The writer of a front page story wrote that “the next few weeks will be critical for Alberta cattle producers, who desperately need rain,” while Alberta Agriculture forage specialist Mona Lee Kirkland said: “Guys are getting anxious. They need rain soon, and lots of it.” | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at May 31, 2001, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. Last year’s Alberta drought coverage contained many comparisons to the devastation of 2001. In the May 31, 2001, issue, we get to see the beginnings of that catastrophe. […] Read more

In the May 20, 1999, issue of the WP the paper debuted its second annual feature that followed three farm families throughout the growing season from seeding to harvest. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at May 20, 1999, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. The Canadian Wheat Board became a major story 10 years ago when Stephen Harper’s Conservative government dismantled its marketing monopoly, but the growing tension was already becoming visible […] Read more

Stories about the Canadian Wheat Board were prominent in the May 5, 1997 issue. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at May, 15, 1997 issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. The May 15, 1997, issue had a lot of coverage about Manitoba’s Flood of the Century, which was inflicting massive damage in the province. However, stories about the […] Read more


Mike Raine could be found at farm shows across Canada, as well as the United States and even Germany.  |  File photo

Former editor retires after 32 years working to inform readers

We recently learned our long-time colleague Mike Raine is retiring after more than 30 years here at the Western Producer. It seems only fitting that we take a few words to acknowledge his contributions in the many roles, both official and unofficial, he filled around the office over the past three decades. Mike joined the […] Read more

Accusations of sabotage were levelled in the May 11,1995, issue as Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Jack Wilkinson accused the provinces of trying to undermine a farm safety net agreement that had been reached in principle in December. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at May 11, 1995, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. Accusations of sabotage were levelled in the May 11,1995, issue as Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Jack Wilkinson accused the provinces of trying to undermine a farm safety […] Read more


The fight over the wheat board’s marketing monopoly was beginning to stir into life in the early 1990s. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at the May 6, 1993, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. Weather is a big part of our coverage at The Western Producer, and it’s not just about how Mother Nature can affect agricultural production. Sometimes we also talk […] Read more

Back issues of The Western Producer are collected in big books called bound volumes, and until recently were stored at the newspaper’s office in Saskatoon. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at the April 23, 1992, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. Astute readers of this column may be wondering about the date of The Western Producer issue I’m writing about this week — April 23, 1992. If you remember […] Read more

The April 20, 1989, issue reminded me of a drive I took last fall with my father through the countryside surrounding Estevan, Sask., including along the reservoir, west of the city, that was created by the Rafferty Dam. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at the April 20, 1989, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. The April 20, 1989, issue reminded me of a drive I took last fall with my father through the countryside surrounding Estevan, Sask., including along the reservoir, west […] Read more


I started working at the Producer in November of 1986 as a layout editor, and I was curious to see if I might recognize some of the pages I had designed. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at the April 9, 1987, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. I was looking forward to reaching the April 9, 1987, issue because it was the first paper that I would write about for this column in that I […] Read more

In April, 1985, the United States sent shock waves through the Canadian hog industry when it imposed a temporary countervailing duty on hogs and pork imports from this country. | Bruce Dyck photo

Look back at April 4, 1985, issue

For the next year, this column will mark The Western Producer’s 100th anniversary by taking a deep dive every week into a past issue of the paper. The April 4, 1985, issue had an interesting story that shows how far we’ve come technologically. The article described an information week run by Saskatchewan Agriculture and the […] Read more