The Observer March 17, 2023 Ag Special

Sandra Robertson - The story of a successful female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry

By Gord Paulley

International Women’s Day was March 8, and it is fitting that local grain farmer Sandra Robertson is being recognized for her achievements in agriculture.

Living just east of Carlyle, she and her family sow and harvest several quarters of farmland in the area.

Robertson is the daughter of Walter (Jumbo) Panteluk, who passed away over 20 years ago, and her venture into farming began with the help of her father.

“In 1999, I asked my dad to help me with the down payment of a half section of land to raise cattle. I was divorced and using my settlement to get to work. The bank I had transferred to at the time was not at all interested in financing a woman to start up a farm.

“My dad steered me away from cattle since he wanted me to be able to leave home occasionally. He informed me that since I loved operating machinery so much, I should become a grain farmer. I told him I was not able to do such a thing,” Robertson recalled.

“So, he set out to prove to me I was wrong. He knew nothing about farming, but he loved the smell of dirt. Neither one of us really knew what or where to find machinery to get started. Dad had a great idea. There was a shutting-down farm auction right outside of Lampman early that spring. Dad took me there, and he bought pretty much all the equipment and away we went. We attended a few more auction sales and there you go; we had the machinery required.”

Grain farming was not providing a huge profit at the time, Robertson shared, but if she ran the machinery, and put in the long hours, there would be some income.

“So, I got out the Western Producer, which at the time was very informative on agricultural methods. I also went to every agriculture production meeting or session I could attend. At about that time, Kenny Appell was moving into an agricultural sales position with Precision Ag at Carlyle. Kenny took a very active interest in educating me on inputs. He was a great support. Gib Poole had an old Melroe Spray Coupe parked in his back-

KEY “M” AUCTION SERVICES Upcoming Spring Sales

yard that hadn’t been used for years, and he sold it to me, and this began my spraying operations,” Robertson shared.

“My youngest son, Garett, was still in school and as soon as he got home every day, he was out working at my side. He learned a lot about fixing from an employee of Andy’s [husband and owner of Reliable Metal Buildings]. I would

read him the repair manual and he would do the hands-on. It worked great.

“Being a woman has had its challenges. Most men laughed and snickered behind my back. Melvin George stepped up to the plate though and answered all my questions when I asked. He was so supportive and still is today,” Robertson said.

“Today, the ones that

snickered at me for trying to farm say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have all my dad’s money. Since I am a woman, it is hard for them to give me the credit of being able to accomplish what they have accomplished with their family farm handed onto them by their parents.”

Robertson and her sons operate as Jumbo Farm Kids. They manage three

farming corporations, Robertson Prairie Acres Ltd., Gotta Go Farms Ltd., and GT Ventures Inc.

“Tanner oversees marketing and purchasing. Garett is in charge of repairs and maintenance. Both sons assist with the actual farming operation. Daughter Jennie does the bookkeeping. The only real overlapping of duties is by me. I am the mother and referee,” she chuckled. Robertson is forever grateful for her father’s input and guidance to the world of agriculture.

“I had the kind of dad all kids should have had. My dad encouraged me and built me up and helped me finance my career. He did not see me as perfect but loved me unconditionally. It was his expectation that the farm would be there if the kids wished to carry it on.

“Our family farm, Jumbo’s Farm Kids, which is named after him, is blessed to have Jesus, God the Father and Holy Spirit overseeing the needs and prosperity of our farm every step along life’s path and we couldn’t do without him. He doesn’t see any one of us as perfect. He sees all our flaws, but he loves us unconditionally.”

Sandra Robertson and daughter Jennie pictured with a portrait of famous actor John Wayne. “He is my hero, and he was my dad’s hero,” said Sandra. “John Wayne says it like the way it is and gets the job done, every time!” Photo by Gord Paulley

Anderson Farm near Kisbey to hold annual bull sale

By Stephanie Zoer

Sarah and Jim Anderson, along with their three children, Morgan, 8, Quinn, 6, and Cole, 3, live southeast of Kisbey on a ranch.

The farm formerly was owned by Gerry and Betty Wyatt, who at the time built a sales barn for farmers to sell their purebred cattle.

The Anderson family bought the farm in 2010, and the sales barn was something that intrigued them to continue with the purebred sales.

Sarah was raised in central Alberta, while Jim lived two hours north of Yorkton. Both of them attended Lakeland College, Sarah - for animal science, and Jim - for agricultural production and welding.

They met at college and once school was completed, they wanted to start a life together on a ranch.

Anderson said, they chose southeast Saskatchewan as farms were more suited for cattle and upon viewing the Wyatt farm, felt it would be perfect for them.

Now almost 13 years later, they have a large piece of land and 450 purebred Angus cows.

Anderson said they have a commercial herd of black and red Angus. They are good mothers, calf on their own and the calves suck on their own and have good feet.

It is not often that assistance is needed with calving, but they still do their daily and nightly checks to ensure everything is going well.

The cattle are fed in

the winter months a total ration which consists of silage, hay, straw, minerals and grain. Swath grazing is also done when the weather hits extreme cold, to add extra calories for warmth.

