Farm leaders last week told federal ministers they are closely watching grain movement this fall to make sure the railways don’t fall behind. Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, and Daryl Fransoo, a Western Canadian Wheat Growers director, both said communication is key as the first shipping season under new transportation […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. Premier leads delegation to China
Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe and a delegation headed to China Sept. 15 for a week long trade trip. This is Moe’s first trade mission to an Asian market. About 20 representatives from the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership membership, including agriculture, are part of the delegation. “China has quickly become our second largest market for […] Read more
Sask. gov’t to put RM under the microscope
A dispute has developed in the Rural Municipality of McKillop between agricultural landowners and cottage owners
The Saskatchewan government last week ordered a full inspection of the Rural Municipality of McKillop after receiving numerous complaints from taxpayers. The latest was an unexpected tax hike in mid-August after the RM discovered it was short about $1 million. That news came after the administrator assured council earlier in the year that a tax […] Read more
Dry weather top of mind for new Sask. ag minister
David Marit is focused on tax deferrals for drought-induced cattle sales, the proposed neonic ban and grain transportation
Saskatchewan’s new agriculture minister is happy to fill the role, but not so happy about how the job came to be his. David Marit, well known as the former president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and most recently as highways minister, has taken over from Lyle Stewart because of the latter’s cancer diagnosis. […] Read more
Smoky skies may save dry crops
The smoke and haze from fires that have blanketed much of the Prairies recently is actually helping crops survive a much bigger problem — drought. University of Saskatchewan professor Rosalind Bueckert, who studies crop responses to environmental factors, said the smoke lowers temperatures and allows less solar radiation to reach the crop. Earlier in the […] Read more
Beef cattle eschew popular forage pea
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — A study of poly-crop mixtures to extend grazing has been hampered by dry weather, but researchers have observed one thing: beef cattle don’t seem to like the 4010 variety of field peas. Dr. Alan Iwaasa, an animal scientist at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre, said the two-year study began […] Read more
Organic farmers urged to focus on soil health
Sask. producer emphasizes five principles, including minimized soil disturbance and keeping soil covered
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask — Cody Straza encourages organic growers to use five soil health principles to improve their systems. Trying to implement all five is a challenge, he told a recent organic and low-input field day in Swift Current, but it can be done. Straza and his family operate Upland Organics on 2,100 acres near […] Read more
Sask. rancher leaves the range for gridiron
The connection between farm kids and sport is strong and well-documented, although on the Prairies that often means rodeo or hockey players making it to the National Hockey League. Garret Glasrud’s game is football, and he recently had to choose between the ranch he loves and the game he loves. Football won — for now. […] Read more
Gas emissions on irrigated soil overestimated
OUTLOOK, Sask. — Canada’s national inventory of greenhouse gases overestimates how much irrigated crops are emitting from prairie soil. But that’s not a surprise to Dr. Reynald Lemke, who was involved in setting inventory levels in the first place. He said emissions were based on general moisture regimes in certain regions. For the brown soil […] Read more
Domestic trade review requested
VANCOUVER — Canadian farmers would welcome streamlined regulations that allow easier interprovincial trade and keep them competitive in global markets. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and other industry leaders told the country’s agriculture ministers during a recent roundtable that cumbersome regulations on trade within the country can cause bottlenecks. President Ron Bonnett said in some […] Read more
