CKRM Agriculture

Thousands of people, many of them farmers, will gather at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon this week for the 41st annual Western Canadian Crop Production Show. The format for this year's show has changed from three-and-a-half days to three days.

Farmers who do business with Viterra may be breathing a sigh of relief. Late Thursday evening, Viterra presented its final offer to the Grain and General Services Union (GSU) Locals 1 & 2, which represents 436 employees.

After prolonged negotiations, Viterra unveiled a new Final Offer to the GSU bargaining committee following the rejection of the initial proposal in November 2023. A meeting with the elected officers of Locals 1 and 2 is set for today at 9:30 a.m.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) and the Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) are hoping a deal can be reached between Viterra and the union representing its employees before its too late.

With a few notable exceptions, most grains, oilseeds and specialty crops are seeing lower prices than one year ago. Cash prices for canola started 2023 in the $800 a tonne range.

Viterra responded to the 72-hour strike notice issued by the union representing its employees.

The union representing Viterra workers has given 72-hour strike notice to the Viterra Canada Inc.

Annual meetings will be held on January 9 for Sask Wheat, SaskCanola, SaskFlax. SaskBarley and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. The meetings are at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon.

There's reason for optimism for Saskatchewan's uranium mining sector. According to data from UXC, Uranium prices are at a 16-year high and up more than 80 percent this year. Prices could go even higher due to an under-supplied market.

Members of Grain and General Services Union Local 1, which represents workers from Viterra Country Operations and Maintenance and Local 2, which represents workers from Viterra's Regina Head Office, say they are taking a stand to secure fair wages, i