The rural lifestyle is important for the young couple, who farm 2,590 acres and custom graze 100 cow/calf pairs
Allison Squires was born in Newfoundland and Labrador and grew up in southern Ontario, but she is now a partner in a thriving farm in southern Saskatchewan. She and her husband, Cody Straza, who were one of the finalists for this year’s Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers program, operate Upland Organics Ltd. near Wood Mountain. “Being […] Read moreStories by Calvin Daniels
Pay farmers now or pay through tax later
There has been a discussion going on for a few years about whether society should be paying farmers to maintain natural habitats, such as bluffs of trees, pothole ponds and slough wetlands. There are those who see merit in such payments, but governments, which hold the purse strings on proposals like these, have never em-braced […] Read more
Horses help teamsters break ground and seed
Old-fashioned farming | Group would like to pass on knowledge and skills to a new generation
RAMA, Sask. — Horsepower was on display at a recent demonstration of heritage spring seeding techniques. Teamsters from northeastern Sask-atchewan gathered near Rama to hitch their big horses to vintage plows, cultivators, discs, harrows and seed drills to plant a few acres of crop as spectators gathered to watch. For those holding the reins, it […] Read moreShortage of qualified workers has ag pilot courses taking off
YORKTON, Sask. — A new education option is now available for those wanting to become agriculture pilots. Miccar Aerial Ltd. in Yorkton just completed its first run through a new training program. “We started an ag pilot course for people wanting to get into ag aviation,” said company head Michael Yaholnitsky. “We saw a need […] Read more
Robot designers hope to claim international prize
Globe hopping | After topping competitors in Brazil, Yorkton, Sask., students plan trip to Germany to bring home gold medal
YORKTON, Sask. — A high school robotics team from Yorkton Regional High School is taking its talents to the world stage. Having topped the Skills Canada competition in robotics for Saskatchewan in 2011, the Yorkton Regional High School team moved on to win the national titles, and that earned them a trip to the biannual […] Read moreSask. farmer raised world champion Clydesdale
YORKTON, Sask. — The world’s best Clydesdale was born on a farm near Canora, Sask. Donegal Dr. Pepper was named supreme champion at the World Clydesdale Show in Madison, Wisconsin, in late October. It was only the second world show held, the first being in 2007. The six-year-old stallion was raised by Greg Gallagher of […] Read more
Author to document draft horses’ importance on farms, in cities
YORKTON, Sask. – The draft horse played an integral role in prairie his-t ory, and Merlin Ford hopes to chronicle that role in a new book. “It’s an interest I’ve had for quite a while,” said Ford, who lives near Kuroki, Sask. Ford’s family bought its first draft horses when he was 14, and he […] Read more
Sask. rabbit grower hops many hurdles
SALTCOATS, Sask. – Joy Popowich might be the poster girl for perseverance in agriculture. Rabbits were once touted as a meat animal with big opportunities for Saskatchewan producers. However, Popowich is now the province’s only major producer with 80 does in her barn near Saltcoats. Finding a meat processor was a challenge when she started […] Read more
Bad year brings good prices for oat growers: analyst
YORKTON, Sask. – Farmers should have a chance to sell this year’s oat crop, and next year’s as well, at good prices. That was the message Randy Strychar of Ag Commodity Research gave those attending the Prairie Oat Growers Association Conference in Yorkton Dec. 2. “There’s lot of good news coming down the road for […] Read more
Genetic mapping key to halting oats decline
YORKTON, Sask. – Research scientists are working together to map oat’s genetic code. But owing to the complex genome of the plant, Eric Jackson, a scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture, told those attending the Prairie Oat Growers Association Conference in Yorkton on Dec. 2 that the process will take time. “The oat […] Read more
