By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday August 19, 2020

Aug 19, 2020 | 9:32 AM

Exports of Saskatchewan products have been impacted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One area that has weathered the storm has been the agriculture and agri-food sector.

Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership president and CEO Chris Dekker said over the first six months of the year province wide exports were down by roughly three per cent but non-petroleum exports, which includes agriculture had an increase of roughly 6.4 per cent.

Dekker said there was a 160 per cent increase in peas going to China, a 189 per cent increase in lentils to India, as well as a substantial increase in canola oil sales to Japan.

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Saskatchewan Pulse Growers are looking for some new members to serve on its board.

Sask Pulse board has been increased to nine seats which means there are three spaces available starting in January.

Any producer that has sold pulses or soybeans in the last three years and has paid the levy is eligible to run.

More information and a nomination package are available at the Sask Pulse website.

The deadline to submit an application is Sept. 14.

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Increased absenteeism is one issue the Maple Leaf Foods pork plant in Brandon, Man., have dealt with during the pandemic.

The plant instituted several protocols to prevent workplace transmission amidst the recent COVID-19 cluster in the community.

In a media release, the company said the plant continues to operate safely, and public health have said there is no evidence of workplace transmission at the plant.

The company is also reinforcing the importance of precautions such as social distancing and by making 500,000 free masks available to community members.

Maple Leaf Foods has suspended pork exports to China on a voluntary basis due to recent protocols adopted by the Chinese government for Canadian processors. Any plant reporting a COVID-19 positive case must suspend exports to China temporarily.

The company also has been impacted by short-term increases in absenteeism. Maple Leaf Foods stated this is a short-term situation and not a financial event.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF