Courtney Tower

Seven Saskatchewan railway crossings will be upgraded at a cost of nearly $1.3 million. Federal cabinet minister Ralph Goodale announced funding for the projects last week. Ottawa will contribute 80 percent of the cost, or almost $1.03 million, and the municipalities and railways will pay the rest. The improvements include two crossings in Moose Jaw. […] Read more

OTTAWA – A few loopholes appear to be emerging to bring compromise to the pungent debate over raw-milk cheeses. Dairy farmers and the federal government were ready last week to find alternatives to a controversial proposed ban on the sale or import of cheeses made from unpasteurized milk. These raw-milk cheeses range from the soft, […] Read more

OTTAWA – For higher yield in the forage field, scientists see a practical future in bacteria found on little plants struggling to grow above the permafrost in the high Arctic. Years of research and testing have determined that two forage legume plants, sainfoin and cicer milkvetch, grow more plentifully in Canada’s cold climate when treated […] Read more

SASKATOON (Staff) – Two out of six incumbents running in Saskat- chewan Wheat Pool’s recent delegate elections have been defeated by newcomers. In District 8, sub-district 6, incumbent Curtis Savenkoff of Pelly, delegate for the past two years, lost to Kyle Korneychuk, also of Pelly. In District 16, sub-district 8, Chester Olson of Meadow Lake […] Read more

WINNIPEG (Staff) – A spokesperson for a major rail workers union says it would be very difficult to declare grain handling and transportation an essential service. Don Tennant, an official in the United Transportation Union, was responding to questions from the Western Grain Marketing Panel, which met here last week. He said it would be […] Read more

WINNIPEG (Staff) – Canadian companies that buy wheat and barley want a panel looking at the future of the Canadian Wheat Board to keep one thing in mind when making its recommendations: The customer is always right. “To proceed to redefine Canada’s grain marketing system on any other basis than what customers demand and perceive […] Read more

SASKATOON (Staff) – Saskatchewan’s dental health educators say they have proof that children’s teeth are getting worse, yet the statistics are not available. The Saskatchewan government employs 24 people around the province as dental health educators. After the last two years of monitoring teeth, the dental educators say they have numbers that show declining dental […] Read more

SASKATOON (Staff) – Cattle can’t skate and swimming isn’t an option at -40 C. Tom Olenyshyn, of Mayfair, Sask., recently found 42 of his 100 head of cattle wallowing in three metres of water on his farm. None survived. “There’s not usually much water in that spot by wintertime. I had no idea it was […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. (Staff) – The oil and gas industry is monitored for safety, but it still presents hazards to the cattle industry, said a draft report for the Alberta Cattle Commission. “Sour gas poisoning has occurred in cattle,” said an executive summary of the report, prepared for the commission by scientists at the Alberta Environmental […] Read more