FortSask

Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) chief economist says Canada’s agriculture industry is in a good position to weather inflationary pressures and higher interest rates.

“We are in a unique position where record farm revenues are helping to offset the impact of a sharp increase in input costs and rising interest rates,” said J.P. Gervais. “The key for producers is to pay close attention to projected income and expenses to avoid any cash flow challenges that could put pressure on operations.”

A blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) advisory has been issued for a Strathcona County lake. 

Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued the advisory on Thursday (July 21) after blue-green algae was identified in Half Moon Lake. Blue-green algae can harm human health, so advisories are issued when blooms are identified or confirmed by sample results. 

Blue-green algae occurs naturally in Alberta during calm and warmer weather conditions, generally from July to September. Common health risks related to blue-green algae exposure include: 

A night of family fun is coming to Fort Saskatchewan at the end of the month.

On July 30, Kal Tire is presenting Disney’s Encanto as a drive-in movie at the Kal Tire and Home Depot parking lot (9320 Southfort Drive).

Admission is $25 per vehicle, and Kal Tire will offer free wheel and tire inspections before the showing.

The lot will open for vehicles at 7 p.m., and the movie begins at 8 p.m.

Crews say a vehicle strike was responsible for concrete blocks falling onto Highway 15 in Fort Saskatchewan Thursday (July 21) morning. 

RCMP received a complaint at 6:48 a.m. about large pieces of concrete on the highway just before the turnoff to 95 Street. An investigation revealed an oversized load hit the overpass, causing damage to the structure.

Westbound Highway 15 was reduced to a single lane while RCMP awaited a structural evaluation of the bridge -- it has since reopened.

On Sunday (July 17), Strathcona County emergency services were called to rescue a fallen biker at Strathcona Science Park.

Just before 3 p.m., a report came in about a biker who had crashed off the trail about 500 metres into the trees of a ravine. 

“She had some facial trauma and due to a possible spinal injury the rescue crew was called,” said Barry Bouwsema, operations platoon chief for Strathcona County emergency services. 

The Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital will receive funding from the Government of Alberta’s Infrastructure Maintenance Program (IMP).

Over $400,000 will be provided to help upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. 

The provincial government says the investment that will help extend the life of the units and ensure comfortable temperatures for patients and staff.

The monarch butterfly fluttered a step closer to extinction Thursday, as scientists put the iconic orange-and-black insect on the endangered list because of its fast dwindling numbers.

“It’s just a devastating decline,” said Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University who was not involved in the new listing. “This is one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world.”

A fundraising auction and concert during Ag in Motion  raised nearly $300,000 for STARS.

The Field of STARS gala has raised more than $1.7 million dollars since 2018.

This years event featured Juno and CCMA award winning recording artist Jess Moskaluke and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Major.

Show Manager Rob O'Conner says the agriculture sector recognizes the vital role STARS plays for farmers and producers. 

Agriculture Minister Nate Horner is at the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Agriculture Minister's Conference in Saskatoon this week. 

He's cautiously optimistic heading into the discussions around the next ag policy framework. 

"We've been a long ways apart on a few things, some things the provinces desperately want to see in the deal. We haven't had any of those formal talks yet, but we're still optimistic. We're hearing rumblings from the Federal Minister's team that some of our conditions may be able to be reached."

The Parole Board of Canada has granted the trucker who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash day parole for six months. 

Following an emotional, seven-hour hearing at Bowden Institution on Wednesday, the two-member board panel said Jaskirat Singh Sidhu will get full parole after those six months if he follows all conditions, including no contact with the families of the victims. 

Sidhu was sentenced to eight years after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges for the 2018 crash that killed 16 and injured 13.