Saskatchewan farmers have begun taking weather watching into their own hands, with the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan launched this week.

Aj Thakker with APAS says it's becoming harder and harder to count on the city-centric weather updates provided by Environment Canada.

"Rural Saskatchewan has a bigger and bigger need for this information, especially when you look at the flooding in southeastern Saskatchewan last year," said Thakker.

Their remedy is setting up a network with weather stations in all 70 rural municipalities.

The federal government plans to appeal the Federal Court's ruling that it broke the law by introducing Bill C-18 a legislation to end the Canadian Wheat Board and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is not backing down.

Ritz spoke on John Gormley Live Thursday morning saying he hopes to have the appeal in place within the next few days.

He says presently the Senate is holding hearings on the bill and while it has been a divisive issue the best way to clean it up is to give every farmer in western Canada choice.

At least one Prairie farmer is disappointed with Wednesday’s court statement that found Canada’s agriculture minister broke the law when it came to the bill set to end Canadian Wheat Board monopoly.
 
“I think it’s more a formality than anything and just a delaying tactic. I don’t think it’s going to change the end result,” said Kerry Peterson, who farms in the Shellbrook-Canwood area.

Supporters of the Canadian Wheat Board are celebrating, as the Federal Court ruled that agricultural minister Gerry Ritz breached the Canadian Wheat Board Act by not holding a farmer plebiscite before ending the board's marketing monopoly.

Ritz said the government has already decided to appeal the ruling however, adding that the legal setback won't stop the government from getting the bill through the Senate.

"Nothing has changed, we fundamentally disagree with this declaration as do farmers in western Canada," he said.

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is in federal court in Winnipeg today.

The CWB is applying for a judicial review of the government's decision to scrap its monopoly on western wheat and barley.

The marketing agency claims federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz breached his statutory duty by not holding a farmer's vote before introducing legislation to scrap the CWB's monopoly.

A big vote will take place in the House of Commons on Monday when MP's are expected to pass third and final reading on Bill C-18 – the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act.

It will remove the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly on wheat and barley sales.

“This vote is between stifling the western economy or creating new jobs and economic opportunities,” explained federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This vote is a fundamental choice on whether government should continue to shackle farmers or free farmers.”

While Vancouver is in the spotlight this weekend for Grey Cup, Regina will have its turn in 2013.

Of course, if it were this year, Agribition would have been presented with quite the challenge being at the same time

With that in mind, CEO and General Manager Marty Seymour said the event will be held earlier in 2 years, when the Grey Cup comes to Regina.

The almost week-long Canadian Western Agribition wraps up in Regina Saturday.

The final day culminates in the CCA Finals Rodeo on Saturday night. Those wanting to attend the final day of the rodeo are encouraged to get their tickets early as Friday event was a sell-out.

Performing to that sold-out crowd was Matt Switzer who set an arena record (7.2 seconds) in the tie down roping event.

He says it means a lot to do it at Agribition.

Canadian Western Agribition organizers suggested early on that crowds are bigger this year than normal and parking at the event is proof.

On Friday afternoon, Agribition organizers are saying the parking lots at the Brandt Centre are full.

Visitors are encouraged to take transit if they are planning on taking in the festivities.

That's this year and a new commitment by the federal government could mean organizers work out a contingency plan for next.