October 8, 2019

Dear Industry Partners:

Re:  2019 Harvest

The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) understands the challenges producers are facing this fall due to recent heavy rain and snow delaying harvest. I would like to take this opportunity to provide some information about coverage options available to Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers.

Crop Insurance provides coverage for both yield and quality loss on insured crops. It is important producers stay in contact with SCIC about their crop quality. Our offices will be able to identify producers who appear to be in a claim position due to quality losses.

If a Crop Insurance customer wants to put their crop to an alternate use, they simply need to contact their local SCIC office or Crop Insurance Customer Service toll-free line, at 1-888-935-0000. SCIC is committed to dispatching our adjusters to process producer’s pre-harvest appraisal, as timely as possible. In order to provide an accurate inspection for both yield and quality loss, SCIC prefers a harvested check-strip, with an adjuster present, to complete a producer’s appraisal and calculate any potential claim.

For those livestock producers worried about nitrates and other quality issues with feed stock or inquiring about winter feed plans, resources are available through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Ministry specialists are available to assist producers with obtaining an analysis of their feed and developing a feeding plan for their livestock. Livestock and Feed Extension Specialists can also assist producers in management and planning when faced with salvaging grain crops for livestock forage. I encourage producers to please contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 or take advantage of the current SaskAgNow article discussing managing winter feeding with alternative feed sources, feed testing, winder feeding plans and; canola hay/silage for livestock: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/sask-ag-now/livestock-and-feed.

With crops currently still out in the field, I want to also remind your members about the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. All Saskatchewan producers are eligible for coverage. Producers do not have to be a Crop Insurance customer to be eligible to submit a claim. Producers are encouraged to contact SCIC as soon as damage is detected: 1-888-935-0000. SCIC continues to monitor Wildlife Damage calls over the weekends during harvest season.

For those producer’s enrolled in AgriStability for the 2019 program year, lower than expected yields and crop quality downgrading could impact a participant’s margin. AgriStability participants can apply for an interim benefit before the year is over. Interim benefits allow producers to receive up to 50 per cent of their AgriStability benefit early. If producers have questions about AgriStability, they can contact their local SCIC office or call the AgriStability Call Centre at 1-866-270-8450.

As a producer myself, I understand this is a stressful time. The Farm Stress Line is available at

1-800-667-4442. This is a 24/7 confidential service, available to producers across the province. Whether your members are seeking information, or trying to manage a conflict or crisis, I encourage producers to reach out and seek assistance, if needed.

I am hopeful 2019 harvest will be completed through October and November. In the event harvest is further delayed and producers are unable to harvest their crop by November 15, Crop Insurance customers have the option to request an extension of insurance. An extension of insurance provides coverage on insured crops over winter. November 15 is also the deadline to file a claim and/or report their production declaration, following the completion of harvest. For more information on this, or any of SCIC’s programs, please visit our website: scic.ca.

We are currently monitoring the weather and harvest progress. SCIC is working alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, and our industry partners, to keep producers informed. I would encourage you to share this information with your members and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Shawn Jaques
President and CEO

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation

Mandatory Training for Drivers of Semis Used in Agriculture Operation

New training requirements for those wishing to drive a semi in agriculture operations will be phased in starting next year. The changes follow the implementation of 121.5 mandatory training hours for Class 1 commercial semi drivers that came into effect March 15, 2019.
 
Training impacts for the ag sector are as follows:

• Effective March 1, 2020, anyone wishing to obtain an “F” endorsement on their existing driver’s licence will be required to take 40 hours of commercial driver training.  The “F” endorsement will include a restriction that the holder can drive a farm vehicle normally requiring a Class 1 driver’s licence only within a 100-km radius of the address on the vehicle registration, and is restricted to operating within Saskatchewan’s borders.
• Effective March 1, 2021, the “F” endorsement will be eliminated and anyone wanting to operate a semi will require a Class 1 driver’s licence, which will include taking the full 121.5-hour mandatory training program.  This includes all “F” endorsement holders, who will need to complete the training program.*  Drivers who have previously taken 40 hours of training toward the “F” endorsement will be given credit for those hours.

The changes mean that in 2021, mandatory training programs across the prairies will be completely aligned.

*Anyone who obtained a Class 1 licence before mandatory training was implemented is allowed to continue to drive a semi. 

More information can be found here.

The Rural Municipality of Cupar #218 has issued a Level 1 fire ban effective June 4, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.  The ban is as follows:

Open burning in the municipality is banned due to dry, high risk fire spread conditions.  It is recommended Agriculture and Industrial operations with water tanks at their disposal have those filled and accessible at all times. 

LEVEL 1 Fire Ban

Open burning in the R.M. of Cupar #218 is banned. 

A Level 1 Fire Ban includes:

1. Controlled burns
2. Incinerators (for farm and acreage use)
3. All burning barrels
4. Fireworks

Exemptions to a level 1 fire ban (with a plan to extinguish a fire) are:

1. Camp Stoves
2. Solid Fuel Barbecues/Recreational Camp Fires
3. Liquid fuel barbecues (propane or natural gas )

This order takes effect on June 4, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. and is in effect until further notice.  Please be advised a minimum fine for starting a fire is $500 plus the cost of the fire departments being dispatched. 