Right now, they are in full calving season. It is always hoped the weather remains fair during this time, but the calving pens always house a thick bedding of straw for the calves.

Anderson said the sales barn was a major attraction when buying and they have kept up the sales. Their bull sale is set for April 7, when they will offer their own home-grown bulls once again.

They carefully select bulls when they are calves, and grow them until they are one and two years old, with two separate crops. They are housed together

throughout this time, so they rarely fight.

The Andersons are very particular about their stock and only offer the very best in sales.

Beef for the freezer is another aspect of the ranch. They do kindness giveaways, as they want to show appreciation to the community and area.

This will be their third year with this project.

People may be nominated through their website at Right Cross Ranch, and then the Andersons select several families to give them some free beef.

The first year 60 nominations were submitted, so instead of selecting three families, the Andersons presented 15 families with their packages.

Sarah is also an avid horsewoman. She took a one-year course on training horses, and now trains her own. Each horse is used for everything and is very versatile. Her children also ride the same horses and are becoming quite the horse people, so much so that her daughters can herd cattle with little help.

But Sarah’s talents do not end here. She is a professional photographer as well, which is very helpful with the sales barn and flyers, as she videos all the bulls and takes pictures.

Although their children are young, they are very active with helping on the farm and are not afraid to get right in the middle of it all with the calving.

And the Andersons say that to their family ranching is not just a job, it is the best way to live.

Plans are underway for annual Farm Progress Show

The people leading the way in agricultural technology are preparing to gather in Regina for this year’s Canada’s Farm Show Regina, presented by Viterra, from June 20-22.

Over the last 45 years, this show has identified where dryland farming is heading, gathering producers, the rest of the ag industry and those interested in it to form that future.

Innovation in agriculture is the pillar of the show and comes to life.

In a press release for the

event, it was noted agriculture technology is now taking the lead to help producers manage risk, increase efficiency, reduce operating costs, boost productivity and produce sustainable and resilient crops and livestock. Being able to use extensive data about variables, like soil conditions and weather, helps producers make more informed decisions as they navigate the world’s changing demands and challenges.

“We look forward to welcoming those from

across Saskatchewan, Canada and the world who want to see the future of ag tech – whether they are eager to embrace new ag technology in their operations, they are wanting to develop more ag technology or they are looking for opportunities to invest in it,” said Kirk Westgard, the vice-president of agriculture for the Regina Exhibition Association.

A highlight of the show is the return of Cultivator’s 24-Hour Start Up/Ag Tech. The 24-Hour Start

Up brings together the best and brightest in agriculture, technology and business to pitch ideas, form teams, and build a minimum viable product in just 24 hours.

New to this year’s show is the AgTech Summit on day two. Hosted by Cultivator, this inaugural event will connect farmers, founders, and funders for a one-day event. It will take place on the Launch Pad Stage, which is returning to this year’s show, and is where visitors to the show

are brought together with industry guests and experts to learn more about ag tech and innovation.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe will deliver his State of Agriculture in Saskatchewan address during the Regina Chamber of Commerce Premier’s Breakfast event on day one. That same day, the 2023 Innovator Awards will be presented. They are awarded by a panel of judges who have a practical understanding of how productivity on

farms can be improved through innovation. Supporting and strengthening their mental health is the focus of a new platform that will be launched by Do More Ag on day one of the show. A panel of speakers will be discussing mental health again on the Launch Pad stage during day three of the show. The Professional Bull Riding Canada Cup will happen during the second day of the event. And there will be a trade show this year.

From left, Morgan, Jim, Cole, Sarah and Quinn Anderson enjoy their time as a family on horseback. Photo by Sarah Anderson

Arcola-Kisbey 4H Beef Club report

By Jackson Lees

We had our speeches for our club on Feb. 22 with all club members in attendance.

In the junior division, Hannah Lees finished first for his speech titled My Heifer Sassy, and Jackson Lees was second for Types of Cattle.

Becca Lees was first in the intermediate class for My Trip to Ontario and Jade Charlton finished second for My Experience and Future in Cattle. In the senior division, Kyla Lees’ speech Grow-

ing Up finished first and Matthew Charlton’s My College Experience was the runner up. All members did a great job with their speeches. A big thank you to our judges for the night, Blake and Melissa Slykhuis, and to all our guests that came to watch.

After the speeches we had a general meeting where we talked about what we want to learn this year in 4-H and some fun things we would like to do at the meetings. Our next meeting is March 8.

Quality Grain Marketing is Western Canada’s grain broker

By Richards Chambers

Quality Grain Marketing is a cash grain brokerage that has been servicing Western Canada’s grain producers since 2002.

We have brokers located throughout the Prairies, with backgrounds in farming that are willing to help you market your crops for the best price. Existing crop or new crop, we will work to find you a solution for all your grain marketing needs.

