Vol. 104 No. 42
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013
Box 40, 102 3rd Ave West, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0
email: tip@sasktel.net
20 pages
Phone: 306-948-3344
$1.25
www.biggarindependent.ca
2013 harvest nears completion Eighty-nine per cent of the 2013 crop is now combined and eight per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan
Viva la Green and Gold . . . Biggar Central School celebrated all things sports with a pep rally this past Thursday. Here, Junior Girls volleyball player
A g r i c u l t u r e ’s We e k l y Crop Report for the period October 1 to 7. Dry weather in most areas of the province resulted in significant
harvest progress being made over the past week. The five-year average (2008-2012) for this time of year is 85 per cent combined and 11 per
Jillian Hammond is welcomed by her teammates as they’re introduced to the assembled students and staff. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Full time jobs hit record high in September The number of people employed on a full-time basis hit a record in September, according to new figures released by Statistics Canada Friday. Full-time employment was 465,100 last month, the highest ever for the month of September and up 11,800 from a year ago. More than 80 per cent of the new jobs created in Saskatchewan in the past year were full-time jobs while across Canada, fewer than half of the new jobs created were full-time. “More jobs, more people and more economic activity continue to make Saskatchewan the place to be,” Energy and Resources Minister Tim McMillan said. “The increase in full-time jobs is impressive as it provides working people with more stability and security which leads to a better quality of life.” There were 555,500 people working in the province in September, the highest ever for that month. That’s an increase of 14,700 jobs compared to last September, a 2.7 per cent growth rate which is the second highest among the provinces. Unemployment in Saskatchewan was 4.3 per cent in September 2013, tied with Alberta for the lowest in Canada, and well below the 6.9 per cent recorded nationally. Saskatchewan has had the lowest unemployment rate among the provinces for nine consecutive months. “Today’s report is full of good news as
Saskatchewan maintains the lowest unemployment rate in Canada for the ninth straight month,” McMillan said. “Our economy is one of the best in the country right now, and is attracting people and investment to the province.” Other highlights include: • Regina’s unemployment rate was 3.0 per cent and Saskatoon’s was 4.4 per cent. Regina had the lowest and Saskatoon the second-lowest rate among major Canadian cities. Regina has had the lowest unemployment rate among major Canadian cities since August 2011. • Youth unemployment was 9.1 per cent, the second lowest among the provinces. • Regina’s employment was up by 9,000 or 7.1 per cent and Saskatoon was up by 11,900 or 7.7 per cent compared to last year. • Off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up by 4,800 (12.3 per cent) for eight consecutive months of year-over-year increases. Aboriginal unemployment is down from 14.6 per cent to 12.0 per cent in the past year. Banjo Man . . . Old Man Luedecke kicked off the 2013-14 Biggar and District Arts Council performance season, Thursday at the Majestic Theatre. The folksy performer kept everyone entertained - a great opener for what promises to be a fantastic season. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
cent swathed or ready to straight-cut. Harvest is most advanced in the westcentral region, where 97 per cent of the crop is combined. Eighty-five per cent is combined in the southeast; 94 per cent in the southwest; 83 per cent in the east-central region; 85 per cent in the northeast and 92 per cent in the northwest. Harvest progress by crop district ranges from 99 to 76 per cent combined. Of the crop that has been harvested, average to above-average yields are being reported in most areas. Spring wheat average yields are reported as 47 bushels per acre, durum 44 bushels per acre, barley 69 bushels per acre, canola 38 bushels per acre and peas 43 bushels per acre. Average yields vary from region to region, depending on seeding conditions and growing season moisture. Provincial spring wheat quality is estimated to be above average. Grades for spring wheat are estimated as 59 per cent
1CW, 31 per cent 2CW, nine per cent 3CW and one per cent CW feed. The amount of rainfall across the province ranged from nil to 36 millimetres. The northwestern region received most of the rainfall over the past week. Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as two per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as one per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and 11 per cent very short. Rain and wind caused the majority of the crop damage. Crop damage due to rain has resulted in bleaching and sprouting in some cereal crops. Wind has caused some shattering losses in swathed canola and ripe crops. Fa r m e r s a r e b u s y combining, hauling bales and completing fall weed control operations.