Province’s Natural Resources Conservation Board approves project despite opposition from concerned landowners group
Alberta’s Natural Resources Conservation Board has approved an off-stream reservoir despite concern from area residents. The Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir has been deemed in the public interest to provide flood protection for Calgary. According to an NRCB news release, the board considered the effects of the project during a thorough review process that included 11 days […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Harper rings the alarm bell
Former prime minister Stephen Harper says Canadian agriculture is well-positioned for the future, but farmers shouldn’t read too much into current high commodity prices. He said people have to understand that rising inflation is due to government monetary policy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and inflation is pushing up the price of everything. […] Read more
Animals can complicate domestic violence rescue
Women who need to leave dangerous situations are often forced to make hard decisions about what to do with their pets and livestock
Rural victims of intimate partner violence have few options when they try to leave their situations. Shelters may be hours away and they might not have the financial means to leave. But the situation can be even more complicated when livestock and pets are involved. Crystal Giesbrecht, research and communications co-ordinator for the Provincial Association […] Read moreOntario makes move on AgriStability funding
Ontario’s new agriculture minister, Lisa Thompson, has announced that province will increase the compensation rate for its share of AgriStability from 70 to 80 percent and said others should do the same. “Ontario farmers can’t wait any longer for improvements to the AgriStability program, so the Ontario government is taking action and also calling on […] Read more
Vaccination still urged as Sask. prepares to open up
Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe continues to urge residents aged 12 and over to be vaccinated for COVID-19, even as the province prepares to remove all public health restrictions July 11. Masks will no longer be mandatory and the restrictions on how many people can attend events will be lifted. However, with just 71 percent having […] Read more
Historical carbon offset hopes dim
The Saskatchewan environment ministry will hold another round of consultations on agricultural carbon offsets this fall, but the chances are slim that farmers who began sequestering carbon decades ago will be able to participate in a carbon market. Ministry spokesperson Delaney Boyd told recent Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities division meetings that the concept of […] Read more
Sask. broadband expansion pleases farmers
Crown corporation estimates 75 percent of the province will have access to fibre optic network when project completed
SaskTel’s announcement that it will invest $50 million to bring fibre optic broadband to 24 more communities is good news for rural Saskatchewan, says the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. A rural connectivity task force of APAS members earlier this year called for more spending particularly on fibre optics, which they described as the gold […] Read more
Intercrop no “home run” but has potential
While cutting costs and offering excellent margins in some cases study finds operational challenges too
The first formal study on mixed oat-pea intercropping suggests both advantages and disadvantages to growing the two together. Project lead Luke Struckman said the practice of intercropping has increased in the last 10 years but little research has been done beyond grower experience. This study, funded by General Mills and supported by in-kind contributions from […] Read more
Ag innovations recognized at Regina farm show
Canada’s Farm Show returned online last week after the 2020 pandemic forced its cancellation a year ago. Organizers said the show reached more than 68,000 views in more than 50 countries during the two-day event. Innovation is a cornerstone of the show, and five top innovations were recognized: In a Claas of its own? Claas […] Read more
Pandemic boosted beef consumption
Consumers were at home with more disposable income and willing to spend it on beef, even with the high retail prices
Beef consumption in Canada rose slightly last year and market analyst Anne Wasko says that’s encouraging as the industry works through strong supply. Canadians ate about 18 kilograms of beef per capita in 2020, an increase of .3 percent. Overall, beef demand was 5.5 percent higher than in 2019, she told the recent Saskatchewan Stock […] Read more
