Agripod

Plenty of changes in fertilizer pricing in the past six month----with some products remaining high and others declining in price. Josh Linville with Fertilizer StoneX in the United States. This past summer there was a lot of concern about the potential for even higher fertilizer prices---considering the war between Russia and Ukraine. Linville talks about the lower prices for phosphate, potash and...

A prairie farm group is concerned about the federal government's recently announced, “Sustainable Agriculture Strategy.” Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie Claude Bibeau says the sector needs to work together to develop a roadmap to improving environmental performance. Western Canadian Wheat Growers President Gunter Jochum will share what is most worrying to their organization about the proc...

Oat prices fell sharply just prior to harvest as it became apparent the 2022 crop was going to produce large yields. Good rain at just the right time in prime growing regions of eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba contributed to the good crop. Jonathan Dreidger with Leftfield Commodity Research shares what is happening with the oat prices and what to expect in the coming months. Statistics C...

The Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) has a new affiliation agreement with its seven regional branches. The agreement includes the Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers, Saskatchewan Seed Growers, and the Manitoba Seed Grower Associations. CSGA Executive Director Doug Miller says with the industry going through a seed industry modernization initiative it's important to have unity and a clea...

Everyone knows the importance of doing things in a safe manner on the farm. Sometimes it's hard to get started creating a strategy. Dean Anderson is the Strategic Advisor for Agriculture with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services. Dean will talk about some of the greatest risk factors on the farm, how to avoid injury and how to create a farm safety plan for your own operation. The Saskatchewan...

Research conducted by the University of Saskatchewan is looking at the effect of feed processing on ergot toxicity. The work is expected to change how feed samples are analysed. Monogastric Nutrition assistant professor Dr. Denice Beaulieu says researchers are examining the ability of heat and steam to alter a certain ratio of the ergot. The Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame officially welcomed f...

The first ever Canadian Farmer Sentiment Index suggests there is short term optimism tempered by longer term concerns. About 3,000 farms across the country have agreed to enter information into the data base---so they can participate in the nationwide survey. Justin Funk is the managing partner of Agri Studies. He'll share more on the 900 farmers and ranchers that answered last month's survey whic...

4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction (LEAD) recognize outstanding members who show 4-H values in the way they live their lives. The awards honour youth who have become exceptional leaders through their 4-H experience, and who share the best of themselves with their community. Kate Axton from Saskatchewan is one of the recipients of the $20,000 scholarship for her post secondary e...

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association continues its effort to fight Ottawa's proposed fertilizer emission reduction policy. The federal government wants to reduce those emissions by 30 percent by the year 2030. Wheat Growers President Gunter Jochum believes it could result in a food shortage.   Over the last several years, there have seen more cow/calf producers try their hand at direct-t...

The ongoing war in Ukraine is creating problems for two major exporters of potash fertilizer. Prior to the conflict, Russia and its close ally---Belarus----accounted for a combined 40 percent of global potash production. Both countries are going through challenges selling their product. Nutrien has six potash mines in Saskatchewan and is in the process of expanding production at three of those min...

The two major railways are having a more difficult time filling hopper car orders and the number of unfulfilled orders is increasing rapidly. The Ag Transport Coalition monitors railway performance on behalf of grain companies and various producer organizations. The organization is concerned the rail companies are falling behind on rail car deliveries. However, the assistant vice president of grai...

Indonesia is taking steps to control a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in that country. The Swine Health Information Center monitors domestic and global diseases and provides monthly surveillance reports. Center Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says Foot and Mouth Disease virus has been on the radar for global detection since May because there have been substantial outbreaks, particularly...

A new survey shows most farmers believe a proposed fertilizer emissions target will not remain voluntary. That was one of the findings of poll of 546 Western Canadian farmers. The first question was "Do you agree with the federal government's 30 percent fertilizer emission reduction target by the end of the decade?” 72 percent strongly disagreed. Another question on the way emissions were calculat...

Saskatchewan produces 30 per cent of Canada’s beef cattle, but there are no federally inspected packing facilities in the province. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) believes the province and its producers are selling all that potential value out-of-province and at a discount. SSGA released a study into the feasibility of building and operating a packing plant in Saskatchewan. The...

Bank of Canada increased its policy interest rate by 75 basis points to 3 and a quarter per cent. J.P. Gervais, Chief Economist with Farm Credit Canada says expect more interest rate increases before the end of the year as the Bank of Canada tries to tame inflation. He says with even with higher interest rates and inflation for farm inputs, most farmers should still be in the black. A veterinary c...

Everyone involved in agriculture needs to better communicate the story of farming. Cam Dahl is the General Manager of Manitoba Pork. He says the sector needs to work together to dispel the myths surrounding modern agriculture. An article circulated through community newspapers examines the connection between farmers and the "Prove It" generation and the need to better communicate the role of new t...

Two companies conducted an extensive crop tour of Western Canada during the first week of August. Argus Media and Leftfield Commodity Research combined resources to stop at more than forty farms in the three-prairie province. At more than half of the sites, they were able to speak to local producers. The companies produced average yield and production estimates for canola and wheat in Western Cana...

If the price of feed grain remains at its current high level, consumers can expect continued higher meat prices. A combination of factors including shortages of locally produced feed grains due to last year's drought, transportation challenges due to COVID-19 and generally higher global grain prices due to the war in Ukraine has pushed grain prices to record levels. Florian Possberg, a partner wit...

It's estimated soil salinity is affecting anywhere from five to 10 million acres on the Canadian Prairies. Establishing perennial forages is one of the top recommended methods to manage saline soils for the long term. Recently there was a Forage Crop Walk near Melfort, Sask. where local farmer Harvey Heavin shared his story of how he converted 90 acres of poorly producing saline land to a producti...

The Canadian Cattle Association has hired a new general manager and he comes from our province. Ryder Lee will become the CCA general manager on September 1st. For the past seven years, he has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association. Ryder worked for the CCA in several capacities between 2005 and 2015. He will reflect on his experience with the Saskatchewan gro...

Baiting and trapping entire groups appears to be one of the more effective means of eliminating wild pigs. The Squeal on Pigs campaign in Manitoba, launched earlier this year, is designed to inform the public about the dangers posed by wild pigs and to provide a mechanism to report sightings. Dr. Wayne Lees the Coordinator of the Manitoba Invasive Swine Eradication Project will share the latest re...

A group that represents Canadian ranchers has changed its name to be more gender inclusive. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association, which represents more than 60,000 ranchers and feedlot operators nationwide, will now be known as the Canadian Cattle Association. He'll talk about the name change, the recent reversal of a Health Canada decision to back away from a saturated fat warning label on ground...

The grain markets have been taking a beating. Are there signs prices have started to bottom out? Without a swift recovery of bullish sentiment, growers who held off selling the best new crop prices in a decade may be headed for a familiar marketing strategy this fall; holding and hoping. Errol Anderson, the president of Pro Market Communications in Calgary says it isn't just the ag sector feeling...

Many farmers have diversified their operations. But one farm southwest of Saskatoon has several revenue streams including crops, livestock, part ownership in a Saskatoon restaurant and operating a summer day camp for elementary school students. Arlie LaRoche is the owner-operator of Farm One Forty and she will share more about the farm and its various ventures. Does Saskatchewan have the ability t...

The first North American veterinary college honeybee research chair will be located at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Sarah Wood is a veterinarian known for her pollinator research. Wood says bees play an important role in agriculture and with roughly 45 per cent of bee colonies lost last year the work to save the bees is more important then ever. Saskatchewan students interested in studying...