Saskatchewan will appoint its own chief firearms officer as it moves to exert more provincial autonomy, Premier Scott Moe said last week. He announced the decision at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities annual convention, saying a provincial appointee would better understand how potential new federal gun control would affect the province’s gun owners. “We […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Less money for ag as Sask. releases spending estimates
Citing the unprecedented events sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saskatchewan government released only a partial budget March 18. Spending estimates totaling $14.15 billion were announced but revenue forecasts won’t come until a later date, said finance minister Donna Harpauer. The province has access to $1.3 billion in cash if it needs it, she said, […] Read more
Prairie farm groups vow to fight PMRA strychnine ban
Agricultural producers across Saskatchewan and Alberta are angry about Health Canada’s decision to de-register the use of two percent liquid strychnine to control Richardson’s ground squirrels. They say there is no safer alternative available. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency released its re-evaluation decision last week. It had been reviewing the use of strychnine for this […] Read more
Supply management enters campaign
The final slate of hopefuls hasn’t been determined but one contender for the Conservative Party of Canada leadership has already announced he would dismantle supply management. Rick Peterson, president of Peterson Capital in Edmonton, who also ran in the last leadership contest, issued a statement Feb. 28 saying there is “nothing Conservative about supply management.” […] Read more
No spring election in Sask. – Moe
Rampant speculation that Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe would call an early election ended March 12 with a statement that he would not. His decision came a day after he told reporters at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities annual convention that the Saskatchewan Party’s four-year mandate was up and he wanted to renew that mandate […] Read more
Most of Sask. expects below normal runoff
Water Security Agency warns it’s still too early to predict a dry start to the province’s planting season
The lack of snowfall in Saskatchewan this winter has led to a below-normal spring runoff forecast. However, Water Security Agency spokesperson Patrick Boyle said there are still too many variables to predict a dry start to the planting season. “The wet fall has kind of balanced out the lack of snowfall and in March we […] Read more
Grazing cover crop trials yield mixed results
SASKATOON — Early results from a cover crop grazing study show mixed outcomes. The first year of the study, which looked into directly grazing a cover crop at three Saskatchewan and one Manitoba site, showed the effects of weather and that cattle may have some grazing preferences, according to the researcher and participating producers. Jillian […] Read more
Sask. crop insurance expands soybean coverage
The crop is now insurable across the entire province, and coverage is based on a grower’s individual insured history
Province-wide coverage for soybeans highlights the 2020 Saskatchewan crop insurance program announced Feb. 25. The crop is now being grown throughout the grain belt, although primarily in the black soil zone, said Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. chief executive officer Shawn Jaques. That has led to making the entire growing region an insurable zone. Coverage is […] Read more
Health measurement depends on soil management
The North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements hopes to recommend scientifically sound indicators
BALGONIE, Sask. — Soil health measurements can vary widely depending on management practices, show early results from a North American study. Paul Tracy, who manages the non-profit Soil Health Institute’s project to assess 31 indicators of soil health in all three countries, said agricultural and environmental interests are promoting lots of measurement systems and indicators. […] Read moreGluten-free oat plant planned
Construction of a new facility to process gluten-free oats will begin this spring south of Regina. Avena Foods Ltd. announced last week it would build a mill at Rowatt, next door to the pulse facility it obtained after buying Best Cooking Pulses about two years ago. Avena’s current mill in Regina will continue to operate […] Read more
