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in General Posts

HAY SALVAGE IN PROVINCIAL HIGHWAY DITCHES 2019 – BEFORE JULY 8th!

Once again, producers can take advantage of free hay in  provincial highway ditches.

Hay can be salvaged any time during the spring or summer months. Before and including July 8, landowners or lessees nearest/adjacent to the ditch have the first option to cut or bale material, but after that day anyone can cut and bale without permission from the property-owner, as long as no salvage operations have already begun. It is recommended that participants contact their local ministry office to provide contact information and limits on where they are salvaging hay to avoid disputes.

Hay must be cut at a uniform height in ditches and bales must be placed at least eight metres away from the shoulder of the highway. Bales must be removed by August 8, otherwise they may be subject to removal and disposal by the ministry. After August 8, bales must be removed immediately following haying operations. The ministry may also remove and dispose of hay bales in locations deemed unsafe for drivers.

Ditch Mowing

The ministry is working on its annual early mowing program along high traffic volume highways, which begins June 7 and will continue until July 15. Contractors cut a four-metre wide swath along shoulders adjacent to Highways 1, 7, 11, 16 and 39, along with portions of Highways 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9,  and 10. During this time, mowing may be completed near some highway intersections and interchanges, railway crossings and tourism facilities.

Regular ditch mowing will occur along all four-lane highways between July 15 and the fall months. A four-metre-wide strip will be mowed adjacent to the other highways with additional mowing as required to ensure visibility and weed control. Progress is weather dependent.

Key Dates

  • June 7 – July 15: Mowing includes a four-metre shoulder cut adjacent to the road. Highways 1, 7, 11, 16 and 39, along with portions of Highways 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10. Some highway intersections may receive a full ditch cut to ensure good sightlines.
  • July 8: Prior to and including this date, a landowner or lessee nearest to a highway ditch has the first option to cut or bale hay. After this date, anyone may cut and bale hay or grass in a highway ditch without getting the permission of the adjacent landowner.
  • July 15 – Oct. 15: Contractors begin mowing the width of ditches along all four-lane highways. All other highways get a four-metre cut adjacent to the highway shoulder.
  • August 8: All hay bales must be removed from ditches or they may be removed and disposed of at the ministry’s discretion.

Ministry Contacts

For additional information or to provide contact information and limits of hay salvage operations, please contact the district office in your area:

Meadow Lake District

306-236-7652

 

in General Posts, Uncategorized

Hail Insurance Information – Did you know?

PLEASE READ THIS LETTER IN ITS ENTIRETY AS IT COULD QUITE POSSIBLY CHANGE THE WAY YOU PERCEIVE AND USE HAIL INSURANCE AS A TOOL IN YOUR FARMING OPERATION

DID YOU KNOW that SMHI has been providing affordable and continuous coverage for land owners for over 100 years; and

DID YOU KNOW that SMHI is operated and controlled by farmers for farmers and surplus funds from light claim years go back to their customers through lower rates; and

DID YOU KNOW that our board of directors is comprised of producers who are elected by delegates appointed by Rural Municipalities; and

DID YOU KNOW that SMHI does not pay a dividend and instead uses the income generated from surplus funds to annual subsidise you hail premiums by 8%; and

DID YOU KNOW that in a township where the rate is 2% you can cover your wheat or canola crop at $275.00 per acre for $5.50 per acre; and

DID YOU KNOW that SMHI is the only crop hail insurer that offers early prompt payment discounts; and

DID YOU KNOW that SMHI was the first company to automate the loss adjustment process; and

DID YOU KNOW that we have improved our claim response time and have strategically placed adjustment teams; and

DID YOU KNOW that we offer the most farmer friendly claim review practices in the industry; and

DID YOU KNOW that SMHI has paid back in losses over 77 cents of every dollar collected in premiums; and

DID YOU KNOW that you can also purchase insurance on your owned or rented land through ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL HAIL LTD.; and

DID YOU KNOW that we offer a combined indemnity limit up to $850 per acre; and

DID YOU KNOW that you can file your SMHI crop report online; and

DID YOU KNOW that we have the team and resources in place to continuously take care of your hail insurance needs now and into the future; and

DID YOU KNOW that you can contact Nicole Neufeld at (306) 839-2060. or Head office at 1-877-414-7644, or visit us online at smhi.ca to secure your Insurance coverage.

Storms are unpredictable. We aren’t.

in General Posts, Public Notice

CLUBROOT DISTRIBUTION MAP 2018

Clubroot Distribution Map

The Saskatchewan clubroot distribution map

The Saskatchewan clubroot distribution map illustrates the distribution of clubroot and the clubroot pathogen in the province and can be used as an estimation of regional clubroot risk. The map is cumulative and includes all findings of clubroot and detections of the clubroot pathogen from 2008 to 2018. All detections of clubroot and the clubroot pathogen are included in this map, as the clubroot pathogen is long lived and cannot be eradicated. As a result, areas where clubroot and/or the clubroot pathogen were first identified in Saskatchewan are considered to still have an increased risk and are therefore included in this map illustrating cumulative findings. In addition to illustrating the distribution of fields with visible clubroot symptoms, the map provides information on the number of fields in each rural municipality (RM) confirmed to have clubroot visible symptoms.

The information in this map is organized into four main categories that are illustrated by four different colours.

  1. Blue: In these RMs, the clubroot pathogen was detected at low levels in soil samples from at least one field in the RM. When only the clubroot pathogen is detected it means that the pathogen is present at levels lower than those required to cause disease symptoms under field conditions. When this occurs, producers are encouraged to implement proactive management strategies to keep the pathogen levels low to prevent symptom development and potential yield losses
  2. Yellow: Visible symptoms of clubroot were identified in one to nine fields in the RM
  3. Orange: Visible symptoms of clubroot were identified in 10 or more fields in the RM.
  4. Grey: The grey area on the map outlines the area of the province that was included in the 2018 extensive clubroot survey. The grey colour indicates that the RM was surveyed but neither clubroot visible symptoms nor the clubroot pathogen were detected