Prairie farm groups want Ottawa to extend the deadline for when landowners become responsible for maintenance
Farmers in all three prairie provinces are asking Ottawa to put the brakes on a federal deadline affecting private rail crossings they rely on to access everything from fields to homes. “We are sending a letter asking for an extension,” said Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture, adding the issue likely isn’t […] Read moreNews
Feds insist farmers’ road access safe under new rules
Transport Canada urges landowners to contact railways if they have not yet been notified about their private crossings
Could private crossings on rail lines be shut down if farmers fail to meet new federal safety rules, cutting them off from fields, and even their homes in some cases? A Transport Canada adviser says no, but questions about maintenance and upgrade costs linger. “No one will lose access to their fields or homes as […] Read more
Farmers demand action on moisture testers
Frustrated producers insist that testing standards have changed, which is costing them a significant amount of money
A growing number of prairie farmers say the Canadian Grain Commission must take a closer look at grain moisture standards to ensure that growers aren’t being unfairly penalized at the elevator. The first question that needs to be answered? Why is grain that tests dry in a properly calibrated 919-type tester no longer considered dry […] Read more
Taps turn on to fill Milk River in Alta.
Flow of the Milk River was expected to be running bank to bank on Thanksgiving Day, following repairs to water diversion infrastructure on the Montana side of the border. The Milk has been relying on natural flow since May, when structure failure south of the border put a halt to the usual water diversion from […] Read more
Elevator destroyed by fire
A large grain elevator in the western Saskatchewan village of Marengo was destroyed by fire on the night of Oct. 8. The Kindersley Fire and Rescue Brigade responded about 10:45 p.m., followed by fire departments from Eatonia, Kerrobert and Oyen. Marengo is located about 45 kilometres from Kindersley, Sask. The blaze was declared under control […] Read more
Ag minister favoured to win in Sask. election
The Saskatchewan Party candidate continues to travel the riding in campaign mode, despite his apparent lock on victory
ASSINIBOIA, Sask. — The campaign trail is a friendly one for Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit. His rural constituents in Wood River typically vote for the Saskatchewan Party, voted overwhelmingly for him as a first-time candidate in 2016 and are expected to do so again on Oct. 26. Marit grew up in the region, and […] Read more
NDP focuses on crop insurance, AgriStability
A Saskatchewan NDP government would lower crop insurance rates and cover the cost of removing the reference margin limit from AgriStability, according to the party’s election platform. The document, released Oct. 9, says it would spend $20 million each year to “increase AgriStability reference margins” but officials confirmed that does mean removing the reference margin […] Read more
Tech school reaches deal with research farm
Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Glacier FarmMedia’s Discovery Farm agree to share the research services of one position
Blake Weiseth wears a few different hats at Glacier FarmMedia’s Discovery Farm west of Langham, Sask., home to Ag in Motion and the Field of Excellence. He manages the dual-title position of applied research lead at Discovery Farm and agriculture research chair at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. It’s a unique public and private agreement that Glacier FarmMedia […] Read more
China, COVID ruined pork party
Canadian pork exports were surging from December 2018 to May 2019, but then trade disputes and packer slowdowns got in the way
Canadian hog producers were on the path to good times before Chinese complications and COVID-19 derailed producers, Statistics Canada analysis shows. However, the recovery of the North American packing industry since the pandemic shock and the return of China to buying Canadian pork have reversed some of the damage. “After the reopening of the Chinese […] Read more
Executive takes top job at AFSC
The new chief executive officer at Alberta’s Agriculture Financial Services Corp. (AFSC) has had the job before. Darryl Kay, who began his job as CEO on Oct. 1, was interim CEO in 2017, has been with the corporation for nearly 10 years and most recently held the title of chief financial and innovation officer. “When […] Read more
