David Marit is no stranger to agriculture, having grown up and lived on the farm his entire life. Marit recently took over the position of Minister of Agriculture for Saskatchewan, after the unfortunate news that Lyle Stewart had to step down due to cancer treatment. “They’re massive shoes to fill,” Marit says. “The best advice… Read more »
Tag: Saskatchewan Agriculture
Be cautious when buying in hay, says forage specialist
If you’re running low on forage, chances are you might already be starting to look for hay suppliers outside of your area. Terry Kowalchuk, forage specialist for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, says you have to be conscious of who you buy from, so that you do not get more than you bargained for. He… Read more »
Producers grapple with potential hay shortage
Depending on where you’re located, what you have for cattle feed could be drastically different then what your neighbour 10 miles away has. It also differs from province to province. It’s been dry in much of Western Canada, as well as parts of Ontario, resulting in low yields and producers scrambling for feed come the… Read more »
Saskatchewan’s Hay Harvest Challenge Underway — And Who Couldn’t Use a $1000 Voucher?
In an effort to raise awareness around feed testing, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Central Testing Laboratories and Saskatchewan Peavey Mart has kicked off a province wide Hay Harvest Challenge for forage producers. “We essentially wanted to have kind of a fun and great way for forage producers to become more aware of the importance of feed… Read more »
SaskAg Data Paints ’14 Crop Quality Picture
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture has released a report outlining the quality profile of this year’s crop. Only nine percent of the province’s spring wheat crop is projected to be graded number 1 — well below the 10 year average of 39 percent. For winter wheat, only three percent is expected to grade as number 1, compared… Read more »
Farming Pizza Brings Children Closer to Agriculture
The movement to understand food continues to grow. In Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Agriculture has taken great steps to feed this hunger for knowledge, supporting Agriculture in the Classroom, a charity that promotes agriculture education and awareness in the province. In fact, on June 10, just outside Moose Jaw, Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced the support would continue,… Read more »
Saskatchewan’s Grain Bag and Twine Recycling Pilot Project Continues
Saskatchewan’s Grain Bag and Twine Recycling Pilot Project began in March of 2011 and has diverted a total of 730,500 lb of plastic out of landfills. Last month, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced the project would receive an additional $100,000 for 2014. “We are pleased to extend the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot… Read more »
Pulse School: Identifying Seed Borne Diseases & What To Do With Seed Test Results
Results from a seed test could shape several management decisions made at seeding — from fine-tuning the seeding rate to determining the viability of the seed lot for seed at all. Though damaged seeds and vigour issues can be assessed, arguably the biggest factor for consideration in seed test results is the type and level… Read more »
Wall & Ritz on Rail Logistics & the Ghost of the CWB’s Monopoly
Quick negotiations and a tentative agreement earlier this week between CN Rail and the union representing some of its employees was good news earlier for Canada’s supply chain, as it meant avoiding a threatened strike. Upon hearing of the potential for 3,000 workers to strike, Saskatchewan’s Premier Brad Wall wrote Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt,… Read more »
Premier Brad Wall on the Too-COOL U.S. Farm Bill
The U.S. Senate passed the 956 page, $956.4 billion Farm Bill on Tuesday, following last week’s House approval, and is now awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature. The bill has been hugely controversial for many reasons, including Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which remained in the 2014 Farm Bill despite reaction from eight major lobby groups… Read more »
3 Canola Insect Pests to Watch for in Saskatchewan for 2014
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s insect surveys and forecasts have been published online and Scott Hartley, provincial entomologist, was on hand at Saskatoon’s CropSphere to summarize some of the findings. In the video below, RealAgriculture’s Lyndsey Smith speaks to Hartley about three of Saskatchewan’s most revered agricultural pests: the cabbage seedpod weevil, bertha armyworms and… Read more »
Determining Appropriate Buffer Zones for Pesticide Applications
In 2012, the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program supported the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association in the development of apps designed for prairie farmers. Those apps are very near completion, and in our first discussion with Tom Wolf, spray application specialist, we spoke of one that will help producers determine the spray quality of various nozzles, an obviously important… Read more »
Nearly $4.2M Announced for Livestock and Forage Related Projects in Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK – Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart and Member of Parliament Kelly Block announced a nearly $4.2M investment into 27 livestock and forage related research projects today, on behalf of the federal government. “Our government is committed to supporting agriculture research,” Stewart said. “The funding provided through the Agriculture Development Fund results in innovations that… Read more »
Identifying Spray Quality with a Smartphone
The Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association received $91, 205.00 from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program in early 2012 to build agricultural apps designed for Canada’s prairie farmers. The results of this project are now being announced, with apps very near completion. This project will produce five agricultural apps for smartphones and tablets that will give producers… Read more »
My First Impressions of New Saskatchewan Ag Minister, Lyle Stewart
Last week the Saskatchewan provincial government shuffled the cabinet. Whenever this happens farmers peer in with anticipation of a trade up or a trade down in the quality of the Agriculture Minister. This week at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers AGM I had the chance to listen to the very first address of the new Saskatchewan… Read more »