HANOVER — Kevin Hursh, recently at Germany’s AGRITECHNICA – the largest farm show in the world – represented interests of the Saskatchewan province, as executive director of both the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan and the Inland Terminal Assoc. of Canada.

He is also a respected agricultural journalist and talked about his land, which many Americans may know only by the old Sonny James song, “A Little Bit South of Saskatoon.”

“STEP, the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, helped bring me here,” Hursh said. “Located in western Canada, we are the largest oilseed crop (canola) producer, as well as the largest Canadian producer of durum, wheat that is used for pasta.

“We are the largest exporter of durum. We are also an exporter of lentils and field peas, along with canary seed for birds, and we are the world’s biggest exporter of brown mustard.”

According to the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan, this province has become the world’s leading producer and exporter of canary seed, with production almost exclusively for feed mixtures for caged and wild birds. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada estimates the value of Canadian exports at more than $134 million in 2008 and nearly $90 million in 2009.

The commission is working to get canary seed approved for human food uses. Some consumption is occurring in the health food market, especially in countries with a Hispanic population, it stated.

“My belief is (Midwest farmers) have done well with corn and soybeans, but without as much heat and subsidy, we had to look elsewhere,” Hursh explained.

Durum, of course, is a well-known product in the United States as well as north of the Canadian border. According to the Wheat Foods Council, durum production is concentrated here in North Dakota and the surrounding area because of the specific agronomic environment it and Saskatchewan share.

Hursh observed many European future farmers have the chance to travel abroad and learn about agronomics from other farmers, and experience the global view and hands-on training. “Canada and the U.S. both fall down (training our youth) because the European youth are better trained, and we should give our youth more opportunities,” he said.

Opportunities for young farmers in Saskatchewan have been improving lately: “There has been an attitude change the last several years. Profitability has got more youth coming back.”

Big news for those interested in expanding in agriculture in his area is that, according to Hursh, “Saskatchewan land is cheap. In North America, a lot of investors are purchasing land in the country. You have to live in Canada to purchase it, but land is still a good buy; you can purchase farmland for around $1,000 an acre. The highest price I’ve seen is $2,000.

“Saskatchewan has 43 percent of the arable land (of Canada), but only one million people. There is not as much industry or population, but it is a fair cost to transport grain and yields are higher in the Midwest.”

When it comes to the livestock industry, Saskatchewan is the second largest province producing beef. “We have a large beef cow herd. Alberta is first and we are second in the beef-cow and large cow-calf sectors,” he said.

For those who may want to see just what this area has to offer, plan on attending the Western Canada Farm Progress Show, June 20-22, 2012, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Log on to www.myfarmshow.com for more information. For questions to Hursh, his email address is Kevin@hursh.ca