Saskatchewan producers will have to wait a few more weeks for details of Growing Forward 2 programs available to them over the next five years. The provincial budget announced today allocated about $71 million in spending for non-business risk management programs under GF2, an increase of $25 million over last year. Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Long winter continues to cause problems for farmers
Saskatchewan residents don’t need official data to tell them the winter of 2012-13 has been one of the snowiest ever. They have been shoveling, plowing and blowing snow since it arrived early last fall. Sheldon Kyle, of Kenray Ranch near Redvers, said calving season has been interesting to say the least, as one storm after […] Read more
Campaign continues to ship hay to Eastern Canada
Drought relief | Program has helped hundreds of livestock producers
Hay from Western Canada will continue to move east under the HayEast 2012 initiative even though government transportation assistance has expired. Aj Thakker of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan said the campaign will continue with money from private donations. “They’re going to need hay in Ontario until June,” he said. Drought in Ontario and […] Read moreSask. NDP elects new leader
Saskatchewan’s new NDP leader has called for party unity after a narrow 44 vote win at last weekend’s leadership convention. Saskatoon MLA Cam Broten edged out Saskatoon doctor Ryan Meili on the second ballot to become the youngest NDP leader in the province’s history. Meili, who finished second to former leader Dwain Lingenfelter in 2009, […] Read more
Sask. irrigation, grazing fees to rise
Certification, lease rates rise | Gov’t says it must play catchup after holding the line on changes
Saskatchewan farmers will pay more this year to certify irrigation land, rent crown cultivated land and graze cattle in provincial pastures. Increases to these fees were announced last week and will bring in an additional $6.3 million in the upcoming fiscal year. The provincial budget March 20 will set out government spending. The fee to […] Read moreRegina bull sale organizers pledge to rejuvenate event
Bull sales declining Despite dwindling interest, officials contend 108-year-old event can remain relevant with the proper changes
Changes are coming to the Regina Bull Sale as organizers contend with declining entries and exhibitors, said chair Scott Fettes. At a meeting within the next month, the committee plans to look at what it can do to revive the event. Fettes declined to elaborate. The 108th sale held March 10 saw far fewer bulls […] Read more
Sask. sounds flood alert
‘Don’t want to alarm anybody’ | Above average runoff conditions are expected for the agricultural area and very high runoff in pockets
Saskatchewan water officials are predicting high potential for flooding this spring and urge residents to prepare. However, they say the flooding potential is less than it was in the record flood of 2011, when late spring rain overwhelmed already saturated soil and devastated parts of southeastern Saskatchewan. “We don’t want to alarm anybody at this […] Read moreFCC employees raise money for United Way
Farm Credit Canada employees have raised more than $400,000 for United Way, the corporation announced today. The campaign ran from Feb. 12-26 and saw employees raise money through voluntary payroll donations, one-time donations and fundraising. The corporation matched each dollar raised by the employees. Chief executive office Greg Stewart said the total this year is […] Read more
Sask. to hold line on education property tax
Saskatchewan will hold the line on education property tax this year. However, some property owners will still see education taxes go up while others will see theirs decline. Premier Brad Wall today announced at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities conference that significant property tax increases for everyone would result if the government didn’t reduce […] Read more
Most 2010, 2011 flood claims paid out: province
The Saskatchewan government says it has paid out most of the flood claims from 2010 and 2011. In today’s question period, the NDP opposition asked why it was taking so long to pay claims from those floods, considering that another flood could be on the way this spring. Environment minister Ken Cheveldayoff said the government […] Read more
