Want to be a weather man or woman? There will be a little bit of work involved, but you could contribute to a better forecasting system and a better understanding of weather trends on the Prairies. The Western Producer’s parent company, Glacier Media, has recently acquired WeatherFarm, which in turn administers a weather reporting network […] Read more
Stories by Joanne Paulson
Public angry over conduct of senators
Paul Yanko, our web editor, poked his head around my office doorway one morning last week and, without preamble, asked this question. “What if I rented a car for $5,000, and then charged the company mileage for my trip? Do you think I’d get fired?” What if I approved that double expense? Would I get […] Read more
Man. farmers deserve gov’t support
When you count all the issues facing Manitoba farmers, you would never know they are part of an industry that contributes, directly and indirectly, 11 to 12 percent of GDP to their province. Manitoba is under significant economic pressure at present, but its government must try to more adequately support the very people who provide […] Read more
Newsroom welcomes new reporter
On May 1, managing editor Michael Raine did something I had never seen him do before. He danced a little jig in the doorway of my office, a grin splitting his face from ear to ear. Why was Michael so happy? The same reason I was — and am — although I was seated at […] Read more
Worst job ever? I respectfully beg to differ
A recent American list of the best and worst jobs rated my job (well, newspaper reporter) at the very bottom. Careercast.com says it’s the worst job of the past quarter century. I wish they hadn’t told me that. I rather like this job. Of course, that’s the view in the United States, where many papers […] Read more
Prairie budgets remarkably diverse
It has been interesting to see how differently the three prairie provinces have managed their most recent budgets. It’s fairly safe to say that the prairie economy has been the best in Canada, yet even here, the 2013 budgets were a challenge. Alberta’s government refused to instigate a sales tax despite facing an enormous shortfall, […] Read more
Farmers urged to improve ag information
Debbie Lee has been part of Aggie Days in Calgary long enough that she is seeing the children of children from the early days come through the doors. Aggie Days is 28 years old, so the notion of educating people about agriculture is not exactly new. The thousands of children who visit Aggie Days to […] Read more
Ottawa gets passing grade for ag efforts
Last week’s federal budget held little direct news for agriculture, considering that Growing Forward 2 has been agreed on and scheduled to start April 1. Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was still able connect the dots between ag and some wider budget initiatives when speaking to reporters March 22 after a speech to the Greater […] Read more
Snippets on the brighter side
Poor Sidney Crosby’s jaw-breaking accident last weekend reminded me of a COOL comment ag minister Gerry Ritz made recently after a speech in Saskatoon. I turned my tape recorder off before I caught it, which I’m now sorry about, but I will try to capture the gist. I asked him in a reporters’ scrum what […] Read more
It really is time for winterto stop snowing
You know what city folk say to each other when it just keeps snowing (or raining, for that matter) to cheer themselves up? “At least it’s good for the farmers.” I bet you’ve never heard that before. Well, it’s good unless your cows are calving, like they are right now. It’s good if there’s a […] Read more
