A Saskatchewan farmer recently charged under the Animal Protection Act is appealing the seizure of his cattle and the constitutionality of parts of the act. Andrew Mandziak of Hubbard was charged after 135 head were seized from his farm in late June. He is to appear in Melville court in October on those charges. But […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Pasture transfer finalized
The federal and Saskatchewan governments have finally agreed to a land swap that completes the divestiture of former federal pastures that Ottawa began in 2013. Environment Canada has acquired Govenlock, Nashlyn and Battle Creek pastures in southwestern Saskatchewan and the province gets federal lands and improvements on 55 other former federal pastures that are now […] Read more
Ontario MP appointed Conservative ag critic
Lianne Rood played a role in writing federal legislation that ended the Canadian Wheat Board’s marketing monopoly
The Conservative party’s new agriculture critic is not new to agriculture. Lianne Rood, who represents Lambton-Kent-Middlesex in Ontario, grew up on a potato farm, lived for a time in Saskatchewan, and was involved in drafting the details of the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act. “I do still have some potatoes,” she said last week […] Read more
Animal seizures decline in Sask.; investigations up
The agency seized 268 animals last year — 43 percent were classified as founded, 21 percent unfounded and 34 percent inconclusive
The number of cases investigated by Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan increased during the last fiscal year, but the number of seizures was down. According to the organization’s annual report for April 2019 to March 2020, there were 34 more cases, for a total of 731 and the largest number of files since the agency […] Read more
Dry harvest raises risks
Gracie LeBlanc’s first season in her own combine could be considered baptism by fire. On Sept. 2, the 13-year-old was harvesting canola on the family farm near Estevan, Sask., when one of the others in the field noticed little fires smouldering. Her dad, Jason, said it was obvious one of the combines was dropping something […] Read more
Farmers urged to know machinery travel regulations
During this busy harvest season farmers must be aware of where and when they can drive their equipment when changing fields. Recently, RCMP ticketed a Saskatchewan farmer for not having a permit when crossing a designated highway at night in a combine. While farmers might take the chance that they won’t be caught, highways spokespersons […] Read more
General Mills says consumers drive regenerative ag focus
Large corporations are focusing on regenerative agriculture because consumers think they should, according to Jay Watson from General Mills. He told the Soil Health Institute virtual conference in late July that research from the Washington-based Hartman Group has shown this to be the case. Consumers were asked who bears responsibility for making the world more […] Read more
Protein cluster funds precision spraying work
Protein Industries Canada will also fund research into artificial intelligence and data trusts to improve plant breeding
Protein Industries Canada has made two more investments as it works toward increasing innovation in the plant protein sector. The first is a $12.8 million investment into the use of artificial intelligence to detect weeds and crop pests when passing over a field. Led by Precision.ai., Sure Growth Solutions Inc., Exceed Grain Marketing and the […] Read more
Conservatives appoint new ag critic
Federal Conservative leader Erin O’Toole has named Ontario MP Lianne Rood as agriculture critic. She represents Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and replaces John Barlow from Alberta. Rood has a varied background that includes politics and small business as well as farming. She grew up on a 1,000-acre vegetable farm, obtained a degree in criminology and sociology, and worked […] Read more
Community pasture land swap finalized
The federal and Saskatchewan governments have finally completed a land swap that started when Ottawa unloaded its former Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration pastures. Environment Canada will acquire Govenlock, Nashlyn and Battle Creek pastures in southwestern Saskatchewan in exchange for federal land and improvements on 55 former pastures. The deal involves land such as former pasture […] Read more
