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Author: Nicole Czemeres

Wild Boar in Saskatchewan

Some folks were having trouble reading the RM map for Saskatchewan that have known occurrences of wild pigs. Here the RM level map at much higher resolution. RM numbers are labelled on the map.

Please keep in mind that some red RM’s may have had only a few observations, while others have more. Focus on blocks of multiple red RM’s that are clustered together, as they are more likely areas in general to have ongoing issues.

Many people have asked for more specific points, but we are not in a position to share anything else yet, because landowners do not want specific locations shared on social media – they want to work with hunters they know and trust. Occasionally landowners will post here but don’t hold your breath. Hunters can call RM offices for contacts and sightings and its worth having a look at Google Earth to look for likely spots within RM’s that have rough country with wetlands and bush cover, look for river valleys or riparian areas along rivers and lake edges, especially where they are mixed with farmland. Find crown lands or talk with landowners and build a relationship as best as you can with those that are willing. We have GPS collared pigs out on the landscape that will be recaptured and their entire sounder group removed during this coming winter so we can’t share these locations as they are a very small number of animals that are being used to understand wild pig ecology in Saskatchewan. Reality is that while it is clear that wild pigs are present in many areas and even expanding in other areas, densities are generally low, with a few exceptions. The area around the forest fringe generally have the highest densities.

I get many calls and emails from hunters looking for an easy hunt but those are few and far between. I try to help as best as I can with this map and some areas where we have recent sightings, however these animals are highly elusive, use heavy cover, can hide in a brush the size of compact car and be nearly impossible to flush out even if you know it is there, and are often nocturnal. This is not easy hunting. It typically requires lots of phone calls and visits, scouring maps and air photos, trail camera monitoring, and sound field craft. That said, this research program and indeed all of the various studies I have led have been based on hunter support in many different ways, so thanks for that. I’m looking at options for producing a finer scale, township level map for Saskatchewan and will keep you posted as we figure this out. Please keep in mind that the information we currently have for Saskatchewan is far better than for any other province currently.

You can download the most recent RM scale map from the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/ydcnn33z

RMS WILD BOARrevised.jpg
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Crop Report for Jun 20-26, 2017

For the Period June 20 to 26, 2017

Provincial Crop Development
June 26, 2017
% Ahead % Normal % Behind
Fall Cereals 13 74 13
Spring Cereals 4 58 38
Oilseeds 3 52 45
Pulse Crops 5 62 33

Despite the cool and dry conditions experienced so far, the majority of crops are in good to excellent condition, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.

Sixty-five per cent of winter wheat, 54 per cent of fall rye, 70 per cent of spring wheat, 49 per cent of durum, 68 per cent of oats, 64 per cent of barley, 60 per cent of canola, 50 per cent of flax, 63 per cent of lentils, 61 per cent of soybean, 65 per cent of peas, 34 per cent of chickpeas and 26 per cent of mustard are in good to excellent condition.  Approximately 87 per cent of fall cereals, 62 per cent of spring cereals, 55 per cent of oilseed crops and 67 per cent of pulses are at or ahead of their normal stage of development for this time of year.

Precipitation across the province varied widely last week, ranging from negligible amounts to 57 mm in the Nipawin area.  Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as six per cent surplus, 61 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and five per cent very short.  Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as five per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. Many areas, particularly in the south, are in need of rain to help crops, hay and pasture grow.

There were reports of frost in some areas of the south, and producers are assessing the damage.

Haying is underway.  Four per cent of the hay crop is cut and two per cent is baled or ensiled. Haying is furthest advanced in the southwest where 11 per cent of the crop has been cut.  Hay quality is rated as six per cent excellent, 50 per cent good, 34 per cent fair and 10 per cent poor.  Quality is lowest in in the southeast where 21 per cent of the hay is rated as poor, thanks to less-than-ideal growing conditions during most of the spring.

Crop damage this week has been attributed to flooding, frost, wind and insects such as cutworms and alfalfa weevils.  There are also reports of gopher damage to crops. Producers have nearly finished herbicide applications, but progress has been slowed by windy conditions.

Producers are scouting for disease, applying fungicides and cutting hay.

SaskPower has received 29 reports of farm equipment coming in contact with power lines so far in June.  There have been 168 incidents in 2017.

21 Day Farm Safety Challenge

Greetings from the Agricultural Health and Safety Network!

 

Harvest will be here before we know it.   In preparation for it we have issued a challenge for those interested in making their farm a safer place.  As members of the Network, all of your farm families are invited to participate in this 1st ever challenge. 

Attached please find the poster for the Network’s 1st annual 21-Day Farm Safety Challenge.  .

 21 DAY CHALLENGE POSTER

 Agricultural Health and Safety Network
104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK
S7N 5E5

Crop Report Jun 13-19, 2017

For the Period June 13 to 19, 2017

Provincial Crop Development
June 19, 2017
% Ahead % Normal % Behind
Fall Cereals 14 74 12
Spring Cereals 3 57 40
Oilseeds 2 54 44
Pulse Crops 4 66 30

With the recent rainfall across the province in the past week, crop development has improved.  The warm and wet weather was welcomed in areas that were experiencing moisture stress. Eighty-eight per cent of the fall cereals, 60 per cent of the spring cereals, 56 per cent of the oilseeds and 70 per cent of the pulse crops are at or ahead of their normal stages of development for this time of year, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report.

