Rural Dart

March 5, 2024

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Next Week's Rural Dart

On account of the 2024 SARM Annual Convention and Trade Show, next week's Rural Dart email will be postponed until March 12th.

Information & Resources

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation Forage Coverage

SCIC has a program for producers who grow forages for seed, sale or feed.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2024

Coverage basics

Cause of Loss: Uncontrollable natural hazards covered by Crop Insurance.

Coverage Levels and Premium: Producers may select coverage at 50, 60, 70 or 80 per cent of their average yield.

Individual Coverage: Coverage based on individual growing history rather than area average.

Individual Premium: Starting in 2023, an Individual Premium is calculated for each crop based on personal claim history compared to the area risk zone.

Insurable Crops: SCIC insures crop varieties suitable for local growing conditions.

Prices: Base prices for grains crops are established on the basis of January price forecasts provided by the Market Analysis Group of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Price Options: Producers can custom-fit their insurance by selecting price options best suited for their operation.

Production Guarantee: Guarantee is calculated based on individual coverage multiplied by insurable acres.

Soil Classification: Soil classification are used for premium and coverage calculations.

Yield Cushioning: Yield cushioning limits the impact on yield coverage in poor crop years.

Enhanced Coverage

Forage Diversification Option

Coverage for any forage feed crops not insurable under the basic forage insurance program.

Forage Establishment Benefit Option

Protects newly seeded forage acres intended for hay, grazing or seed production against the risk of an establishment failure.

Forage Restoration

Coverage for loss of insured acres of established tame hay or alfalfa seed due to prolonged flooding.

Specialty Program

Timothy Hay Program

Coverage for irrigated timothy hay acres intended for export, and mitigates the risk associated with this intensively managed crop.

Don't miss out!

Learn More / Apply

Subscribe to Sask 1st Call

It has been an exciting year for Sask 1st Call, with changes that will allow them to continue offering a valuable service to those prioritizing and practicing safe ground disturbance.

Sask 1st Call is excited to have their booth set up at the SARM trade show next week. Be sure to stop by to visit and discuss why you should become a subscriber!

The biggest news they have to share is they began a new chapter in June when after two decades of running the service — SaskEnergy transferred ownership of Sask 1st Call to the Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance (SCGA).

SCGA is a non-profit whose mandate is dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental protection and effective damage prevention which mirrors that of Sask 1st Call, also a non-profit, making it a good fit with the organization.

Sask 1st Call now has its own Board of Directors governed by volunteers from industry who continue to promote the "Click Before You Dig" message.

The list of Sask 1st Call subscribing companies continues to grow and we are thrilled to welcome the municipalities who have joined us over the years, protecting their underground facilities and sharing the important message to "Dig Safe”.

According to the DIRT report, work on water and sewer systems accounted for 24% of infrastructure damages in 2022. Reported damages also saw an increase from 2021 to 2022. These numbers are a reminder of the importance of mapping and protecting your underground infrastructure.

When an underground utility is damaged, there can be many costs involved. It's important to consider not just the monetary cost of repairs to the utility, but the many headaches that arise alongside the repairs: delays in the excavating work being done, a disruption of services that usually results in unhappy customers, and the negative word of mouth or publicity that can come with the frustration of a disruption in services.

Sask 1stCall offers a simple and effective way to protect your facilities and avoid these headaches.

Subscribers to Sask 1st Call submit mapping information to our database and are notified when a One Call user requests a locate in the area of their facilities. Sask 1st Call then notifies your municipality so that your facilities can be flagged and protected before any ground disturbance begins.

Interested in joining Sask 1st Call?

Visit www.sask1stcall.com or email firstcalldirector@scga.ca with questions.

Learn More / Subscribe

Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant Program

The Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant program enables projects to reduce traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities in communities across Saskatchewan.

Approved projects are eligible to receive up to $100,000 per location in funding for infrastructure projects or on equipment and community outreach programs to help improve traffic safety.

Priority areas of focus

Projects need to address certain priority areas. Some examples of traffic safety initiatives that are eligible for grant support are:

impaired driving (alcohol, drugs)
distracted driving (cellphone, fatigue)
occupant protection (seatbelts)
intersection safety (crosswalks, lights, signage)
road-way based solutions
speed management (excluding camera equipment for photo speed enforcement programs)
aggressive driving
vulnerable road users (pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists)

Who can apply

Applicants representing Indigenous lands or territories and urban or rural municipalities are encouraged to apply with their traffic safety initiatives.

How to apply

Calls for new applications are open twice a year:

January through March
July through September

The application deadline for the first intake period is March 31, 2024.

Request guidelines and additional information from the PSE Program Administrator by emailing PSEProgram@sgi.sk.ca or calling 1-844-TLK-2SGI (1-844-855-2744), extension 6042, or by visiting the SGI website.

Learn More / Apply

5 Saskatchewan farmers are needed to build prototype ROPS.

You will receive drawing and fabrication instructions.
You will build a prototype ROPS and ship it before March 31, 2024.
Your costs will be paid and you will receive $500 for your time.
You will provide feedback on how it went and suggest any improvements that could be made to make it easier.

Learn More / Participate

Disclaimer: The following RMs have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service.

Looking to Hire:

RM of Reciprocity No. 32, Seasonal Public Works Employee, Mar 5 - Close

RM of Reciprocity No. 32, Public Works Operator, Mar 5 - Close

RM of Maryfield No. 91, Seasonal Operator, Mar 6 - Close

RM of Harris No. 316, Seasonal Operator, Mar 7 - Close

RM of Humboldt No. 370, Full Time Working Foreman, Mar 7 - Close

RM of Waverley No. 44, Full Time Seasonal Grader/Equipment Operator, Mar 8 - Close

RM of Maple Bush No. 224, Grader Operator/Maintenance Worker, Mar 11 - Close

RM of Coteau No. 255, Grader Operator, Mar 12 - Close

RM of Pleasantdale No. 398, Working Foreman Mar 14 - Close

RM of Pense No. 160, Equipment Operator, Mar 15 - Close

RM of Beaver River No. 622, Community Planner, Mar 20 - Close

RM of Lacedena No. 228, Seasonal Equipment Operators, Mar 31 - Close

RM of Corman Park No. 344, Director of Financial and IT Services, Mar 31 - Close

RM of Corman Park No. 344, Legislative Officer, Mar 31 - Close

RM of Maryfield No. 91, Summer Student Employment Opportunity, Apr 10 - Close

Looking to Buy/Sell:

RM of Eyebrow No. 193, For Sale: 2021 Ripper, Mar 15 - Close

RM of Caron No. 162, For Sale: 2017 Grader, Mar 28 - Close

If you have questions or would like to post in the SARM Classifieds contact: 306.757.3577 or sarm@sarm.ca

Please send your advertisement in a Word Document.

SARM Classifieds

March is Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan

On March 1, 2024, the Government of Saskatchewan proclaimed March as Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan. Agriculture Literacy Month activities invite farmers, ranchers and industry experts into participating classrooms, offering students the chance to discover where their food comes from.

Federal and Provincial Governments Invest More Than $51 Million in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements Across Saskatchewan

Craven, Saskatchewan, February 29, 2024 - Communities across Saskatchewan are upgrading critical public infrastructure through 34 projects after a joint investment of more than $51 million from the federal and provincial governments.