The Manitoba government has created a new department to serve both agriculture and resource development.

The expanded department will focus on agriculture and natural resources, including watershed districts, GROW programming, forestry, mining, fish and wildlife management.

Midland MLA Blaine Pedersen is the new minister of the department.

"This is really for the agricultural community. It's about not just retaining wetlands but it's also promoting better use of water through our agricultural area. For too long we've just let water flow through and not make use of it. We've got lots of irrigation potential and the conservation point for water usage. So this really fits in well with the Agriculture Department," says Pedersen.

He spoke about the challenges facing farmers this fall.

"I'm very familiar with the situation of the harvest all across Manitoba. everyone's hoping for better weather so we can pull it off. There're feed shortages in the north for beef producers and quality issues for the grain that coming off across the ag region. The Agricultural Department is well in touch with the community and so we'll get regular updates. It's sort of a day by day and week by week progress here," says Pedersen.

Former Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler (MLA for Lakeside) is now minister of the new Department of Economic Development and Training.

Eichler served as Manitoba's Minister of Agriculture since May 3, 2016.