Most of the province received rain in the past week, ranging from trace amounts to 112 mm, with a provincial average of 26 mm.  Across the province, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 10 per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate and 18 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and eight per cent very short.

Topsoil moisture is lowest in the area south of Assiniboia (Crop District 3ASW), where 90 per cent of the cropland, hay land and pasture are short to very short of moisture, followed by the area around Shaunavon (crop districts 3BS and 4A), where 60 per cent of cropland and 84 and 80 per cent of hay land and pasture, respectively, are short to very short of moisture.  The wettest crop districts are in the northwest (crop districts 9AE and 9B), where 45 and 46 per cent, respectively, of cropland and 40 and 35 per cent, respectively, of hay land and pasture have surplus topsoil moisture.

Persistently strong winds have damaged crops and delayed in-crop weed control in many areas. Cutworms, flea beetles, localized flooding, and lack of moisture continue to damage crops.

Producers are busy controlling weeds when they can and preparing for haying.  Cattle have been moved to pasture.

SaskPower has received 156 reports this year of farm equipment coming in contact with power lines, with 22 incidents being reported so far in June. SaskPower urges anyone who has come in contact with electricity to seek medical attention immediately, even if there are no signs of injury.

Community Living Pick-Up Day

Community Living is coming to Cupar on June 28, 2017.  The RM Office in Cupar can be used for a drop-off spot for rural residents.  If you would like to donate excess household and clothing items, please package them in either a box or a bag and bring them to the office between now and June 27.  Check out the website for a full list of accepted items.

 

 

Crop Report June 6-12, 2017

For the Period June 6 to 12, 2017

Seeding Progress
Per cent seeded
All crops
June 12, 2017 . . . . . . . . 99
June 13, 2016 . . . . . . . . 100
June 15, 2015 . . . . . . . . 100
June 16, 2014 . . . . . . . . 95
June 10, 2013 . . . . . . . . 896
June 11, 2012 . . . . . . . . 96
5 year avg.
(2012-2016) . . . . . . . . . 97
10 year avg.
(2007-2016) . . . . . . . . . 95

Seeding has essentially wrapped up in the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.  Producers have 99 per cent of the crop in the ground, ahead of the five-year (2012-2016) seeding average of 97 per cent for this time of year.  The northwest region is the furthest behind with 97 per cent seeded.  Across the province, there are still a few fields of oats and barley, as well as some greenfeed and silage, left to be seeded.

The much-needed rainfall received this week will help replenish topsoil moisture and allow crops to advance.  While much of the north has surplus topsoil moisture at this time, many areas in the south were relieved to see rain as crops, hay land and pastures were in need of significant moisture.

Prior to the recent rainfall, topsoil moisture conditions were deteriorating in southern and central areas of the province. Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as seven per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and six per cent very short.  Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 43 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 12 per cent very short.

Overall crop development has improved with the warm and wet weather.  Sixty per cent of fall cereals, 62 per cent of spring cereals, 53 of oilseeds and 70 per cent of pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year.  The majority of crops are in fair-to-excellent condition.

Persistent wind has damaged crops and delayed in-crop weed control operations in many areas.  Cutworms, flea beetles, localized flooding, hail and lack of moisture have also caused damage this past week.

Producers are busy completing seeding, controlling weeds and getting ready for haying.

SaskPower reports that there have been 149 reports of power line contact this year, with 19 incidents reported in June.

Provincial Crop Development
% Ahead % Normal % Behind
Fall Cereals 22 60 18
Spring Cereals 5 62 33
Oilseeds 3 53 44
Pulse Crops 5 70 25

Congratulations Cupar School Graduating Class of 2017

Tonight another group of young people will celebrate graduation.  The RM of Cupar would like to congratulate the graduates of Cupar School.

Shelby Ballan
Amber Ban
Jasmine Benko
Tyler Blundell
William Blundell
Taylor Clements
Drew Geber
Austin Hagerman
Samantha Hewitt
Bailey Lorence
Callum MacDonald
Trevor Macknak
Thaddeaus McLeod
Jesse Mowbray
Bryson Smith
Mya Stout
Matthew Zehner

Image result for High School Graduation Funny

HI-Neighbour Day – June 17, 2017 in Southey

Come on down to the Southey Sports Grounds & Skating Rink and say “Hi Neighbour” at Southey’s Hi Neighbour Day on June 17! 

This is an old festival that the Southey & District Rec Board has brought back for all to enjoy. 

We have the following confirmed activities:
· Pancake Breakfast

· Soccer Games 

· Fastball and Baseball Games

· Toy Bingo

· Bouncy Castles

· Face Painting

· Southey & District Museum Self Tour & Trivia Contest

· Hamburger & Hot Dog BBQ luncheons

· Beef Pit BBQ

· Family Street Dance

· And many more activities planned and announced upon confirmation! 

Over 11 community groups and businesses are involved to date – you do not want to miss it! Save the date and follow along to be the first to know the rest of the activities yet to be announced.