Saskatchewan has reinstated its grant program for short-line railways, although at a lesser amount. The recent budget allocated $530,000 for the province’s 13 short lines. That compares to $900,000 available in the program before it was cancelled in 2017. The short lines used the money, which was cost-shared, on maintenance and track infrastructure upgrades. “It’s […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Agribition plans to go live in the fall
Canadian Western Agribition plans to be back with a full, live event in Regina this fall, despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and posting a significant loss in 2020. Chief executive officer Chris Lane said during the show’s annual general meeting last week that work has begun for the 50th show. This will include […] Read more
Goodale new high commissioner to U.K.
Former Canadian agriculture minister Ralph Goodale is now the country’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom. Goodale left last weekend for his new position, which is equivalent to an ambassador in countries outside the British Commonwealth. He said in an interview that agriculture and trade will be key parts of his work. “That was one […] Read more
Viterra announces canola crushing plant for Regina
Viterra has confirmed it will build a canola crushing facility in Regina. The company announced the construction this morning, two weeks after buying land from the city. The plant will have capacity for 2.5 million tonnes, making it the world’s largest integrated crush facility, the company said. Viterra said crush demand is expected to continue […] Read more
Land squabble complicates canola expansion
Federated Co-operatives Ltd. says a recent decision by Regina City Council jeopardizes a planned investment in the city worth more than $2 billion that included a canola crush facility. Council recently voted 10-0 in favour of entering into an option to purchase agreement to sell 634 acres of land north of the existing Co-op Refinery […] Read more
Record farm cash receipts expected
Farm Credit Canada forecasts farm cash receipts will reach a record high this year, bolstered by strong prices for grains and oilseeds. Sebastien Pouliot, chief agricultural economist, said he was surprised when he ran the models and found such a rosy outlook. “For crops, I was expecting an increase but not all that strong,” he […] Read more
Sask. irrigation expansion still questioned
A consulting engineer says the province’s $4 billion plan to irrigate 500,000 acres from Lake Diefenbaker needs more scrutiny. Robert Halliday, who is also on the Saskatchewan Environmental Society executive, told the National Farmers Union Region 6 annual convention that there are public policy, economic and environmental questions that have to be answered before the […] Read more
Carbon tax refunded on natural gas, propane
Federal government commits in its budget to returning some of the money collected on those fuels; details expected later
The federal government says it recognizes farmers’ use of natural gas and propane and will return some of the carbon tax paid on those fuels. The April 19 budget, the first since 2019 and the first delivered by finance minister Chrystia Freeland, estimated farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario could receive $100 million in […] Read more
Exhibit honours pioneering editor
Today’s young women may not know who Violet McNaughton was but they are reaping the benefits of the farmer and journalist’s activism. McNaughton died in 1968 at age 88, after a lifetime of work to secure women’s place in society, including the right to vote. A video showcasing her life and work was produced by […] Read more
Carbon tax returned on natural gas, propane
The federal government says it recognizes farmers’ use of natural gas and propane and will return some of the carbon tax paid on those fuels. The April 19 budget, the first since 2019 and the first delivered by finance minister Chrystia Freeland, estimated farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario could receive $100 million in […] Read more
