Greenhouse gases Livestock production linked to a majority of methane emissions from agriculture
The best way for livestock producers to become greener is to become smaller, says the author of a report examining greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production. The Worldwatch Institute report links livestock production to the majority of methane emissions in agriculture. “It’s clear that basic livestock populations need to decline or stabilize,” report author Laura […] Read moreStories by Dan Yates
Group hopes to tout canaryseed health benefits
Gluten-free, high protein | Canaryseed commission seeks approval from Health Canada to call canaryseed a novel food
Consumers looking for an alternative to wheat and other traditional cereal grains might find it in canaryseed grown in Western Canada. An analysis conducted as part of the Saskatchewan Canaryseed Development Commission’s submission to have the crop approved for human consumption revealed that the seed is gluten free. Officials hope it will help them market […] Read moreSask. town plans towering oat stem
The oat structure commemorates the founding of the Prairie Oat Growers Association in Ituna, Sask.
A group working to erect a roadside attraction in Ituna feel a 10 metre tall steel oat stem is a fitting image for the east-central Saskatchewan town. “Our area is basically the largest oats growing part in Saskatchewan,” said Kris Spilchuk, an area resident who helped spearhead a committee to get approval for the structure […] Read moreNew equipment enables lab to speed feed, disease tests
Prairie Diagnostic Services can diagnose disease, test for herbicide, pesticide and drug residues
New equipment will allow a Sask-atoon laboratory to test for myco-toxins in animal feed. “We’re in constant contact with our veterinarian clients and through them to producers,” said Marilyn Jonas, chief executive officer of Prairie Diagnostic Service Inc. “That is testing that isn’t currently done in Western Canada to the extent that they would like […] Read moreStudent aims to make potty training cattle easy as pie
Treats and time outs | Researcher seeks to train cattle to urinate and defecate in a specific area to improve conditions in barns
Ali Vaughan says she was met with skepticism when she announced that she wanted to potty train cows. However, the University of Sask-atchewan PhD candidate said the early returns from her work are promising and could result in practical applications for dairy producers. “There was definitely a degree of skepticism because for whatever reason, people […] Read more
Volunteers key to aid efforts
Flood watch | Canadian Red Cross looks to bolster volunteer reserves through new initiative
With flooding incidents still in recent memory and a large spring thaw underway, officials with the Canadian Red Cross say they’re monitoring the situation closely. “So much of it is weather related, depending on how quickly the melt happens, depending on if we get any additional moisture in the next month or two,” Kim MacLean, […] Read moreOrganizers plan towering oat stem in Sask. town
A group working to erect a roadside attraction in Ituna feel a 10 metre tall steel oat stem is a fitting image for the east-central Saskatchewan town. “Our area is basically the largest oats growing part in Saskatchewan,” said Kris Spilchuk, an area resident who helped spearhead a committee to get approval for the structure […] Read more
Prairie Diagnostic Services expands services
New equipment will allow a Saskatoon laboratory to test for mycotoxins in animal feed. “We’re in constant contact with our veterinarian clients and through them to producers,” said Marilyn Jonas, chief executive officer of Prairie Diagnostic Service Inc. “That is testing that isn’t currently done in Western Canada to the extent that they would like […] Read more
New equipment to enhance toxic testing
Enhanced diagnostic testing services will help western Canadian livestock producers meet international regulatory standards. Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc., a non-profit corporation located at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine, has used $585,000 in federal funding to purchase equipment to test for toxins in animal feeds and expand other services. A media release […] Read more
Wild bees prove best pollinators
Managed honeybee colonies are commonly used to help pollinate crops, but wild insects do the job best, finds a new international study. Fifty authors are listed on the report, which encourages farmers to improve biodiversity near cropland to provide better habitat for the insects. “The absence of wild insects cannot be completely remedied by adding […] Read more