Specializing in feed grains, wheat, barley, rye,

oats, peas, lentils, soybeans, and heated/green canola, we work diligently at price discovery to help you find the best prices on all your crops. Our strong network gives us access to dozens of buyers and resellers that are active in the market to help you get real-time prices. We work for you throughout the entire transaction from contract details to helping get the grain moved on time to getting you paid. We exercise transparency by showing you the hidden transaction fees and

calculating the final price that you will receive in your pocket. Whether you haul your own grain or want us to assist in freight for a picked up at the bin price, we have the solutions that will fit your needs.

As a customer-centric company, we place a strong emphasis on building longterm relationships with our customers. We strive to provide our customers with the highest level of service and our team is always available to assist with any questions or concerns.

Check us out at www.qualitygrain.ca for a complete list of brokers, access to archived newsletters, grain news and daily bid sheets. Our daily bid sheet shows all the grain we have been showing out, including bids, and what has been traded for, including price, location and movement time frame.

For more information, you can find us on our website, Twitter @QGM_Grain, Facebook @QGMGrain, or email at info@qualitygrain. ca.

Participating in a group photo are, back row, from left, judges Blake and Melissa Slykhuis, Matthew Charlton, Bode Pretty and Tegan Gorrie. Front row, from left, Kyla Lees, Emma Lees, Becca Lees, Jackson Lees, Hannah Lees, Jade Charlton, Andrew Charlton and Nyia Pretty. Photo submitted

Richard Chambers

Farmers and Friends Bonspiel held in Carlyle

By Gord Paulley

Ten rinks participated in the annual farmers and friend bonspiel March 3-5.

Winners of the A event were Devin Faber, Robin Brown, Devin Brown and Zach Brown. B event winners were Steve Lothian, Bill Wyatt and Heather and Roger Fafard.

Dave East and Amy Rutten were the event organizers.

To enter the bonspiel teams had to have a farmer or farm-related businessperson on each rink. The curling club also benefitted from additional sponsorship from those businesses which invest solely in the agricultural industry.

“We were pleased with the turnout and a big thank you to all our tournament sponsors,” said East. “We enjoyed three good days of curling, two great meals and everyone received a prize.”

The Carlyle Curling Club season ends on March 18 with a one-day St. Patrick’s Day Fun Spiel. Board members thanked everyone who curled this winter and made this year a successful one.

Canada’s farm values continued to climb in 2022

Farm Credit Canada’s farmland values report says the average value of Canadian farmland increased by 12.8 per cent in 2022, amid strong farm income, elevated input prices and rising interest rates.

The demand for farmland remained robust and the supply of farmland available for sale continues to be limited,

according to the report.

Farmland values saw the highest increase since 2014 and follow gains of 8.3 per cent in 2021 and 5.4 per cent in 2020.

In Saskatchewan, average farmland values increased by 14.2 per cent in 2022, following gains of 7.4 per cent in 2021 and 5.4 per cent in 2020.

“Challenging economic conditions could have

been expected to slow the demand for farmland and the resulting price buyers paid for land in 2022,” said J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist. “But the underlying fundamental factors in the farmland market tell another story.”

FCC estimates that receipts of grains, oilseeds and pulses in Canada increased 18.3 per cent in

2022, and are projected to grow 9.4 per cent in 2023.

“Higher farm revenues are driving the demand for farmland, but higher borrowing costs and increased input prices are expected to lead to declines in the number of sales in 2023,” said Gervais.

The highest average provincial increases in

farmland values were observed in Ontario, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, with increases of 19.4, 18.7 and 17.1 per cent, respectively. Saskatchewan followed with a 14.2 per cent increase. Five provinces had average increases below the national average.

Gervais acknowledges that higher farmland val-

ues pose a challenge for young producers, new entrants and other operations that are looking to expand, as land is more expensive relative to income.

“The good news is that farmland value increases reflect a positive outlook for the demand of agriculture commodities and the quality food we produce in Canada,” said Gervais.

The A event winners were, from left, Devin Faber, Robin Brown and Devin Brown. Missing is Zach Brown. Photo courtesy of the Carlyle Curling Club

Spitfi re enjoys a bird’s-eye view for 25 years

By Stephanie Zoer

Spitfire Air Service Inc., which is owned and operated by Rick and Lisa Vinck, is celebrating its 25th anniversary serving Lampman and area farmers.

Rick was raised on a farm near Redvers and Lisa also grew up on a farm girl, but near Swift Current.

They both ended up in Strathmore, Alt., where they met, got married and started a family.

Rick grew up with two brothers that had a passion for flying, so he followed in his brother’s footsteps.

Around the age of 14, he started going in the air and continued to get his commercial flying license.

While in Alberta he started Spitfire Air Service Inc. and spent the following three summers spraying wheat midge out of Lampman.

Since he was in Saskatchewan so often Rick

and Lisa decided to move back to their home province. They bought a farm east of Benson and continued to build their aerial application business.

He flies an Airtractor model AT 401 plane with a turbine engine and also has a 182 Cessna plane, which can hold four people.

Rick would need an aircraft hangar to house his planes and a runway. The rules for a runway only require a strip long enough for the plane to take off and land safely.

There are many strict regulations that Rick must follow. Every 100 hours in the air his plane needs to have a maintenance check, which is done in Yorkton.

