The backbone of the economy on the Great Plains, including the area of southeast Saskatchewan in the Weyburn region, has always been and always will be agriculture.
This isn鈥檛 just true now as area producers are finishing up harvest operations for 2017, one of the earliest harvests on record, but this is true all year round. It isn鈥檛 for nothing that this province is considered the bread-basket of the country, feeding not only this great land of Canada, but sending food products to countries all around the world.
October is Agriculture Month in Canada, and the theme this year is, 鈥淥ur Food Tells A Story鈥�, with producers being encouraged to talk about the how and why they help produce food to feed the world, food that is healthy, safe and affordable, produced in sustainable ways.
Not only should producers tell their stories, but all those who are employed directly or indirectly by agriculture have a story to tell as well. This extends far into the community, for there are very few businesses that are not touched by agriculture and by the life-blood that it pumps through each region and in each village, town and city in Saskatchewan.
The importance of farming is brought front and centre at harvest-time, because the fields are busy with swathers and combines, going hard until all of the crops are in the bin. Then the grain trucks are making their deliveries to the various terminals, and as Weyburn continues to hold its position as Canada鈥檚 largest inland grain-gathering point, one can be sure the three large terminals here are kept hopping throughout this time of year.
When the news comes on with items about NAFTA trade negotiations, or about the CETA trade agreement with Europe, many people鈥檚 eyes glaze over as it just has no interest to them compared to news items about hurricanes, threats by North Korea or a debate about football players kneeling during the U.S. national anthem.
The fact is, these trade negotiations and agreements directly affect the farmers in this area, both large and small, whether they are grain or livestock producers, or work in a company that supplies and services the agricultural markets. What happens at NAFTA is going to trickle down to the producer here as markets open or close, or trade opportunities are lost or gained.
Canadians need to take an interest in how this country fares at the international level, and they need to support and encourage the farming community as they continue to feed the world sustainably. 鈥� Greg Nikkel
