 

In the latest round of deliberations for the 2023 budget, an initiative was proposed to the city to help clarify the tower's future and to potentially add a few features to help modernize the structure. 

Assessments on the structural, mechanical, and exterior coating of the tower are recommended as well as two separate estimates of its lifespan (one that assumes it stays operational and one that assumes it has been decommissioned). 

The City of Fort Saskatchewan provided updates on a variety of construction projects in the community. 

This included a small update on the status of the pedestrian bridge being built underneath the new Highway 15 bridge. 

"Work is complete on the portion of Hwy 15 within the City of Fort Saskatchewan limits except for the trails under the new bridge. Paving of the trails will occur in the Spring of 2023. Trail Closures will be in effect over the winter," the city said on its website. 

With the help of Protein Industries Canada a new line of products developed by partners Konscious Foods, Merit Functional Foods and Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds.

Konscious Foods is using Merit’s pea and canola proteins, and Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds’ seaweed ingredients, to develop more than 20 plant-based seafood alternative products.

The $15.3 million project includes a $5.5 million investment from Protein Industries Canada with the other three partners putting in the remaining $9.8 million.