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
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
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
Sask. NDP, feds clash over carbon fees
Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili has called on the federal government to rebate the carbon tax farmers are paying to dry their grain. Meili has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ask for a rebate as quickly as possible, and he asked Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to co-sign. “(The carbon tax is) amounting to […] Read more
Dream ends for Moose Jaw pea plant
A pea plant proposed for Moose Jaw in 2016 appears to be a no-go. One of the two main German proponents pulled out of the project last year and the other is battling legal difficulties related to his previous job at the Emsland-Starke potato plant in his home country. Michael Schonert, along with three others, […] Read more
Farmers move beyond the air waves and the rink
On the Farm: Rusti Dean worked in radio and TV while Brendon Sobchuk played hockey; now they’re helping operate the family farm
LANG, Sask. — Early risers in southern Saskatchewan might have listened to Rustie Dean on one of several radio stations, or watched her as the weather morning host on Regina’s Global television station. Earlier this year, she announced she was stepping away from her most recent radio show, putting an end to a 3 a.m. […] Read moreAnimal welfare charges laid
Charges have been laid against a Lampman, Sask., farmer after more than 130 cattle were seized from his operation last February. Chad Mokelky has been charged under Section 4(2) of the province’s Animal Protection Act for causing or permitting an animal to be in distress. He also faces two Criminal Code of Canada counts for […] Read more
Sask. unveils new ag growth plan
Buoyed by a recent trade trip, Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister says the time for the province to boost value-added processing and exports is now. David Marit said a plan announced in last week’s speech from the throne is achievable. “I just returned from Mexico and, seeing how they’re using oats and flax and canola, I think […] Read more
Farm groups vow to work with minority gov’t
Producers hope the Liberals will listen to their concerns, despite the absence of elected Liberal MPs on the Prairies
Canadian farmers await the appointment of a new federal cabinet and the resumption of work on critical agricultural files now that the election is over. One Saskatchewan organization is already calling on the re-elected Liberal government to scrap the carbon tax for beleaguered farmers. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities has sent letters to the […] Read more
Manitoba reverses policy on grazing lease renewals
Producers pleased they will now have first right of renewal on existing crown leases; proposed move to open auction had been a concern
Manitoba cattle producers are breathing a little easier knowing they will have first right of renewal on existing crown agricultural leases. The provincial government announced Oct. 11 it would give them that right after outrage over new regulations that allocated leases by open auction. Producers liked the idea of an auction, saying it is a […] Read more
