Webpaper 34

Page 1

Vol. 105 No. 34

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

Box 40, 122 Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0

email: tip@sasktel.net

20 pages

Bri n and ging n are ews a fo t r 10 o Bigg 5y ear ar s!

Phone: 306-948-3344

www.biggarindependent.ca ndependent.ca

Block announces support for entrepreneurs in Ukraine Last week, following a round table discussion with Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP Kelly Block, Canada’s support to a project that will convey technical advice and financial products to small and medium-sized farm businesses in Ukraine, with the help of the private sector, was announced. The August 15 announcement by Block was made with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, and Ukrainian diaspora communities on current development issues, Lois Brown, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie. “The relationship between Canada and Ukraine has deep roots,” said Block. “This project will strengthen these ties between our two countries.” Canada is working in partnership with the International Finance Corporation to encourage sustainable economic development for all Ukrainians. Small and medium-sized agricultural entrepreneurs are an important source of economic growth, job creation, government revenue to finance essential public services, and the goods and services required to improve people’s quality of life. Canada’s development programming in Ukraine aims to improve the business-enabling environment, restore confidence in financial institutions and increase the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises, including in the agricultural sector, by diversifying skills and increasing access to credit. Canada has also increased its support for democracy and rule of law in Ukraine since 2013. Canada is among the strongest international supporters of Ukraine’s efforts to restore stability and implement democratic and economic reforms since the beginning of the crisis.

A convoy of combines snakes its way down Highway 4, destined for the fields and what will hopefully be a bountiful harvest. Springwater and Big Rose Hutterite colonies took delivery of a massive fleet of John Deere iron, Monday from Biggar’s Western Sales, causing a stir

and a huge amount of attention as the parade of equipment made its way home and to the field. Here’s hoping for a fantastic and safe harvest! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Harvest slowly begins for some parts of the province Harvest operations are just beginning in some areas of the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report for the period August 5 to 11. Pulses are being desiccated and canola swathed. There has also been some combining of pulses and winter cereals in southern

regions. Many crops are starting to turn and general harvest will begin in the coming weeks. Warm weather this past week has helped crop development; however, additional warm weather will be needed going into harvest as crops are 10 days to two weeks behind normal in many areas.

In some areas, swathed hay is drying too slowly, and livestock producers are facing other baling challenges. Haying progress varies, depending on rain showers. The estimated average dry land hay yields are reported as 1.5 tons per acre (alfalfa), 1.4 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome hay), 1.1 tons per acre (other

Colour me in the promise of summer . . . Summer and colour blesses the day with purple, yellow, creamy whites . . . something you don’t get with the pastel greys of winter. Gardeners across the province bless one an all with their choice and talent. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

tame hay), one ton per acre (wild hay) and two tons per acre (greenfeed). On irrigated land, the estimated average hay yields are 2.4 tons per acre (alfalfa), 2.2 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome hay), four tons per acre (other tame hay), 1.8 tons per acre (wild hay) and 2.6 tons per acre (greenfeed). Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to several inches in some southern and central regions. Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as five per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 15 per cent short and one per cent very short. Storms moved through the province last week, damaging some crops with heavy rain, strong winds and large hail. Grasshoppers and lygus bugs are also causing some damage, as are leaf spot diseases and fusarium head blight. Farmers are busy finishing haying, desiccating pulses and getting ready for harvest.


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Webpaper 34 by The Biggar Independent - Issuu