Lisa must keep meticulous books. She does much of the booking and takes photographs while Rick does his part.

Once the fields start to blossom, Rick is in the air.

He usually goes no farther than 50 km from home, but this depends

on where the fields for applications are located. Rick can go approximately two hours on one tank of fuel, but this also depends on the weather. Each time the plane takes off, Rick must write down the environmental conditions. This includes humidity factors, wind conditions, evaporation

rates and heat to name a few, as well as what is being applied to the fields, as this too can differ, and which field he is working on. Weather plays a huge factor in the aerial application business.

Once Rick is in his plane his full focus is on the job. He must watch his instruments closely, keep

an eye on power lines, and monitor the height of trees, flocks of birds and other small aircraft.

During the winter months, Rick and Lisa are required to take many online courses that are mandatory for their business. These courses must be kept in a binder and labelled.

To operate Spitfire Air Service Inc. Rick has to hold a 702 Air operator certificate regulated by Transport Canada, as he explained.

Through the past 25 years, there have only been a few hair-raising incidents while flying.

Flying is not for everyone and Lisa is not crazy about it, but she admits she is getting better.

The Vinks have two sons, and one, Chantz, lives in Carstairs, Alt., so a four-hour flight in their 182 Cessna is a much quicker option for the parents to go visit him than an 11-hour drive.

Their younger son Landon lives close by. Their sons do enjoy the planes but at this time do not fly.

Rick hopes to continue with his bird’s eye view for as long as possible, as this is what he enjoys.

So, in the summer if you look to the sky and see a yellow Airtractor this just might be Spitfire Air Service Inc.

Stewardship tool for farmers: adding native perennials in low-yielding cropland areas or edges

By Carolyn Gaudet, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan

Prairie ecosystems have some of the richest soils that are black, porous and full of nutrients, and provide habitat for a diverse array of insects, birds and mammals. Tilling has caused the soil quality and many of those nutrients to be lost.

Over the past 20 years, no-till practices have

begun the slow recovery of soil organic carbon. Although the soils have started to rebound, biodiversity on the Prairies has continued to decline.

The use of pesticides, herbicides and the loss of habitat have led to reductions in insect and bird populations. The quality of waterways and wetlands has also decreased, under the influence of erosion and fertilizer runoff

To address the issue of soil loss and nutrient runoff, Iowa State University has been researching adding native perennial species to cropland since 2007 in their STRIPS (Science-based Trails of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips) project.

They have found that planting just 10 per cent of cropland, either in-field or on the edge of fields, with native prairie species can

drastically reduce soil loss and nutrient runoff. Researchers have found that small patches can make a big difference, where the multifunctional benefits of the native prairie strips outweigh the loss of cropland converted. The native prairie STRIPS are native species that can withstand heavy rain, and their deep perennial roots are more effective by improving in-

filtration, or raising soil organic matter. The use of cool season exotic grasses planted in monocultures would not provide the same benefits as they are weak-stemmed and tend to lay flat under heavy rain. Adding native perennials throughout cropland, in low-yield areas or along field edges may be beneficial if your goals include reducing erosion

and nutrient runoff, particularly in sloped fields. Using native, flowering, perennial plants creates more on-farm habitat for beneficial insects, such as pollinators. Adding native vegetation and forbs interspersed through cropland as narrow strips may actually lead to habitat sinks for pollinators and other wildlife, where they can be harmed or killed by insecticides.

Serving Southern Saskatchewan

Protecting you, your crops and the environment. When it comes to controlling weeds, diseases and pests in your crops, you can be confident when you work with a professional aerial applicator.

Providing services out of Weyburn, Estevan, Fillmore, Lewvan, White City, Indian Head, Carlyle and Coronach.

Rick Vinck flies an Airtractor AT 401 with a turbine engine when he does aerial applications. Photo by Lisa Vinck

Farmer, well-known umpire and cancer survivor shares his story

By Gord Paulley

Many people with sports connections in southeast Saskatchewan know Lyle Balogh.

He and his wife of 44 years, Sharon, live on their home quarter four kilometres northeast of Langbank.

Lyle’s parents, Steve, and Emma Balogh, moved from south of Kipling to Langbank in 1954 when they purchased a half section of land. Lyle started farming with his parents in 1972 while attending school. Later, Lyle and Sharon took over the family farm in 1987 when Steve passed away. Lyle’s mother, who is now 98 years old, resides in Kipling.

Until 2015, the Baloghs were actively grain farming and cattle ranching. Lyle and Sharon maintained a 70 cow/calf herd and grew and harvested various crops and owned an older but dependable line of farm machinery.

Now, they consider themselves to be hobby farmers, as they have sold their cattle and have their land rented out.

In his younger days, Lyle was very active in sports playing defence in hockey, being a pitcher in fastball and a third baseman in baseball. He also was third on his curling team. For over 25 years, Lyle played fastball for Langbank. Back in the day, it was a four-team league consisting of Langbank, Windthorst, Kipling and Corning.