For further information contact the RM office at (306) 723-4726 or rm218@sasktel.net

For Administrator Training

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the R.M. of Cupar #218 for the year 2019 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days:  Monday to Friday from March 15 to April 15, 2019 excluding holidays.

                  A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

                  Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal with:  The Assessor, R.M. of Cupar No. 218, Box 400, Cupar, SK, S0G 0Y0 on or before April 15, 2019

                  Dated this 15^th day of March, 2019

                  Nikki Czemeres,

                  Assessor

Hearing Clinic Planned for the R.M. of Cupar #218 Ratepayers

What animal found on the farm is loud enough to damage your hearing?  Are earmuffs more effective than earplugs?  Do you know how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss? Do you have hearing loss? What type of earing protection should I use?

To offer answers to those questions and much more information, appointments can be made for a Hearing Clinic for Farmers which is being held for the ratepayers of the R.M. of Cupar #218 on Monday, March 18th, 2019 from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm at the RM office in Cupar, SK. To book an appointment please call (306) 723-4726.

The clinic will include a visual inspection of the ear canal and ear drum and a hearing screening with explanation of those results.  Participants will be shown how to insert earplugs and will receive information to take home related to hearing loss prevention.  When necessary, referrals are made.  Hearing aids are not sold at the clinic.

“On the farm, there are many noises including those from augers, tractors, shotguns and squealing hogs at feeding time that can damage your hearing”, says Kendra Ulmer, Nurse and Clinic Coordinator for the Agricultural Health and Safety Network, at the Canadian Centre For Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan.

The clinic is being offered to RM #218 ratepayers because they are members of the Agricultural Health and Safety Network and is co-sponsored by the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture and Saskatchewan Agriculture.

For additional information regarding this release, please contact:

Kendra Ulmer, Nurse and Program Coordinator

Agriculture Health and Safety Network

Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture

(306) 966-6643

e-mail: aghealthandsafety@usask.ca

Hi All!  With today’s power outage and potential for more, I am sharing some info with you:

Here is Premier Moe’s message as of 1:00 today:

We also received a message from SaskPower.

Good day,

SaskPower is aware of outages impacting most of the City of Regina as well as other communities in the province.

We are communicating directly with you as a valued partner in hopes you can share this information with your networks, communities and stakeholders. SaskPower has suffered significant issues because of frost over the past few days. We are working to assess the situation and make repairs.

This is what you need to know;

• The frost is causing lines to fall and sag; please be safe and stay at least 10 meters away. Do not try to remove frost from the lines yourself. Lines that look damaged can still be live.
• If you’re using a generator, you need to use an installed transfer switch. Without a transfer switch, your generator will feed power back into the lines, creating a serious hazard for our personnel working to restore power.
• Never operate a generator in a house, garage or enclosed building. Doing so will put you and your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Thank you for your patience as we work to restore power to our customers. We don’t have an exact time for restoration but are looking at late this afternoon at the earliest for some areas. We will share more information as it becomes available.

For the latest information please stay updated at our;

SaskPower Twitter feed: https://www.saskpower.com/#.XAa9AhLNAdE.twitter

SaskPower Blog: https://www.saskpower.com/about-us/our-company/blog/crisis-event

SaskPower Website: https://www.saskpower.com/

Some sources on Staying Safe in a Power Outage:

https://www.today.com/money/stay-safe-secure-during-power-outages-wbna16453340

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage.html

If you need anything, call the RM office or my cell if the power is off.  331-8449.  Stay safe All!

As you are aware Health Canada wants to end the use of products containing strychnine for Richardson Ground Squirrel (RGS) control following a re-evaluation by its Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). The PMRA has environmental concerns about the potential poising of non-target animals.

Health Canada opened a 90-day public consultation period on June 29, 2018 the consultation is to conclude September 29, 2018. The timing on the re-evaluation decision on strychnine did not allow consideration for busy agricultural producers to be heard. There is no adequate alternative to strychnine for controlling the RGS population.

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) has created an electronic petition on their website as well as a printable form letter to be sent to Health Canada. We encourage you to utilize and share these tools in your communities. Please use the following link to access the petition, form letter and direct submission form http://skstockgrowers.com/strychnine/. Remember the current deadline is September 29th, spread the word.

Thank you,

Shelley Kilbride

Director of Policy and Research

Phone: (306) 761-3729

Fax: (306) 565-2141

skilbride@sarm.ca

Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

2301 Windsor Park Road, Regina, SK  |  S4V 3A4  |  (306) 757-3577  |  sarm.ca

THE VOICE OF RURAL SASKATCHEWAN

Public Consultation is open until October 1.  If you would like to provide comment, please use the link below.

http://publications.gov.sk.ca/documents/9/107841-Consultation%20Paper%20on%20Trespass%20to%20Property%20-%20August%207%202018.pdf