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Gopher Season!

Posted onAuthorRM Office

Richardson's Ground Squirrel / Gopher

 

Now is the time to start watching for gophers!  The males may begin emerging any day, and will be busy looking for food.  Make sure your bait stations are ready to deploy, as they are most effective before any green growth appears.

RM property owners are encouraged to bring receipts for approved control method purchases to the office prior to July 31 to submit to the Gopher Control Program for a rebate of up to 50%

Happy Spring!

 

Feedback Requested: National Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard and Producer Guide for the Grains and Oilseeds Sector

Posted onAuthorRM Office

The Canadian Plant Health Council (CPHC), in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, is seeking your input on the National Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard and Producer Guide for the Grains and Oilseeds Sector.

Why is this important?
Biosecurity is critical to protecting Canada’s grains and oilseeds sector from pests, diseases, and other risks that can impact productivity and market access. The current standard and guide were developed approximately 10 years ago, and we want to ensure they remain relevant and effective in today’s production environment.

What’s available to help you?
The CPHC has developed a short overview video that explains the purpose and key elements of the standard. You can view it here: https://youtu.be/I4uqMPWR4P4

How can you provide feedback?
We invite you to share your thoughts on whether the standard and guide require updating. Feedback can be provided in two ways:

  1. Complete the questionnaire available here: https://forms-formulaires.alpha.canada.ca/en/id/cmhw77ip6000kyg01pjt8imsv
  2. Participate in an engagement session:
English session

Tuesday, March 17 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm ET

Register for this event

 French session

Tuesday, March 17, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm ET

Register for this event

Your input is essential to ensure these resources continue to support strong biosecurity practices across the sector.

Help us spread the word!
We encourage you to share this message widely within your networks, especially with growers and producer organizations. Reaching the grower community is key to ensuring that the updated resources reflect on-the-ground realities and practical needs.

Thank you for your time and commitment to safeguarding Canada’s grains and oilseeds sector.

For questions, please contact:
cphcsecretariat@gmail.com

Gopher Control

Posted onAuthorRM Office

Group of gophers, Richardson's Ground Squirrels.

Spring is around the corner, and so are the gophers!  Last year the gopher population was out of control in many parts of Saskatchewan.

To effectively manage gopher populations, you need to start early.   When using chemical control, be sure to start baiting as soon as the adult males emerge in late February to early March.   Once green growth appears, gophers are not likely to consume the bait. Approved rodenticides are available at most agricultural supply stores.

SARM will once again administer the Ground squirrel ((Richardson’s, Franklin’s, and thirteen-lined) and Northern pocket gopher) Control Program on behalf of the province, and will post updated guidelines soon.  Rate payers can receive rebates of up 50% of their qualifying  control costs.  Receipts for gopher control products must be submitted to the RM office by July 31, 2026.

 

–>  To find out more about the control of the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel visit Saskatchewan.ca

–>  To read the most current SARM Gopher Control Program details visit SARM.ca.

–>  List of Registered Gopher Control Products on Health Canada

Yellowbend Transfer Station

Posted onAuthorRM Office

 

The Yellowbend Transfer Station is located near the corner of the Radisson Grid (Township Road 404) and Range Road 3102.  Ratepayers of the RM of Great Bend receive a preferred rate.

Summer Hours (April 1 – October 1)

Wed 4-8,  Saturday 11-4

Winter Hours (October 2 – March 31)

Saturday 11-4

The transfer station is able to accept:

–          White Goods (fridges, furnaces, dishwashers, freezers etc.)

–           Small Appliances (fans, microwaves, sinks, toilets, water dispensers)

–           BBQ’s

–           Furniture

–           Metal

–           Painted Lumber

–           Clean Wood

–           Household refuse

The transfer station can not accept:

–           Animal carcasses

–           Antifreeze/antifreeze containers

–           Asbestos

–           Asphalt

–           ATV bodies, garden tractor bodies, motorcycles and snowmobiles

–           Automobiles / Vehicle bodies

–           Batteries

–           Bio-medical waste

–           Compost

–           Computers/Monitors (direct to Sarcan)

–           Concrete

–           Contaminated Soil

–           DVD Players/VCR’s (direct to Sarcan)

–           E-Waste

–           Facsimile Equipment (direct to Sarcan)

–           Fertilizer

–           Fuel Tanks

–           Grain/Granaries

–           Hazardous Waste

–           Hot Loads

–           Liquid Domestic Waste

–           Liquid Waste of any kind

–           Milk Jugs/Cartons (direct to Sarcan)

–           Paint/paint cans

–           Pesticide Containers

–           Printers/Scanners (direct to Sarcan)

–           Propane Bottles / tanks

–           Railroad Ties

–           Shingles

–           Televisions/Telephones (direct to Sarcan)

–           Tires

–           Used Oil, filters and containers

Not sure where to bring items?  Check this handy list for alternate disposal sites:

Electronics Recycling: https://recyclemyelectronics.ca/sk

SARCAN, Loraas Disposal North, More options shown on website.