In his later years, Lyle did a lot of refereeing in the Triangle and Big Six Hockey Leagues. He also officiated many games for local minor hockey league teams.

But by far, his favourite pastime was and is umpiring fastball. He has umpired for over 45 years and loves being behind the plate. He has umpired in two Canada Summer Games, three Canadian Fastball Championships

and several Western Canadian Championships.

Until six years ago, Balogh weighed 240 pounds and would be the first to admit he was on the heavy side. One day, he had difficulty swallowing and knew something was wrong. He visited a

local doctor and was immediately referred to St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. It was determined he had esophagus cancer at the base of his stomach. Balogh underwent both chemotherapy and radiation treatments but unfortunately, cancer remained.

In July 2017, he had a complicated 6 1/2-hour surgery and his esophagus was removed in its entirety. He developed severe complications, and another operation was needed. This surgery was successful, and his only side effect has been peripheral neuropathy of the feet.

“I feel truly blessed to have survived this dangerous cancer,” said Lyle. “It was a big hiccup in my life, but only a hiccup. And one real good thing happened. I dropped my weight down to 170 pounds.

“I would really like to thank Randy Rapitta, Craig Savill and Dave Hill for organizing a fundraiser on June 11, 2017, prior to my surgery,” he added. “It really helped my family and me with the expenses incurred during our stay in Saskatoon. We will forever be grateful.”

Lyle still umpires in the Southeast Men’s Fastball League. It consists of seven teams including Round Lake, Ochapowace, Cow-

essess, Grenfell, Whitewood, Fleming and Moosomin. He also umpires weekend tournaments during the summer.

The softball leagues and teams further south folded in the late 1990s. There used to be men’s teams in Bellegarde, Carnduff, Arcola, Stoughton, Redvers and Alida.

The Wordsworth Huskers and Carlyle Sundowners teams of old also bring back memories. Some of those players included Harold Glowa, Larry Chapman, Wayne Wilson, Gerald Clark, Lindsay Clark, Larry Brady and Roger Fafard, among others.

Lyle and Sharon have three daughters and ten grandchildren. They are still very active in their community and enjoy spending time with family and friends. Lyle plans on umpiring again in 2023.

“Life has been great, and it is what you make it. You are only as old as you feel,” he said.

March is Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan

The month of March has once again been proclaimed as Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan.

Agriculture Literacy Month connects students of all ages to agriculture through presentations led by industry volunteers.

“Connecting our youth to agriculture is an im-

portant piece of strengthening Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said. “Presentations from industry experts can help educate children on the work that goes into producing the high-quality food that our province is known for.”

Throughout the month of March, industry vol-

unteers, from all levels of food production will join classrooms to share presentations and personal experiences to help students learn more about agriculture.

“Thank you to the many volunteers who will be visiting schools across the province to assist students in learning about such an important indus-

try,” Education Minster Dustin Duncan said.

“Agriculture literacy is about teaching our youth that agriculture is about much more than just growing food, it is also about land management, natural resources such as our water and soil systems, sustainable practices and technological innovations.”

This year’s theme is on agricultural stewardship, which will teach students about the important relationship between producers and the environment.

“Volunteers are vital to the success of Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month,” Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan executive director Sara Shymko said.

“Having a guest visit the classroom to share their personal agriculture and food story is a real draw for teachers and rewarding for the volunteers.

“They have fun of course, but most importantly, they are helping to inspire the next generation of agriculture leaders and change-makers with their passion and story.”

Langbank’s Lyle Balogh has fought against cancer.

Photo by Gord Paulley

Weightman has a passion for farming

By Stephanie Zoer

Nora Weightman was born in the Arcola hospital and after 10 days her mother took her home to the farm north of Kisbey where she was raised by her parents and her older brother David.

Weightman has remained on the farm ever since. “I am old enough to know better and foolish enough to still be doing it,” Weightman said in the interview with the Observer.

She cannot imagine doing anything else but farming and has a true passion for this life.

Her parents had 3040 head of cattle, which the farm could sustain as there was enough pasture for this size of a herd.

Weightman remembers how as a young child she was putting up loose hay, and today she does around 600-700 round bales weighing about 1,000 pounds if not more.

Her brother David farms just north of the home farm and also has been a trucker.

Today, Weightman has around 100 head of Hereford-cross cows which should start calving at the beginning of April, although some look much closer than that. But she hopes they hold off and Mother Nature doesn’t bring any snow comes calving time. Her son Dwayne, who lives in Kisbey, is a grader operator and does help with the harvest but is not convinced that cattle is for him. So all the feeding and calving out is done by Weightman, and she loves it.

Right now, she lives in Kisbey as her farmhouse had some issues and she needed a roof over her head, but she misses being out on the farm all the time. Every morning she goes to the farm to feed, check the water, ensure they have lots of bedding and do an overall herd check.

The herd is bred by a rainbow of bulls. Some are red or black Angus; others are Charolais or Simmental bulls. Each breed gives a different trait to the herd.

Cattle are fed green feed, which is a millet

that Weightman seeds, along with alfalfa hay and native grass hay mix. They receive minerals and salt at a free range. In the summer some of the herd move north of Arcola and graze there until Thanksgiving Day. Instead of a Thanksgiving dinner, they move the cattle home and have pizza.

