Western Fair Opens Sept 5th and runs until the 14th, Its 139th Year with a Strong Agriculture Tradition

Agriculture and agri-food events build momentum around Agriculture Enlightened conference

EMILI’s annual Agriculture Enlightened conference is taking place on October 23, 2025, at the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg. This year’s theme is Driving Agriculture Innovation. Together we’ll explore how farmers and others in the Canadian agriculture industry are adopting agtech, discuss ways to navigate the shifting global trade landscape, and connect with leaders advancing innovation across Canada. A number of EMILI’s partners are hosting amazing agriculture and agri-food events the same week as Agriculture Enlightened 2025. Whether you’re looking for something to do ahead of Agriculture Enlightened or continue networking afterwards, check out these upcoming events.   Young Entrepreneurs Awards Hosted by MEIA, League of Innovators, and Manitoba Innovates Wednesday, October 22, 4:30pm – 9:00pm Location: The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre 400+ nominations, 6 awards, and 1 big night to celebrate Canada’s greatest young entrepreneurs and the future of sustainability! Purchase tickets

St. Benedict educator and farmer receives Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan’s Champion Award

For the past decade, Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan recognizes a person who strives to engage consumers about agriculture and helps farmers build public trust in our province and beyond. The Champion Award was presented Tuesday morning in Saskatoon to Sandra Hessdorfer from St. Benedict. Sandra, her husband and two teenage sons have a grain farm and black angus cattle. Her off-farm job is the Ag Education Officer with the Horizon School Division. Her duties include delivering presentations, supporting school programs, and organizing an annual Student Ag Day for all Grade 10 students. The event is held in Humboldt and attracted 570 students and their teachers from across the Horizon School Division, which is the largest by area in the province. Hessdorfer is also a past-chair of Women in Ag and has been active with Ag in the Classroom and Saskatchewan 4-H. CJWW Agriculture Director Neil Billinger spoke to Sandra shortly after she received her award.

Indefinite pause placed on Crown land sales

A two-year moratorium on Crown land sales expired in August, and plans were made for an October auction which had already been advertised online. Nearly 4,500 acres of cultivated and grazing farmland was split into 18 lots. That sale is being paused at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture. There has been opposition voiced by the NDP and Indigenous people. Late last week, Premier Scott Moe told reporters “it was a case of where we just got a little bit ahead of ourselves in that process starting again.” In a statement, the Government of Saskatchewan explained the parcels of land that were going up for auction had previously been leased agricultural land where the leases had been surrendered or cancelled.

Mustard millers relish investment tax credit

G.S. Dunn Limited (G.S. Dunn) is investing approximately $30 million to grow its mustard milling facility in Bow Island supported by a $3.1 million Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit (APITC) from Alberta’s government. The project has created 34 new jobs and allowed G.S. Dunn to access two new markets in Japan and South Korea. The expansion will also increase its purchase of raw mustard seed from $13 million to $44 million with all seed coming from western Canada. “Investors continue to choose Alberta as a place to establish roots, grow and expand because it makes good business sense. The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit is just one of the ways our government commits to creating ideal conditions for businesses while attracting investment, diversifying the economy and creating more jobs for Albertans.” RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation The Bow Island expansion is the second phase of G.S. Dunn’s value-added mustard milling project. Since its initial expansion

Canada Post strike affecting Harvest Sample Program

Farmers can drop off harvest samples in person at multiple locations