Not only is there plenty of risk of crop injury due to herbicide carryover in Western Canada next year, there are also plenty of questions being asked by farmers about whether the situation could or should have been handled differently. Due to the lack of rain to break down active ingredients in certain products, BASF… Read More
As drought ravages grassland, pasture, hay fields, and grain crops, ranchers are working hard to find immediate feed sources and source feed for the winter. Grazing or haying drought-affected fields requires navigating the issues of fencing, crop insurance considerations, payment, and more, but there’s also feed quality to consider. For some ranchers, sourcing feed low… Read More
The Government of Saskatchewan has responded to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s request for drought assistance. Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit announced July 14 that Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) will implement measures to address dry conditions impacting producers. Effective immediately, changes will be made to allow low yielding crops to be put to alternate… Read More
The University of Saskatchewan is establishing a new beef industry integrated forage management and utilization research chair position. The intent of the position is to connect the study of soils, plants, animals, economics, and ecosystems, to top into forage crops’ full range of benefits. “The chair will help to address concerns raised for a number… Read More
Environmental conditions this year are certainly conducive to grasshopper population growth, and some areas of the Prairies are finding this pest a major cause for concern. Dr. James Tansey, provincial entomologist for Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, joins host Shaun Haney in this episode of the Pests & Predators Podcast, to chat about the common species… Read More
Flea beetles are a common insect pest in early growing canola across the Prairies. There are two important species of concern for canola (and mustard) growers: the striped flea beetle and the crucifer flea beetle. “The feeding is indistinguishable, but the striped flea beetle comes up earlier,” says James Tansey, provincial entomologist with Saskatchewan Ministry… Read More
A new mobile app is under development to help farmers track their mental health and link them with supports, says the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. The app is the result of a partnership between Innovation Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Bridges Health, out of Saskatoon, after being selected out of the province-wide Innovation Challenge… Read More
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture has been hosting meetings this winter to help farmers keep up with the most current science and best management practices to deal with clubroot. Many of the meetings have been conducted with the participation of Canola Council of Canada agronomists and other industry specialists. Allie Noble, crops extension specialist with… Read More
Although it’s a bit late in the year to be buying bags for grain storage in Saskatchewan, you’ll notice a price difference the next time you plan to purchase them due to a newly-imposed environment handling fee. At the beginning of the November, the Saskatchewan government added a 25 cent per kilogram fee on the… Read More
Give a boy a burdock plant, and he’ll be irritated for a day. Teach a boy to kill said burdock plant, and he just may go on to be a provincial weed control specialist. At least, that’s the path that Clark Brenzil, weed specialist for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, took. In this episode of… Read More
If you’re talking early weed control, fall is the earliest you can get for next year’s crop. For many, a pre-harvest glyphosate application does double duty, drying down the crop and setting back those perennials weeds. But in this incredibly dry year, crop dry-down was so fast many farmers didn’t need to use glyphosate pre-harvest,… Read More
Water quality can affect animal welfare and the financial bottom line long before visual symptoms start to appear. “It never bothered them before” is an often-heard refrain when the welfare of animals is impaired by poor water quality. “We just can’t determine the quality of water by just looking at it,” explains Leah Clark of… Read More
Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan government rolled out its 2017-18 cost-cutting budget yesterday, and there’s something for everyone to pick on. Affecting all sectors, Wall is increasing the provincial sales tax (PST) from five to six per cent, and has re-written what goods and services are no longer PST-exempt. Specific for farmers, beginning April 1, 2017, fuel tax… Read More
Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan proclaimed March, “Rural Women’s Month,”and this year, they’re kicking it off with a new event, called “Celebrating Rural Ranching Women.” Speakers for the day, which runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on February 26, 2016, include Anne Wasko, marketing analyst with Gateway Livestock; Kathy Larson, beef economist with… Read More
There’s plenty of excitement surrounding lentils heading into the 2016 growing season, with record acres expected. In this Pulse School episode, Shannon Chant of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture shares her top five tips for a good (or even great) lentil crop: 5 Tips for a Great Lentil Crop Good quality seed — Of course it… Read More