Weightman said they used to move the herd on horseback but now it is done with quads. The trip takes about six hours, stopping halfway through to have a lunch break and allow the cattle to graze and rest.

It feels like cows know when it’s time to be moved, said Weightman,

as they will be waiting at the gate to go home. They are moved at a slow pace so that cows and calves do not stress and get too tired.

Having six quarters of her own land, she also leases three quarters and some pastureland. Weightman plants barley and canola to name a few.

Weightman planted her first crop in 1999 and now has someone seed her fields. She said for the time it takes them to do it and the equipment they have, it is not worth it for her to buy all the equipment to get the job done.

She admits that at her age she should slow down, but her love for the farm keeps her going. She does not like being away from her livestock.

“Being on the farm is such a great feeling. The sunsets are beautiful, and the hills are breathtaking. There is no better feeling,” Weightman shared. “And I will keep doing this a while longer.”

Miss Sassy, Nora Weighman’s paint horse is a big part of her life. Photo by Stephanie Zoer

Agriculture producers reminded about the need for safety

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is reminding farmers about the need to emphasize safety during the annual Agricultural Safety Week from March 12-18.

Robin Anderson, the communications co-ordinator with CASA, said this year’s tagline is Safety is our Promise, which is part of the broader threeyear theme of Your Farm, Your Family, Your Success. This is the second year for that theme.

“Through that tagline, what we’re doing is building resources and information and things like that to inspire farm families and farmers to really start talking and implementing and thinking about farm safety and health every day,” said Anderson.

Safety affects everyone in the agricultural industry, and CASA wants people to make the promise to do what they can to stay safe.

This year they want to focus on different themes so they can talk about things that can become problematic due to injuries suffered on farms.

“It’s trying to be inclusive and ask folks to just come on board and use the hashtag and talk with families and each other about farm safety,” she said.

She believes people are getting the message about safety on the farm.

“Farmers and farm families and farm workers, they are the stewards of the land. They grow safe and amazing food across the country. With this information, it’s not supposed to be about not doing things right. It’s about what you’re doing right and you can keep doing those things right and how you can keep staying safe and growing your farm,” said Anderson.

If people farm safely, then they can be successful from generation to generation, she said.

Farmers are more aware of the risks associated with their chosen profession, she said. They have all heard terrible things about what has happened to people they know or even loved ones due to farming accidents.

“There are some things that are emerging. There are risks like fullbody vibration that can absolutely affect your health long term. Grain entrapment is another risk that sometimes people tend to forget a little bit. But for the most part, the risks are pretty well known.”

Producers also get used to those risks that

are associated with the farm, so they might not think about the power takeoff without a guard or the power line that might be nearby.

“It’s one of those things that you always have to evaluate and watch, just to make sure that you’re always understanding and recognizing those hazards that exist on your farm, and making those decisions to be safer around those things, or mitigating those hazards by eliminating them or engineering controls around them, those types of activities,” said Anderson.

It’s also important for farmers to get adequate sleep and good nutrition, and have good mental and physical health.

“If you’re not look-

ing after yourself, how can you look after your farm?” Anderson said.

It’s not just about one hazard, it’s about a multitude of issues that could lead to someone getting seriously injured, she said. This year’s tagline is meant to inspire people, and have them believe it.

“It’s positive messa-

ging about how awesome farms and farm families and farm workers are, and they can absolutely achieve a safe and successful farm.”

Anderson said CASA depends on people coming together and working towards the safety message. She’s not aware of any in-person events for Agricultural Safety

Week, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening.

And it’s through the meetings with stakeholders across the country that they come up with their tagline.

“Through that feedback of doing that theme of Your Farm, Your Family, Your Success, the theme actually came from that. It was just one of those things where the collaboration really worked, and then from that, we worked with them to come up with the taglines for each year and the calls for action.”

CASA is offering free online training throughout the month, and the public can check out the Ag Safety Week website, agsafetyweek.ca, to see online information. There is also a mental health hub on their website with thoughts from mental health experts.

The Canadian Agriculture Safety Association wants farmers to always be aware of the need for safety. File photo

Carlyle Community Complex Foundation announces inaugural Farming for the Future fundraiser

By Gord Paulley

As Carlyle and surrounding communities await the details of the March 22 provincial budget, the local Community Complex Foundation is pleased to announce their first-ever farming fundraiser.

Shane and Ashley Valentine have donated 100 acres of farmland for the project, which is located just a few kilometres northeast of Carlyle.

“Farming for the Future is not only the first for our community but also a different way to raise funds and a good way of bringing everyone together for a common goal,” says Jared Riddell, a committee organizer. “Our committee wanted to introduce programs that included the entire region and sur-

rounding RMs. We have a fundraising plan, and a plan that is 10 per cent done but 100 per cent implemented will usually produce better results than no plan at all.