Batteries: https://recycleyourbatteries.ca

Small batteries – Village of Borden post office (drop box), SARCAN (3803 Kochar Ave, Saskatoon) – single use batteries, rechargeable batteries, eMobility batteries

Paint: https://www.productcare.org

Sarcan, QM Environmental Saskatoon Waste Transfer Facility (818 48th St. E, Saskatoon)

Scrap Tires: https://tssk.ca for drop off locations, or call 306-790-1894

Agricultural Plastics: https://cleanfarms.ca or 1-877-622-4460

Medical Sharps: Most Saskatchewan pharmacies offer secure   sharps collection boxes and accept sharps in these containers for proper disposal.

Mercury containing Lightbulbs and ballasts:  https://saskwastereduction.ca London Drugs, RONA

Mercury Switches and Thermostats:   Contact SGI for drop off locations.

Pharmaceuticals:   Most Saskatchewan pharmacies will accept unused prescriptions.

Propane Cylinders: Return to retailer

Used Oil & Antifreeze: https://usedoilrecyclingsk.com

ECOCENTRE – City of Saskatoon, Regional Waste Management Centre, Landfill Collects: Antifreeze/Oil/Oil Containers/Antifreeze Containers/D.E.F. Containers/Used Oil Filters

Just after the Landfill entrance on the left of Valley Road, in the Regional Waste Management Centre (south of 11th Street & SW off Circle Drive)42 Valley Road, SASKATOON, Saskatchewan S7M 1X5

Phone: (306) 975-2486

*** PLEASE PHONE 306-975-2486 BEFORE DRIVING TO THE LANDFILL, TO VERIFY THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM IN THE OIL TANK & STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST ***

Facility will accept:

      • up to 500L of oil (engine oil must be in original containers)
      • 10 large and 20 regular/small filters
      • containers up to 500L in size (if pails are empty, please remove lids before dropping off)
      • up to 100L of antifreeze

Please do not mix fluids. If bringing in a mixed load, a waste charge may be applicable.

To verify operational hours, please visit the City of Saskatoon website: https://www.saskatoon.ca/services-residents/waste-recycling/garbage/landfill

Call 306-975-2496 for a recorded message to confirm landfill hours during the seasonal transition periods.

 

 

Payment Methods

Posted onAuthorOffice-RM-GreatBend

The RM of Great Bend is happy to accept the following methods of payment:

  • Cash
  • Cheque
  • Debit
  • e-transfer
  • Online bill payment through Affinity Credit Union.  Please remember that it can take several business days for your payment to be deposited into our account.  Payments are receipted on the day they arrive.

When paying by e-transfer, please use the comment section to specify:

  • Is this a tax or invoice payment
  • Which tax account a payment should be applied to (property owner, land location or customer number)

This will help us apply your payment to the correct account.

 

 

Snow Clearing Agreement

Posted onAuthorOffice-RM-GreatBend

As much as we hate thinking about it, winter is just around the corner.  If you require snow clearing services from the RM, an agreement must be signed every year.  If you signed an agreement last year, a new form has already been mailed to you.  If not, print and return the form below, or stop in at the office to sign up and purchase a flag if necessary.

Driveways and properties will only be cleared once public roads have been cleared to the satisfaction of the Municipality.  This  may take several days after a large snowfall.  If snow removal is required earlier than this, the owner should retain the services of a private contractor.  Snow is cleared with large municipal road equipment.

Removal Agreement

Ministry of Agriculture Contacts

Posted onAuthorOffice-RM-GreatBend

The Ministry of Agriculture provides quality extension to farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness across the province. The ministry’s regional specialist team wanted to raise awareness of the services we provide and the programs available under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP) a five-year, $485-million investment by both the federal and provincial government. There are programs for:

  • Wells, dugouts, pipelines, including watering systems for agriculture use,
  • Water well decommissioning,
  • Livestock handling equipment that addresses animal health and biosecurity,
  • Irrigation development,
  • Seeding forages,
  • Fencing,
  • Relocation of livestock confinement facilities; and
  • Much more!

We invite you to check out more details about S-CAP programs for farmers and ranchers.. Additionally, we have created a series of online program videos that rate payers may find valuable. Each presentation highlights a specific S-CAP program. These short video presentations explain the programs intent, applicant eligibility, eligible activities and how to apply. We encourage you to view the presentations and share the link with rate payers via email, newsletters, your RM website, and social media.

Application deadlines for many of our rebate programs is March 31, 2028. Programs that require pre-approvals need to be submitted by December 31, 2027. We are eager to provide clients with program information and have the technical knowledge to assist clients in submitting funding applications.

In addition to our programs, our Ministry has a team of specialists in our North Battleford Regional office who support producers. They include:

  • Jenifer Heyden, PAg – Livestock Feed and Extension Specialist
  • Alison Fransoo, PAg – Agri-Environmental Specialist
  • Quin Cubbon, AAg – Crops Extension Specialist
  • Andre Bonneau, PAg – Range Management Extension Specialist
  • Trish Johnson, PAg – Agriculture Program Specialist

See attached a contact sheet for more detailed information on each of our regional specialists.

For more information on any of our programs or services, please contact our North Battleford Regional Office at 306-446-7964.

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