MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Cattle prices are trending lower as the market watches poor corn planting conditions in the United States and uncertain trade agreements. As of June 9, only 83 percent of the American corn crop had been planted, well behind the usual pace of 99 percent. Anne Wasko, president of Cattle Trends Inc., […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Debunked methane study continues to draw attention
MOOSE JAW, Sask. — The flawed study, Livestock’s Long Shadow, continues to cast its own long shadow on the cattle industry more than a dozen years after it was published and subsequently debunked. Dr. Frank Mitloehner, a University of California animal science professor and air quality specialist, said his work to refute the study has […] Read more
MPs offer ideas to support Indigenous farming
The House agriculture committee finds there are opportunities for young Indigenous people to help meet labour needs
A report on Indigenous agriculture in Canada suggests more work lies ahead to help First Nations, Metis and Inuit people thrive in the industry. The all-party standing committee on agriculture held five meetings to discuss the issue and acknowledged its study was limited. However, the committee report to the House of Commons noted there are […] Read moreNational food policy targets local projects
Ottawa has begun rolling out its national food policy. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau was in Montreal June 17 to release details of the $134-million strategy. Along with a slogan, Everyone at the Table, Bibeau announced that an advisory council would guide the policy as it rolls out, monitor it and assess its effectiveness. Nominations will […] Read more
Farm Progress announces changes as show begins
Canada’s Farm Progress Show has begun for another year with the news that big changes are coming for 2020. Evraz Place chief executive officer Tim Reid said the show will shift to a mid-week format, running Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday rather than the current Wednesday through Friday. Check out all our #CFPS19 coverage here. It will also start […] Read more
Trudeau talks tough on China-canola
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says China’s decision to block Canadian canola imports is “unjustified.” Speaking to reporters in Paris June 7, he said Canadian canola is the cleanest and safest in the world. Since March, China has rejected canola shipments citing contamination from pests, but hasn’t provided satisfactory evidence to Canadian officials. “They’re inventing excuses […] Read more
Sask. plans carbon offset program
Saskatchewan will have a carbon offset program available by 2021. The government is consulting on how best to develop a program it promised in its Prairie Resiliency climate change strategy. Farmers and ranchers could benefit from an offset program by receiving credit or payments for sequestering emissions. University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist Tristan Skolrud has […] Read more
Finance co-op set up in Sask.
A producer-led replacement for Saskatchewan’s livestock loan guarantee program should be in place within weeks. The SK Livestock Finance Co-operative is finalizing details with its financial partner and is expected to be operational before the provincial feeder and breeder program ends July 31. Sandra Moen, who raises cattle with her family near Elrose, chairs the […] Read more
More Sask. farmers warm up to AgriStability
Falling farm income, looming drought and trade problems are given as reasons for increased interest in gov’t program
More Saskatchewan farmers are considering enrolment in AgriStability as market woes and dry weather continue. Shawn Jaques, chief executive officer of Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp., said participation declined in the last several years, but production and commodity prices were strong. After the significant drop in farm income last year and now with drought looming large […] Read moreSask. credit unions to close
Conexus Credit Union plans to close nine Saskatchewan branches by this fall. The financial institution announced that seven of those branches are in rural locations: Chamberlain, Cupar, Drake, Middle Lake, Mossbank, Spy Hill and Young. The two other closures are planned for Regina. The financial institution said after a review of service delivery it decided […] Read more