“Fundraising for large projects can seem daunting, but, like fundraising in any town, it’s all about building relationships. People often give to organizations with a common goal, especially those who support the community in ways that promote the hand-up not a hand-out philosophy. In this case, a local farmer raising their hand to volunteer their time, expertise and resources will pay huge dividends.”

“Our committee has decided on sowing AAC Awesome. It is a general purpose, midge tolerant soft white wheat which is used

in ethanol production,” notes Joey Brady who is the project co-ordinator for the Farming Fundraiser.

“Dan Reaves of Precision Ag is contacting the various chemical companies for donations and Mitchell Weber of 306 Ag Resourc-

es will be supplying the sulfur and potash applications. These two, along with Brady Lands, will be involved in the agronomic decision-making process throughout the year. Brady Lands will be doing the actual farming from seeding

through to harvest. We will encourage a community effort at harvest.”

“As everyone becomes part of the fabric of the goals for our area, it becomes a win-win. In a small town, news travels fast,” added Riddell. “Many people have known each other their whole lives, and their families are intertwined. Letting the right person know of a need an organization is working to fill can be just as effective as a post on Facebook. If the right person knows, soon everyone will know and will want to be part of the feeling they have contributed. Special thanks to everyone for helping us get this first annual Farming Fundraiser up and running.”

The Valentines are the first residents to donate their land for the Farming Fundraiser.

Near normal or above normal runoff expected for southeast Saskatchewan this spring

The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) has released the spring runoff forecast for the province.

It shows that near-normal runoff is projected for a sliver of an area in and around Estevan, along with

306-453-2255

a patch in the far southeast corner of the province. The area immediately east of Estevan is expected to have above-average runoff

Areas west of Estevan are expected to have below-normal runoff

The forecast was released prior to the blizzard that struck southeast Saskatchewan on March 10 and 11.

Both Rafferty Reservoir and Grant Devine Lake are below their Feb. 1 drawdown target elevations, the WSA said.

Based on current hydrological conditions within the basin and the volumetric runoff forecasts, the WSA said non-flood operations are in effect, as described in the 1989 Canada-U.S. Agreement on Flood Control and Water Supply in the Souris River Basin. As such, no additional drawdown of

these reservoirs is required prior to the spring runoff

Due to a below-normal snowpack and dry conditions in the fall, most of the basin is expected to observe a below-normal runoff response in 2023, the WSA said. The area below the reservoirs is expected to see a near-normal snowmelt runoff response, due to an above-normal snowpack.

Based on current conditions, neither Rafferty Reservoir nor Grant Devine Lake are expected to fill in 2023. Boundary Dam Reservoir is more likely to fill, the WSA said.

The current operation plan is to divert any excess water from Boundary Dam to Rafferty, the WSA said. It is anticipated that additional reservoir releases during the spring runoff period will be limited to what may be required to meet international apportionment obligations.

Any releases to satisfy these international obligations will be made from Grant Devine Dam.

“Detailed forecasts for the Souris River Basin are developed on or near the first and 15th of each month, beginning in February, up until the snowmelt runoff event,” the WSA said. “These forecasts can be found on wsask.ca.”

As for the rest of Saskatchewan, in eastern and northern areas of the province, precipitation recorded in the spring and early summer was above normal with some areas recording higher than the 90th percentile accumulations. However, late summer and the fall were drier than normal, resulting in slightly drier than

“We hope this kickstarts the foundation’s fundraising efforts towards the building of a new school and community complex. Perhaps we can encourage other farmers in the area to do likewise,” said Shane Valentine.

“We continue to look for further sponsorship support to cover the costs associated with this program. I would also like to thank Darcy Howe and the staff at GFK High School for allowing us to introduce this learning opportunity to students. Soon taking field trips and bringing agriculture to the classroom,” added Riddell.

The Carlyle Community Complex Foundation plans on keeping everyone informed on every phase of this project. Seeding is likely to take place in late April.

normal soil moisture conditions at freeze-up over these areas.

There were two significant early snowfall events late in fall 2022, the WSA said. The first event impacted areas across the southwest and the east-central portions of the province. This heavy snowfall was followed by warmer temperatures, which melted much of the snowpack and improved soil moisture near the surface.

The second snowfall event occurred in early November and affected most of southern and central Saskatchewan.

Mitchell Weber is the co-owner of 306 Ag Resource Group

By Gord Paulley

Twenty-seven-old Mitchell

Weber is a young entrepreneur who lives just southwest of Carlyle. Together with his father Paul, they sow 9,600 acres of farmland. The two, along with Mitchell’s mother Dione and his wife Brooke, also own and operate 306 Ag Resources, a Bio Sul fertilizer business.

Bio Sul is an elemental sulfur/compost mix. While sulfur has been used as a farm fertilizer for decades, it is only in the past few years that its popularity has skyrocketed. The 306 Ag business not only sells the product, but it also performs the actual custom application.

The Webers have been using Bio Sul for years, but it was only in 2021 that they became an actual distributor. They operate under the Crop Aid and

GFL Environmental Ag companies and have customers throughout Western Canada and the United States. In 2022, they were the second largest North American distributor of Bio Sul elemental sulfur.

