Testing wildlife for bovine tuberculosis will occur in Saskatchewan as part of the investigation into the recent positive cases. The environment ministry said it is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and “reviewing options to conduct enhanced targeted surveillance for bovine tuberculosis in deer, elk and moose in the future.” The ministry said it […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Organic farmers feel grasshopper pressure
Some producers consider reducing their organic acres or getting out altogether after the insects devour crops across Sask.
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Organic growers may have decisions to make after grasshoppers chomped their way through prairie fields this summer. A survey of 51 Saskatchewan organic farmers found they all expect production and financial losses because of grasshopper damage, and the destruction is greater than last year. “The grasshoppers of 2023 may be the […] Read more
CFIA reassesses U.S. bee import risk
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is reassessing whether packaged honeybees from the United States should be allowed into the country. The risk assessment is based on World Organization for Animal Health guidelines and expected to be done early next year. The CFIA is accepting new scientific information on bee diseases and pests until Aug. 31. […] Read more
Sask agency makes water, vacant land available for ag use
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency has announced it will make water and vacant land available to farmers and livestock producers during the drought. The agency owns and manages land across the province and those who live near these lands can contact it to see if under-used or vacant land is available. “With the well-below normal amounts […] Read more
Pesticide working group established
Agriculture ministers and industry officials stress the importance of basing future decision-making process on science
A new federal-provincial-territorial working group will tackle the challenges of pesticide management, said Canadian agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau after last week’s meeting with her counterparts. Those who have criticized the government for decisions that go against its claim of relying on scientific evidence, such as the recently ended pause on maximum residue level increases, welcomed […] Read more
AgriStability tweaked, other BRM programs considered
Agriculture ministers to move up the enrolment deadline for AgriStability to improve payment times to producers
Provinces could offer two different accounting methods for AgriStability by 2025. However, one of the choices would put less money in Saskatchewan farmers’ pockets. Canada’s agriculture ministers agreed last week that provinces could allow participants to use cash or accrual accounting. The idea is to boost participation in the business risk management program by allowing […] Read more
Farmers unite in opposition to grain commission changes
Discontent is growing over the Canadian Grain Commission’s decision to harmonize primary and export test weights for wheat effective Aug. 1. It has even brought together the National Farmers Union and the Wheat Growers Association, who disagree on many policy issues, to oppose the change. They say it will cost farmers money and that the […] Read more
Irrigators asked to drop straw, feed livestock
The largest irrigation district in Saskatchewan is encouraging members to drop straw this harvest season. The South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District No. 1 said July 26 it asks all irrigators to drop straw to help feed livestock this winter. SSRID’s office will co-ordinate the process to get feed where it needs to go. Livestock producers […] Read more
MacAulay back in ag; Bibeau moves to new job
Canada’s new agriculture minister is a familiar face as Prince Edward Island MP Lawrence MacAulay returns to the portfolio. Prime minister Justin Trudeau, in a sweeping July 26 cabinet shuffle, moved Marie-Claude Bibeau to the national revenue portfolio. MacAulay was Trudeau’s first agriculture minister in 2015 until moving to veterans affairs in 2019. Pablo Rodriguez […] Read more
New option could make AgriStability simpler
Changes could be coming for AgriStability participants after agriculture ministers agreed to an optional new model at their annual meeting in Fredericton. Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said this should make the program simpler and more responsive. Few details are available, but provinces could choose to use a cash or accrual accounting method, she said […] Read more
