Hursh Comment

GPS satellite systems are going to be non-operational for the next three days…Just kidding, but I bet I caught your attention. It’s amazing how crop agriculture has come to depend on GPS. In just a few short years, there has been a mass conversion of seeding and spraying systems. First it was just light bars …

The federal government has introduced an act to change the voters list for Canadian Wheat Board elections. The Grain Growers of Canada, representing a broad cross-section of grain groups, is applauding the proposed changes. Groups such as the National Farmers Union and Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board are calling it another attack on the …

The crop report for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture has seeding progress in the province at only five per cent, way behind the five-year average of 24 per cent. However, the five per cent number is a progress estimate as of Monday, May 10. A lot has changed in the past few days as areas …

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers is offering five undergraduate scholarships for first year students enrolled in a degree program at the University of Saskatchewan. Each scholarship is $5,000 so this is some serious money for a university student. A parent of the applicant or the applicant themselves must be a registered pulse producer, meaning they’ve grown pulses …

The Environmental Working Group in the U.S. has released the latest update of its farm subsidy database. The new database tracks $245 billion in American farm payments from 1995 to 2009. The largest farm operations receive the lion’s share of payments. Since 1995, just 10 per cent of farm program recipients have received 74 per …

According to farm input suppliers, BASF has cut the price of Pursuit herbicide by $350 a jug. If you followed this commentary last week, you’ll know that there was a lot about the inflated price of this widely-used product. The Canadian price has been running at nearly $1,100 for a 3.3 litre container, so a …

After three years of disappointment, hog prices are back into profitable territory. Unfortunately, the hog industry in Saskatchewan has been reduced to a shadow of its former self. Brad Marceniuk, a livestock economist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture puts out a regular hog market update. Index 100 market hogs in Saskatchewan are currently selling …

Namaka Enterprises, a large feedlot operation from southern Alberta has reportedly announced its intentions to set up a Saskatchewan operation southeast of Outlook in the southern end of the South Saskatchewan Irrigation District. Ultimately, the plan is for a 36,000 head feedlot which would make it the largest in the province. Local sources say Namaka …

Here are some more interesting tidbits on Pursuit herbicide. The product is widely used on lentils, but not registered. Industry sources say data was generated for a minor use registration, but BASF, the manufacturer would not support the minor use registration. The company claims there’s too much risk of crop injury and weed control isn’t …

Some farmers are importing Pursuit herbicide from the United States and saving a pile of money. That’s good news for the producers involved, but there are unfortunate consequences. The price tag on a 3.3 litre container in Western Canada is nearly $1,100. The comparable price in the U.S. is about half that amount. Under a …

The last few weeks have seen two massive precipitation events. For the time being, drought fears have been largely eliminated on the western Prairies. In some eastern regions of Saskatchewan, excess moisture is now a problem. The prospects for pasture and hay are looking good. In addition to the moisture, there has been a limited …

The Liberal Party is putting some emphasis on policies for rural Canada. Earlier this week, leader Michael Ignatieff made a commitment to what he calls “Canada’s first National Food Policy.” While it’s heartening to see some attention being paid to agriculture, it’s obvious that the Liberals are going after seats in rural Ontario. They have …