Hursh Comment

The latest report from Statistics Canada is again generating more questions than answers. Between September 1 and 9, nearly 3,000 Saskatchewan farmers were surveyed on their crop production expectations. The results were released yesterday and analysts immediately started picking the numbers apart. The biggest problem is the long time lag. In early September when farmers …

Over the weekend, I heard a presentation by yet another expert who believes the world’s climate is going to hell in a hand basket. The long term trend, say most of the experts, is undeniably warming temperatures. While the science isn’t as sure, many experts are betting the Prairies will become drier as well. Some …

The province of Manitoba has announced this it is committing $400,000 for the establishment of a new Agricultural Premises Identification program. This is part of the national livestock traceability system. An agricultural premise is defined as a parcel of land on any part of which animals, plants or food are grown, kept, assembled or disposed …

A producer from north of Yorkton sent me an email about harvest conditions for his operation. He says that without exaggeration there are 50,000 birds in their pea fields right now – fields that are too wet to harvest. He’s displeased by the low level of migratory waterfowl damage that has been assessed by Saskatchewan …

Hunters and farmers are going to be interacting even more than usual this fall. First of all, harvest is running late meaning farmers and hunters are driving the same back roads. As well, many areas have lots of waterfowl this year. Sloughs that are often bone dry by the fall are still brimming with water …

A labour disruption is brewing at CN Rail. The Grain Growers of Canada has sent a letter to the federal Minister of Labour asking for both back to work legislation and “an immediate and appropriate dispute resolution process in the event of a labour disruption…” We haven’t had a major grain transportation problem in this …

Is the glass half full or half empty? As farmers across the province finally make some harvest progress, there are many reasons to be disappointed. In many cases, though, you can find silver linings. Like many southern farmers, I’m still combining lentils. Whenever you’re still combining lentils at the end of September, it isn’t good …

In years when there is a lot of wheat and durum downgraded to feed quality, feed wheat values usually drop. That isn’t happening this year. In the Canadian Wheat Pool’s September Pool Return Outlook released yesterday, the expected prices for spring wheat are up by $4 to $30 a tonne compared to last month with …

A Saskatchewan company has launched organic flax supplements for pets. JUKA Flax Products of Canada says it has products on the shelves of over 50 pet food stores across Western Canada. The company’s organic flax products are “expected to advance pet nutrition and health in a market where pet food’s nutritional content is in question.” …

If the weather forecast is correct, we’re finally going to get a spell of good harvest weather. Whether the results are good or bad, harvest progress will gradually help end all the uncertainty. What sort of yield is actually out there? How badly has quality been hurt by the wet weather? How severe is the …

These are wild times for grain prices. It started with news that Russia was suspending grain exports due to their severe drought. More recently U.S. corn yields have been less than expected and as a result American corn futures are over $5 a bushel. Ordinarily that would mean rising barley prices on this side of …

I can’t claim credit for this idea. It can from a producer who would rather remain anonymous. The concept has been suggested by a number of farm groups, but the way this fall is going, it would now be particularly useful. Why not provide a tax incentive for the purchase of equipment related to grain …