Provincial bureaucrats who administer Saskatchewan’s labour legislation say they are developing a clearer understanding of what is and isn’t farm work in modern agriculture. A clause in the province’s Labour Standards Act, which sets the minimum standards of employment, exempts those “employed primarily in farming, ranching or market gardening.” The provision is intended to reflect […] Read more
Stories by Dan Yates
Alta. college to offer brew master course
Olds College is looking for applicants to its new brew master program, as long as they’re 19. The two-year diploma program has received a steady stream of inquiries from industry and prospective students since the Olds, Alta., college announced the program earlier this year, said program co-ordinator Peter Johnston-Berresford. The school started accepting applications last […] Read more
Breeders work to develop camelina cultivars for Prairies
Researchers working to improve the performance of camelina see room for the oilseed in North American crop rotations. The crop’s potential has been touted for several years, but food, nutraceutical and biofuel markets, along with the corresponding acres, have been slow to materialize. Fledgling buyers and processors, regulatory hang-ups and growing competition from carinata seed […] Read more
Sask. candidate draws short straw in tie-breaker
Name drawn from hat | Unconventional decision part of municipal elections held in Saskatchewan
Two candidates running for a council seat in the Rural Municipality of Swift Current saw their campaigns end with an act of random chance. When the final votes were tallied in the Oct. 24 municipal elections in Saskatchewan, Chad Salter and Chad Tait, running in Division 5, were tied with 54 votes each. Election regulations […] Read moreE. coli vaccine available, but few are using it in herds
Few incentives Cattle can carry virus without becoming ill, so cattle producers reluctant to vaccinate
A cattle vaccine exists that protects against the strain of E. coli that resulted in the XL Foods beef recall, but its use remains low. The vaccine, which has been commercially available since 2008, can’t guarantee that E. coli outbreaks won’t occur, says a vaccine research expert, but it can significantly decrease the likelihood. “The […] Read more
Sometimes growth means thinking small
Unusual focus | Farm raises miniature and exotic animals and birds
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — When Glenda Allan says the ranching side of her southwestern Saskatchewan family farm has become smaller, she means it in the most literal sense. The herd isn’t large — eight animals in total — but at a metre tall, Allan said the miniature Zebu cattle she imported from the United States […] Read moreEarly diagnosis, referrals keys to arthritis treatment
Early detection urged | Centralized services disadvantage rural patients
New information has changed the way arthritis patients are diagnosed and treated, placing greater emphasis on early detection. And while an interdisciplinary team — doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and dietitians — can work with patients to develop a personal management strategy, those suffering from the disease can’t benefit from that knowledge if they don’t get the […] Read moreGrowers face several dilemmas when dealing with fusarium
Evidence of the widening spread of fusarium head blight acrossSaskatchewan this year adds to a growing chorus emphasizing the importance of variety choice in keeping the disease at bay. However, industry officials warn there is no perfect solution for growers. “You’re going to deal with whatever is the biggest issue in your region,” said Pierre […] Read more
Luck has everything to do with RM election race in Sask.
Two candidates running for a council seat in the Rural Municipality of Swift Current saw their campaigns end with an act of random chance. When the final votes were tallied in Wednesday’s election, Chad Salter and Chad Tait, running in Division 5, were tied with 54 votes each. Election regulations in the province dictate that […] Read more
Sask. RM election win pulled out of a hat last night
Two candidates running for a council seat in the Rural Municipality of Swift Current saw their campaigns end with an act of random chance. When the final votes were tallied in yesterday’s municipal elections in Saskatchewan, Chad Salter and Chad Tait, running in Division 5, were tied with 54 votes each. Election regulations in the […] Read more
