
Stories by Karen Briere

The Saskatchewan public appears both for and against the government’s decision to exempt farmers from mandatory truck driver training for now. Radio phone-in shows and social media sites last week heard from those who think farmers should be subject to the same training as those seeking a Class 1 commercial licence and those who think […] Read more

Clubroot threat hangs over Sask. farmers
Agricultural Producers Association of Sask. delegates examine ways to fight the disease as it spreads into their province
Saskatchewan farmers are watching the spread of clubroot with alarm. The release of the province’s distribution map early next year will only confirm what many already know: the canola disease is closer and more prevalent than they thought. Delegates to the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan annual meeting held late last month said they hoped […] Read more
Agribition offers chance to learn
Lucy Collin was five days into a new job, in a new country, and appeared to be having the time of her life in the Charolais barn at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina. Collin is from Rauriki Charolais in Central Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. She came to Canada for the first time in July as […] Read more

Agribition winner was Belle of the stock dog show
Don’t tell Belle that pregnant females are supposed to rest. The eight-year-old Border Collie won the Stock Dog Championship at Canadian Western Agribition a full minute faster than her closest competition at 2:35. This is the second time that Belle and her owner, Steven Rosvold, from Ethelbert, Man., have attended the show together and the […] Read more
Sask. farm group seeks to intervene in carbon tax case
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has applied for intervener status in the provincial government’s challenge of the federal carbon tax. President Todd Lewis said farmers will be directly impacted by the tax with no recognition of what they do to sequester carbon. “We’re not getting credit for what we’ve done in the past or […] Read more

Sask. to change trespass laws
Farm organizations applaud the Saskatchewan government’s decision to require those who want to hunt or snowmobile on rural property to ask permission first. But the opposition party and Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations say more consultation should have occurred before legislative amendments were introduced last week. Justice Minister Don Morgan said the changes will remove […] Read more

New Sask. trucker rules exempt farmers
Farmers and farm workers driving semi-trucks within Saskatchewan’s borders won’t be required to take the mandatory driver training that the government announced Dec. 3. Joe Hargrave, minister responsible for SGI, said those who intend to drive a semi for a farm will have to get an F endorsement on their existing driver’s licences once mandatory […] Read more

Vegas brings top dollar at CWA horse sale
Sheep buyers attend Canadian Western Agribition looking for top genetics; supreme champion ewe sells for $1,300
First-time Canadian Western Agribition buyers showed no hesitation in bidding on what they wanted. The top-selling ranch horse and the high-selling sheep both went to show newcomers. Shawn Muhr, of Odessa, Sask., seemed a little surprised that he paid $17,000 for a three-year-old gelding officially known as JT Racing Hickory but commonly known as Vegas. […] Read more
Alpacas make return to Agribition show ring
Exhibitors from across Western Canada brought about 55 animals to the major livestock show in Regina
Mary-Jo Smith knew little about alpacas when she left Canada and moved to the United Kingdom 18 years ago. But joining her aunt at Bozedown Alpacas in Reading, Berkshire, led her to becoming one of Britain’s premier breeders. It is fitting then that the Albertan returned to Canada last month to judge the Premier Alpaca […] Read more
Bad labels can stick, former premier warns agriculture
Brad Wall says the forces that branded Canadian oil as dirty could easily end up doing the same with agriculture
Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall recently told agriculture to take a branding lesson from the energy sector. Speaking alongside former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna at a panel during Canadian Western Agribition held in Regina Nov. 19-24, Wall said the same forces that worked to brand all Canadian oil as dirty don’t like modern agriculture. […] Read more