Rental rates for Saskatchewan Crown cultivated lands are going up this year, but not as much as they could be. Agriculture minister David Marit said the rates are formula-based and were supposed to go up about 45 percent. “Through the ministry we can reduce those rates so we did,” he told reporters. They will go […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Feds plan to consult more on fertilizer
The federal government’s “what we heard” report from fertilizer consultations suggests it needs to hear more. A fertilizer working group will be formed under the advisory committee consulting on the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. Its purpose is to strengthen communication, identify further supports, such as program funding and adoption of beneficial management practices, and improve measurement […] Read more
Wheat, canola acres expected to rise this year
Analyst predicts barley, chickpea and soybean acres will also increase while durum, flax, lentils and peas will be down
OTTAWA — There are some winners and losers when it comes to expected seeded acreage this year, said Chuck Penner from LeftField Commodity Research. He told the Canadian Crops convention earlier this month that his analysis shows a spring wheat “guesstimate” of 19.1 million acres and canola acreage of 22.1 million acres. The wheat estimate […] Read more
Producers praise Sask. agriculture spending plan
Department’s budget increases by 39 percent over last year, largely because of projected crop insurance costs
Agricultural organizations had only good things to say about last week’s Saskatchewan budget, which increased spending to cover off more expensive crop insurance premiums and projected indemnities. The ministry itself was allocated $548.6 million, while total agricultural spending is budgeted at $1.4 billion. That is eight percent of the projected $18.7 billion the government intends […] Read more
Sask. spends on rural health, education
Saskatchewan is expecting a $1 billion surplus in the next fiscal year, thanks to resource revenue. Finance minister Donna Harpauer tabled the 2023-24 budget March 22. It forecasts revenue of $19.7 billion and spending of $18.7 billion. “There are no tax increases and no new taxes included in this budget,” she said. There were also […] Read more
Federal climate action fund ‘oversubscribed’
Officials say program has been popular among farmers, but discussion of how to recognize early adopters still to come
OTTAWA — The federal government’s incentives to encourage adoption of sustainable agricultural practices ideally won’t be needed as farmers incorporate those practices long term. Agents that deliver the On Farm Climate Action Fund, which include 13 organizations across Canada, said the incentives are designed to draw in those who were sitting on the fence about […] Read more
FMD vaccine bank announced in federal budget
Federal finance minister Chrystia Freeland has tabled the 2023-24 budget, promising funding for a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank and more funding for eastern Canadian farmers to move away from imported fertilizer. The budget allocated $57.5 million over five years, beginning this fiscal year, to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to establish the FMD vaccine bank […] Read more
Sask. rolls out strategic programs
Saskatchewan has signed its bilateral agreement on farm supports with Ottawa and announced its strategic initiatives program for the next five years. Agriculture minister David Marit, with federal rural economic development minister Gudie Hutchings, announced the $485 million spending plans under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership March 20. It takes effect April 1 and represents […] Read more
Sask. RMs say gov’t policy cuts income from oil sector
Provincial government says rural municipalities have other tools at their disposal to raise the money they need
Rural municipalities from northwestern Saskatchewan last week complained government policy is forcing them to shift taxes off energy companies onto agricultural and residential properties to meet their expenses. RMs in the heavy oil production region lined up at the microphone during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities annual meeting resolution session to outline how they […] Read more
Sask. offers incentives to attract rural doctors
The extra money that the provincial government committed for staffing increases will also include physician assistants
The Saskatchewan government is offering family physicians a $200,000 incentive to move to rural and northern areas and stay for at least five years. Premier Scott Moe announced the increase to the existing incentive at the recent Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention. But the government also said it will incorporate physician assistants into the […] Read more
