Diane Rogers

Mike Noel says he’s following a biblical tradition by growing the world’s oldest fruit. His favourite apple in his orchard of 2,000 trees has no name. The apple tastes like the Gala variety but is hardy to the Prairies. It has a number, 18-10-32, that its developers at the University of Saskatchewan gave it. Next […] Read more

Good 4-H club leaders provide guidance and encouragement while letting children make their own decisions, says the 2006 national winner. Lori Sereda of Bow Island, Alta., was named national volunteer leader of the year by the Canadian 4-H Council and The Co-operators insurance group. Sereda said club activities such as livestock care, judging, public speaking […] Read more

Shawn Hansen likes to be sold out of his cabbage crop by Christmas. The market garden he runs at Craven, Sask., is the province’s single biggest source of fresh cabbage. Hansen direct seeds 60 acres of cabbages, producing 1,500 tonnes. He uses different varieties to time the crop for steady delivery. Harvest starts in late […] Read more

It was a difficult year for prairie cabbage growers. An unprecedented number of white cabbage butterflies were around last summer and they laid a lot of eggs. The larvae then hatched and munched on the leaves of the cabbage plants. Growers had to spray more than usual for them, said Doug Waterer, vegetable crops specialist […] Read more

The Simpkins Market Garden on the South Saskatchewan River just north of Saskatoon is now working with its fourth generation of the family. George and Audrey Simpkins, the third generation on this farm, work with their two sons and daughter. “We’ve shrunk it quite a bit from my parents’ time,” said George Simpkins of the […] Read more

Rural women who attended a recent policy forum are pondering whether to set up a provincial organization of their own. Members of the Rural Women’s Issues Committee of Saskatchewan raised the idea at a Nov. 24-26 meeting in Muenster, Sask. “We’re kicking that around right now,” said committee member Diane Martz of the University of […] Read more

After a week of tours and public speaking in Saskatoon, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2006 were chosen Dec. 1. Two couples from the seven regional winners tied for the top spot. Co-winners were Christoph and Erika Weder of Alberta and Donald and Joanne Russell of Ontario. The Weders run Spiritview Ranch, a 2,400 acre […] Read more

It’s not many 13 year olds who can claim to be world champions. But for Taylor Bland, it’s a reality. At the end of October, she won the world championship show jumping event for ages 12 to 14 years in the Federation of Equestrian International. The Grade 8 honour roll student from Calgary first climbed […] Read more

WINNIPEG – How Manitoba farms can clean up the province’s water quality problem is an issue with more questions than answers, says a soil expert. More prairie-based research is needed to test agricultural practices that have helped remove phosphorus in the United States, University of Manitoba professor Don Flaten said during the Manitoba Farm Women’s […] Read more

WINNIPEG – Fast food could save the prairie farmer. One in five meals in Canada eaten outside the house is ordered from the car. It only takes three weeks for McDonalds to serve one billion customers. It would pay off for farmers if they could supply something more to these restaurant chains, Manitoba Agriculture employee […] Read more