Sask. crop insurance doubles low-yield thresholds to allow crops to be used for feed, but farm group says more is needed
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association called for an immediate AgriRecovery assessment last week, even as governments moved to make it easier to turn low-yielding crops over for feed. President Garner Deobald said the steps taken so far, such as potential rent reductions on crown pasture, are helpful but don’t go far enough. Implementing AgriRecovery could […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. farmers want grain commission changes reversed
Organizations say harmonizing test weight tolerances at the higher export standard is not in producers’ best interests
Two Saskatchewan organizations want the Canadian Grain Commission to reverse its decision to harmonize test weight tolerances at the higher export standard. Sask Wheat and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan issued a press release July 17 saying the decision to eliminate the primary elevator tolerance could be financially detrimental for producers. Effective Aug. 1, […] Read more
More positive bovine tuberculosis cases found in Sask.
Livestock producers who have to watch as their farms are depopulated due to a disease outbreak may need help coping
The number of positive bovine tuberculosis tests in a Saskatchewan herd has risen to eight. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency updated that number from two on July 12. CFIA said the infected herd has been depopulated and post-mortem testing continues. A contact herd is undergoing live animal testing this month and work continues to identify […] Read more
Sask. irrigation interrupted due to concerns over pump
Pumping capacity from Lake Diefenbaker was restored along Saskatchewan’s main irrigation canal last week after mechanical issues at the Eastside pumping station. Irrigators agreed to not water their crops from about July 7-10, leaving at least 48,000 acres without water, so that the Water Security Agency could fix the problem. Steve Primrose, chair of the […] Read more
Counting heads, narrower rows may help wheat yields
It takes a lot of math to grow a high-bushel wheat crop — number of heads, spikelets per head, grains per spikelet and more. However, Phil Needham said spending some time thinking about these and quantifying them can help growers get the best from their seeds. The U.K.-born, U.S.-based agronomist told the SaskWheat semi-annual meeting […] Read more
Sask. requests AgriRecovery assessment
The Saskatchewan government has asked for an AgriRecovery assessment due to drought. The assessment will determine what help livestock producers could receive. “Many producers across Saskatchewan are facing extraordinary costs to ensure their animals are taken care of,” said agriculture minister David Marit. “We need to move quickly to consider all relief options, including an […] Read more
Research identifies cow efficiency
Study finds gain-to-feed ratio not the best measurement for cows; ability to maintain condition and calve more important
Forage-efficient cows maintain their back fat during winter, calve earlier in the calving season and wean heavier calves relative to their own weight, according to a University of Saskatchewan study. Dr. Greg Penner said the study shows how cow-calf producers can assess their cows without relying on feed-use efficiency, which is a typical measurement. “In […] Read more
Sask. farmers want CGC changes reversed
Sask Wheat chair Brett Halstead said the decision was ill-considered, hastily finalized and done without proper consultation.
Seven years of drought take toll
Seven is often considered a lucky number but not for Tyson Jacksteit. That’s how many consecutive years of drought his family has now gone through on their west-central Saskatchewan farm near Golden Prairie. The last good crop was in 2016, he said, with the rain from that year carrying them through the next. But since […] Read more
More positive TB tests from Sask. herd
The number of positive cases of bovine TB in a Saskatchewan herd has risen to eight. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency updated the ongoing investigation and testing July 12. Live animal testing of one contact herd is continuing this month, and trace-out and trace-in herds are still being identified. So far, 160 animals have been […] Read more
