Two Saskatchewan cattle producers charged under animal welfare laws are expected to be back in court in January. Cattle were seized from both men last winter after animal protection officers found dead and dying animals. Charges were laid under provincial animal protection legislation and the Criminal Code of Canada. Both men made first appearances earlier […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Beef shows, sales dominate at Agribition
Purebred beef shows and sales are well underway at Canadian Western Agribition. The First Lady Classic, Futurity and President’s Classic interbreed show kicks off the events each year. The First Lady Classic winner was a Black Angus, VOS Vegas Black Pearl 3F, from Poplar Meadows Angus and Haillie Conley of Houston, B.C. Remitall West of […] Read more
Bibeau hopes CN, union can resolve strike
Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says the government continues to hope the strike at Canadian National Railway can be resolved by the workers and company on their own. She told reporters at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina that all options are on the table, but there is no timeline for when the government might intervene. […] Read more
Community safety officers in short supply in Sask.
Saskatchewan’s community safety officer program is an option for municipalities looking for bylaw enforcement and low-risk policing needs, but only about 30 officers have been hired since the program’s rollout five years ago. Daryl Chernook, program manager for the province’s corrections and policing ministry, said CSOs can be another presence in rural areas to help […] Read more
Saskatchewan MLA keeps door open for more drainage
Consultations on how best to mitigate agricultural drainage in Saskatchewan will take at least another 18 months, says Lyle Stewart, the legislative secretary to the Water Security Agency and former agriculture minister. Even after that, farmers and landowners may still be at odds with each other. Some at a WSA presentation to rural municipal councillors […] Read more
New Sask. economic plan leans on agriculture
Province hopes to increase value of exports by 50 percent and develop more markets worth $1 billion in exports
Agricultural targets loom large in Saskatchewan’s updated growth plan. The document, released by Premier Scott Moe Nov. 14, sets out actions and goals to strengthen the economy and build the population. Some of the goals were already mentioned in last month’s throne speech, including increasing agricultural processing. But the economic strategies contained in the document […] Read more
Bibeau stays on in federal ag portfolio
Marie-Claude Bibeau has been re-appointed federal agriculture minister. The Quebec MP served in the post since March 1 and was re-elected in last month’s general election. She returns to deal with continuing market access concerns in China and other countries, the review of business risk management programs and the current strike hampering grain movement at […] Read more
Runoff warning issued for next spring
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency says next spring’s runoff could be higher than normal. Above average rainfall and snow through this summer and fall created wet conditions at freeze-up. The agency said the Souris River basin, including the Antler River and Gainsborough Creek, was particularly wet. However, most of southern Saskatchewan is wetter than normal. “If […] Read more
Mitigation a sticking point for drainage
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency is consulting on how best to mitigate agricultural drainage to balance the needs of farmers and the environment. Four years after regulations under the Agricultural Water Management Strategy were implemented, mitigation has become a sticking point. Mitigation wasn’t set in the original policy and the consultations the agency and government representatives […] Read more
Sask. ranchers call for elk cull at Suffield base
MAPLE CREEK, Sask. — Southwestern Saskatchewan cattle ranchers near the Canadian Forces Base at Suffield, Alta., want the elk population on the base reduced. They say stocking rates on Crown grazing land are based on how many cattle the land can support, not elk. As elk numbers on the base burgeon, the animals have moved […] Read more
