Farmers through parts of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba are looking for more rain after weeks of windy, dry conditions have depleted soil moisture. Even after a system moved through last weekend the rainfall wasn’t enough to move some regions out of moderate drought conditions. Agroclimate specialist at Agriculture Canada Trevor Hadwen said the area of […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Farmers reject AgriInvest averages data
The average balance in a Canadian AgriInvest account, excluding those in Quebec, is $28,124, according to figures from the federal government. That, farm organizations say, is why asking farmers to draw those accounts down might not have the intended effect. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and others have asked for help for the sectors impacted […] Read more
Sask. plans Phase 4 of COVID re-opening
Saskatchewan will announce its Phase 4 re-opening date next week. Phase 3 of re-opening after COVID-19 restrictions began June 8 and chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab has always said he prefers two to three weeks between phases. Phase 4 will be done in parts, with the first including child and youth day camps, […] Read more
More help to cover insurance premiums not expected
Alberta cattle producers want provincial help for higher price insurance premium costs, but it seems that may not be coming. After COVID-19 struck markets, premiums to insure animals through the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program soared. Saskatchewan announced a couple of weeks ago it would spend $5 million to help offset some of those higher […] Read more
Sask. schools to re-open in fall for K-12 students
Saskatchewan students will return to kindergarten through Grade 12 classrooms this fall, the government announced today. Classes should begin as early as Sept. 1 in some school divisions. Deputy premier and education minister Gordon Wyant announced the decision, saying it was a significant milestone for the province and an important step for families to get […] Read more
Rite Way looks to buy Morris Industries
Rite Way is poised to buy the assets of Morris Industries, according to court documents filed May 26. The sixth report of the monitor, Alvarez and Marsal, said that no acceptable offers had been received as of its previous report, dated May 6. However, the monitor explored options, including further discussion with bidders who had […] Read more
Man. pastures in rough shape
Manitoba cattle producers in the northwest and Interlake regions face another year of poor pastures, and that could force some tough decisions. Two years of drought have resulted in overgrazed pastures, said Pamela Iwanchysko, livestock production extension specialist in Dauphin, Man. The cold spring and spotty rain are not helping growth this year, she added. […] Read more
Company explores sow processing in Moose Jaw
British Columbia pork processor Donald’s Fine Foods is considering a cull sow plant in Moose Jaw, Sask. The company, which already owns Thunder Creek Pork in Moose Jaw, bought the former XL Beef plant from JBS and has undertaken a feasibility study, said Neil Ketilson, industry relations manager with Donald’s Fine Foods. “Right now, we’ve […] Read more
Sask. makes it easier to visit health-care patients
Saskatchewan Health Authority has expanded the criteria that allow visitors to patients for compassionate reasons. Visitors aren’t permitted at any SHA facility during COVID-19, except for compassionate reasons. A Family Presence Expert Panel worked with SHA and public health specialists on ways people in compassionate care could receive necessary care and visits from family members. […] Read more
Helium plant planned for Sask.
North American Helium has raised $39 million to build a helium purification plant in southwestern Saskatchewan. The plant will be located in the Calgary-based company’s Battle Creek field near Consul. The Battle Creek is a Milk River tributary that flows from Alberta into Saskatchewan through Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and near Fort Walsh. Cypress Hills […] Read more
