2015 was an interesting and challenging year for agriculture in Saskatchewan.

APAS President Norm Hall says it spanned the gamut from being too wet to being too dry while market pricing for cattle hit record highs earlier in the year.

“There are areas that are going to have crop insurance claims because they were too wet all year. Other areas in the western side of the province got drought payment so that’s a huge challenge on the production side. For livestock, both pork and beef prices are sliding.”

He’s hoping 2016 brings some positive changes with increases in market prices and the CTA Review which was to be on the Minister’s desk late last week.

“Once the house reconvenes he has thirty sitting days to make that report public. We are hoping it happens sooner than later but they have also promised more consultation with the ag industry and I’m assuming with all industries prior to making any final ruling.”

Hall says they’ll be monitoring the Federal government’s discussion on BRM programs and the CTA review and with the Provincial Election coming up in 2016 they want to see an emphasis put on Agriculture issues.

He notes while the lower Canadian dollar is good on the market and sales side of agriculture for producers who are looking at purchasing fertilizer, crop inputs, and machinery or feed it’s a definite challenge.