By Cam Lee

Agriculture Roundup for Thursday, August 1

Aug 1, 2024 | 11:11 AM

The latest crop report says the hot, dry weather has accelerated crop advancement throughout Saskatchewan.

However, the conditions are stressing some crops, leading to a reduction in yield potential.

The report states that producers are hoping for some rain to help with head and pod filling on later-seeded crops, but any moisture at this point would have little impact on yield for many advanced crops.

The dry weather will also prevent many from getting a second cut of hay.

Topsoil moisture is rated as 41 percent adequate, 49 percent short, and 10 percent very short.

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Just four percent of pastures are in excellent condition, with 37 percent good, 42 percent fair, 15 percent poor, and 2 percent very poor.

Pulses are being desiccated in southern Saskatchewan, with many just starting to be harvested. Cereals are also being harvested for feed in the south. Yield potential issues will likely lead to an increase in cereal crops harvested for feed in the south.

Harvest prep continues across the rest of the province.

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Haying is continuing in many areas of the province.

Royce Mollenbeck from Englefeld says haying has been interesting this year.

Mollenback says they cut hay down, and that was followed by significant rain, then prolonged hot, dry conditions which were good for the hay.

He says they are wrapping up the tame hay and moving onto some slough hay, and he expects a little bit more hay than last year.

The humidity did cause some issues, having to wait to bale in the day or rake a little more.

But he says the hay quality is pretty good.

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The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal on the setting of chicken prices.

The Committee concluded that Sofina Foods, which runs a chicken processing plant at Wynyard, and Prairie Pride Natural Foods of Saskatoon had not demonstrated that the setting of the minimum live price of chicken, for the disputed production cycles, was unfair, unreasonable nor contrary to The Agri-Food Act, 2004.

The decision stated the two companies were not aggrieved by the minimum live price set for chicken by the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan.

CFS added three new levies, and Sofina Foods and Prairie Pride Natural Foods had argued the minimum live price for chicken set after the levies was neither fair nor cost-based.

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The tributes continue to pour in for former Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart, who passed away this week at 73 from cancer.

Current ag minister David Marit says he knew Stewart for many years and considered him a close friend.

Marit called Stewart a strong advocate for the agriculture industry and Saskatchewan as a whole, and he’ll be greatly missed.

When Stewart became sick again in 2018, he recommended to the premier that Marit should become ag minister, and Marit says that was a great honour.

Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association CEO Grant McLellan says he and the organization are saddened at Stewart’s passing and called him an advocate for the organization and agriculture in Saskatchewan.

He says Stewart was an honest and direct man who represented his constituents well, and he was a great representative for Saskatchewan.