Watershed officials in Saskatchewan want to put more than a lid on abandoned wells. South Saskatchewan River Watershed Stewards has launched an initiative that targets landowners in the rural municipalities of Kindersley, Chesterfield and Snipe Lake. The organization is co-ordinating an effort to identify wells in the region, help landowners access funding to cover the […] Read more
Stories by Dan Yates
CCA rodeo finals pull out of Agribition
The show will go on at Canadian Western Agribition, but the cowboys at centre stage will be different. The Canadian Cowboys Association announced recently that it will be moving its rodeo finals to Swift Current, Sask., in 2016, ending an 11-year run at the Regina livestock show. This year’s competition is still set for Regina, […] Read more
Produce exporters seek protection
Earlier this year, the Ontario Produce Marketing Association provided a summary of an industry proposal for a deemed trust. The notice, published online, highlighted three points:
The Canadian produce industry wants government to provide greater payment protection for fresh fruit and vegetable sales. The call comes after Canada lost preferential access to the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, which affects the way Canadian exporters pursue unpaid bills in the United States. As well, privileges were lost because of unharmonized bankruptcy rules. […] Read moreCheese makers seek help to reduce EU impact
Dairy farmers want programs to help them remain competitive when borders open to 17,000 additional tonnes of cheese
The Canadian dairy sector will be compensated for an increase in European cheese imports, says an official with the Dairy Farmers of Canada. However, details remain on the horizon. Calls for compensation began after a free trade agreement with the European Union was announced in 2013. When fully implemented, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and […] Read more
Latest BSE cow born on farm implicated in 2010 case
Officials confirmed Friday that the animal identified in a recent BSE case in Alberta shares a birth farm with an animal from a 2010 case. It’s the first time Canada has seen a repeat case involving the same birth farm. Earlier this month, a cow born in 2009 that died on a farm near Spruce […] Read more
CCA rodeo finals move out of Agribition schedule
The show will go on at Canadian Western Agribition, but the cowboys at centre stage will be different. The Canadian Cowboys Association announced recently that it will be moving its rodeo finals to Swift Current in 2016, ending an 11-year run at the Regina livestock show. This year’s competition is still set for Regina, where […] Read more
End-point royalties don’t dampen support for greater plant breeders’ rights
Most agricultural groups continue to support the federal government’s push for greater plant breeders’ rights, despite the spectre of end-point royalties. The bill, which will see the adoption of the UPOV 91 international standard, will give seed developers and plant breeders greater control over seed. The move has stirred a debate over farmers’ privilege and […] Read more
Changes to firearm rules expected to cut paperwork
Proposed legislation will eliminate the possession-only licence
Proposed changes to firearm regulations in Canada will reduce paperwork, not safety, says an official with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. Introduced to Parliament late this fall, the Conservative government’s Bill C-42 would eliminate the possession-only licence (POL) for firearm owners. The POL was available to firearm owners before 2001 and prohibits owners from acquiring more […] Read moreVaccine in works for swine dysentery
Identification of a new bacteria linked to the disease could pave the way for better control option
A Saskatchewan researcher who identified a new bacteria linked to swine dysentery is hopeful further work will lead to a vaccine for the disease. Swine dysentery and bloody diarrhea were discovered in the 1970s, but two cases in Saskatchewan in 2009 led to the discovery of Brachy-spira hampsonii, a “cousin” of the bacteria tied to […] Read more
Miller rides gluten-free wave
Avena Foods works with oat growers who follow a special system to help prevent wheat contamination
A specialty oat marketer in Regina is eager to add the words “gluten free” to its packaging. Avena Foods already markets its cereal, pancake, muffin and cookie mixes as “wheat free,” but proposed changes from Health Canada would allow the farmer-owned company to take advantage of the consumer buzz word. The move allows the company […] Read more
