Diane Rogers

Weapons are rare during acts of physical violence, say youths who were surveyed from two rural communities in Alberta. In the first phase of a study led by Judith Kulig of the University of Lethbridge, youths said if a weapon was seen, it was usually a bat or wooden post used for intimidation. These were […] Read more

Farmers and their families have a lot of control over their exposure to chemicals, concludes a scientist who has just finished a study of how pesticides are applied in the real world. John Acquavella, who works for Monsanto, one of six agribusiness firms funding the study, said it is “the most comprehensive assessment of farm […] Read more

Some students are reluctant to return to school, but Katie Housek probably has set a record for foot-dragging scholars. She took 11 days to get back to her studies at Olds College in September. She and her sister, Becky, took the unusual route of travelling by horse from their parents’ farm near Beechy, Sask., to […] Read more

MAPLE CREEK, Sask. – Everything in sight is sharp and polished. Knives wink in the light as one walks by, pots sparkle and appliances gleam at the Country Lane Kitchens retail store in the southwestern Saskatchewan town of Maple Creek. The family-owned store managed by Marcie Drever focuses on the customer. When Drever talks service, […] Read more

The West came up with winners in Canada’s plant beautification contest. More than 100 towns, villages and cities were entered in this year’s Communities in Bloom awards. Judging took place this summer and at the awards ceremony Sept. 27, several small western communities won. Mundare, Alta., won for the village with up to 1,000 people; […] Read more

The gaps in rural women’s health care are not just in the services, but also in policy makers’ awareness of what farm families want and need. That’s why the federal government’s status of women department is paying $70,000 to researchers to find out more from women in rural and remote areas. The isolation of those […] Read more

The farm women’s movement that was born two decades ago appears to have run out of steam. Funding cuts by federal and provincial governments, low memberships as women take jobs to keep their farms afloat, and a tired leadership appear to be the reasons. Carolyn VanDine, president of the Canadian Farm Women’s Network, said from […] Read more

By turning pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, some creative persons will win in two writing contests offered this fall. Grade 12 students in Saskatchewan can enter an essay writing contest that will provide a $1,000 scholarship next year. Now in its eighth year, the contest is sponsored by the Institute of Agricultural Rural […] Read more

LISIEUX, Sask. – June is no longer a month of drudgery on Debbie and Ian Miller’s farm since they went organic in 1990. “We’re having fun now. We always hated June,” said Debbie, who said they stopped spraying their crops for two reasons – health and finances. Her father-in-law was dying of cancer then. The […] Read more

ROCKGLEN, Sask. – Ralph Karst pauses. The man who was named Saskatchewan baseball coach and manager of the year in 1993 is trying to recall if he has a baseball glove, bat or ball in the house. But no, they are all locked out in the garage on his farm southeast of Rockglen, Sask. But […] Read more