A raucous opposition drowned out finance minister Bill Morneau’s budget speech in the House of Commons March 19. But the pre-election budget documents promise spending to help supply-managed farmers weather trade agreements and high-speed internet for all. The budget sets aside up to $3.9 billion for dairy, poultry and egg producers affected by trade deals. […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
CN to expand infrastructure in Sask.
Canadian National Railway announced March 18 it will spend $245 million on Saskatchewan rail infrastructure this year. Plans include construction of double track at four locations: 16 kilometres near Atwater, east of Melville; 16 km near Fenwood, west of Melville; 12 km near Biggar and 11 km near Clavet. The company also intends to replace […] Read more
House trade committee plans canola hearing Thursday
The standing committee on international trade held a rare Sunday meeting yesterday to address the pressing issue of canola trade into China. There was no disagreement that the revocation of Richardson’s export licence to sell canola into China is a matter of concern to all Canadians. Committee members eventually voted in favour of a motion […] Read more
Fuel at card locks may face tax
The federal carbon tax comes into effect April 1 but farmers are concerned that farm fuel purchased at card locks may not be exempt by then. Delegates to last month’s Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting heard that the carbon tax would be applied to card lock purchases even though fuels for on-farm use are […] Read more
Sask. runoff forecast warns of dry spring
Farmers who were short of moisture last year might experience much of the same in 2019 if the current spring runoff forecast holds. The forecast issued March 6 by Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency indicates an area of well below normal runoff is expected in the middle of the grain belt from just north of Moose […] Read more
Cattle seizures called rare
Two recent large cattle seizures by animal protection officers are not indicative of how Saskatchewan producers treat their animals, say industry officials. Earlier this month, Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan removed 131 animals from a Lampman-area ranch where 16 dead animals were also found. In February, more than 300 head were seized from a Stoughton […] Read more
Drainage receives funding in Sask.
The Saskatchewan government is investing $5 million in agricultural water management. Premier Scott Moe announced March 13 that the Saskatchewan Conservation and Development Association would receive the money to help producers develop C and D areas, design projects and obtain engineering and legal support. There are 96 conservation area authorities already in operation, along with […] Read more
Rural crime alert system welcomed
The Saskatchewan creator of a Facebook page designed to share information about rural crime says he welcomes a new alert system from the RCMP and provincial government. Nick Cornea, who established Farmers Against Rural Crime, said he was part of the committee helping to design the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network. “It’s going to be […] Read more
Ag gets new minister in cabinet shuffle
The appointment last week of Marie-Claude Bibeau as federal agriculture minister likely sent many farmers and farm leaders to Google. After nearly a full term of Prince Edward Island MP Lawrence MacAulay in charge of the agricultural file, they now have a new minister with little agriculture background to bring up to speed. MacAulay was […] Read more
CFA leadership gets new look
OTTAWA — Canadian Federation of Agriculture delegates made history last week when they elected the first female president in the organization’s 84-year history. Mary Robinson, from Prince Edward Island, defeated Norm Hall from Saskatchewan in the election to replace Ron Bonnett, who retired after nine years at the helm and more than 20 years at […] Read more