Mitchell was humble when discussing the rapid rise in business.

“When utilized properly, elemental sulfur is great for your crops and can increase yields at around a third of the cost of conventional fertilizers. It is a great product, and we are pleased to be local distributors.”

Weber Acres and 306 Ag Resources have seen an exponential increase in business and now have ten full-time and six to eight part-time employees on their payroll. Their businesses provide a great spinoff to the local trucking and agricultural industries.

“We have assembled an experienced staff and have hired some great local talent. We are happy to have Carlyle as our home base and are really looking forward to the spring planting season.”

The Webers are very community-minded and contribute to many organizations in Carlyle and the surrounding area, including the local high school, golf course, Carlyle Minor Hockey and the Carlyle Cougars. Mitchell also volunteers his time with the Carlyle Community Complex Foundation.

Mitchell is marrying Brooke Galbraith on April 1. They have two daughters. Mikaya is six and Zaidee is 2 1/2 years old. The young family recently purchased the Amy and Clayton Geiger acreage near Wordsworth.

Crop insurance program enhancements announced

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister

Marie-Claude Bibeau and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit have announced details of the 2023 crop insurance program.

“Through improvements to the Crop Insurance Program, Saskatchewan farmers continue to get coverage they can count on,” said Bibeau. “We encourage farmers to use risk management tools to help them minimize the economic effects of production losses caused by natural hazards.”

“As we look forward to the 2023 growing season, I want to acknowledge the drive and resilience Sas-

katchewan farmers and ranchers continue to show year after year,” Marit said. “We had some rough years and while last year was a step forward, there were still very dry areas in the west side of the province and Crop Insurance responded with quick action on claims.

“That is why it’s important for producers to evaluate their current risk management options and ensure they have the right coverage for their farm.”

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) continues to provide Saskatchewan producers with higher crop insurance coverage. The average coverage for 2023

is at a record-high level of $446 per acre, due to increased commodity prices and yield coverage. With this increased coverage and higher insured prices, the average total premium is $14.79 per acre, an increase from $12.05 in 2022.

Starting in 2023, crop insurance customers will see an Individual premium calculated for each crop they insure. Premiums are individualized based on a producer’s personal claim history compared to the area risk zone. This adjustment, increase or decrease, from the base premium rate is calculated for each customer, and independently for each insured crop.

This means a producer’s claim on one crop does not impact their premium for a different crop. Premium discounts and surcharges previously used in the crop insurance program are discontinued.

“It’s always good to review the program to ensure it continues to serve farmers and remains efficient,” SaskCanola chairman Keith Fournier said. “It is important for farmers to open their insurance packages, review their information and learn about their coverage options.”

Also effective for 2023, SCIC is increasing the maximum dollar coverage levels of the unseeded acreage feature. While the minimum coverage remains the same at $50 per acre, additional unseeded acreage coverage levels are increasing to $75, $100 and $125 per acre. Unseeded acreage coverage, included with all multi-peril crop insurance coverage, helps offset costs associated with summer fallow acres too wet to seed due to excessive spring moisture.

“We appreciate the ongoing commitment to Saskatchewan agriculture,”

Saskatchewan Rural Municipality Association (SARM) president Ray Orb said.

“The increases to unseeded acres coverage stands out as an example of SCIC listening and incorporating the concerns of our members.”

March 31 is the deadline to apply, reinstate, cancel or make changes to crop insurance contracts. Pro-

ducers must also select insured crops and coverage levels by this date. If no changes are made, a producer’s coverage will remain the same as last year. To make changes or discuss the different features and coverage levels, producers can contact their local SCIC office or call 1-888935-0000.

23033DD0

23033DD1

Mitchell Weber of 306 Ag Resource Group. Photo by Gord Paulley

Carnduff 4-H Club members impress at public speaking event

Living Sky Co-op

Peebles • 306-224-4521

Corning • 306-224-4414

We’ve got everything you need!

The Carnduff & Area Beef 4-H Club held its monthly general meeting on Feb. 8 at the Carnduff Education Complex.

This was followed by our club public speeches. Each year our members write and complete a speech to help

us learn public speaking skills.

On Feb. 15, some of our members met after school in Carnduff to work on our record books. A record book is also a requirement to be completed each year by all club members.

The highlight for this past month was our bus tour on Feb. 24. We board-

ed the bus in Carnduff at 7 a.m. to begin our day. From there, we went to the Fort Qu’Appelle Fish Culture Station to learn about a fish hatchery in Saskatchewan.

We later carried onto the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina for some fun and an IMAX movie. It was a super fun day had by all.

To finish off February, we had seven of our Carnduff members attend the District 41 public speaking event that took place in Alameda. Two of our members, Jagger Allum and Fallyn Shier, placed in the top three for their age categories.

BULK FUEL

BULK FEED We’ve got that too!

Corning • 306-224-4414

Peebles • 306-224-4521

Saluting all local farmers! A. Pethick Farm & Custom Ag Now offering: CUSTOM SEEDING ALSO AVAILABLE: 306.434.9998 apethick38@gmail.com 204.722.2361