Canola growers must identify at least a little with the quote famously attributed to Yogi Berra: It’s déjà vu all over again. At this time last year, they were among the many farmers hoping for Bill C-234 to pass and provide exemptions from carbon pricing for natural gas and propane used to dry grain. Other […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Farm groups back away from sustainable ag strategy
Organizations say they will no longer participate in strategy discussions, saying it does not align with producers' needs
REGINA — Agriculture Canada says consultations on its Sustainable Agriculture Strategy will continue even after six major organizations withdrew from the advisory committee last week. However, with the federal government in disarray after the Dec. 16 surprise resignation of former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, the strategy may never see the light […] Read more
Auditor flags farmland ownership board issues
New report recommends stronger measures, but Sask. agriculture minister says processes have already been improved
REGINA — Agriculture minister Daryl Harrison is confident there is no unauthorized foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland. He said processes at the Farm Land Security Board were already being improved before last week’s report from provincial auditor Tara Clemett, which recommended stronger procedures. Related story in this issue: “I don’t think they completely know,” she […] Read more
Ag committee discussion grows testy as minister appears
MacAulay’s appearance sets off a feistier meeting than usual as opposition MPs ask about visit to China and crickets
REGINA — Crickets: it’s a word that could mean a few different things but turned out to be at least a couple of them during federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay’s appearance at the House of Commons agriculture committee last week. The minister was there to discuss the latest supplementary estimates, worth about $123 million. That […] Read more
Farm group told it needs to expand its membership
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan members worry about organization’s future due to static resources
REGINA — The new president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is promising more collaboration with other organizations to get things done for farmers. Bill Prybylski said all agricultural groups are working toward similar goals, and there can be more opportunities to work together. However, some delegates at the recent annual meeting say the […] Read more
Producers urged to ensure grain deliveries are protected
Canadian Grain Commission says it watches at-risk companies, but acknowledges that changes in a firm’s situation can happen quickly
REGINA — Farmers have until Jan. 27 to file claims with the Canadian Grain Commission against Purely Canada Foods. Jon Friesen, the commission’s chief operating officer, said the cluster of companies that have fallen into financial difficulty in the last year is unusual. Purely Canada is the only ongoing claim assessment situation. The company’s licences […] Read more
Farmers encouraged to keep Senate soil study prominent
Senator Rob Black says committee will seek more details on government’s response to Critical Ground in the new year
REGINA — The senator who led the Canadian soils study says farmers have to hold the government’s feet to the fire if they want the recommendations implemented. Rob Black told a recent Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan meeting that the Senate’s agriculture committee was “less than happy” with some of the government’s response, which offered […] Read more
Shippers dispute report that claims low grain freight rates
Saskatchewan farmers are told that a study claiming Canadian freight rates are among the lowest in the world is wrong
REGINA — A 2023 report claiming Canada has among the lowest rail freight rates in the world is inaccurate and misleading, said a lawyer who worked on a counter report. The Railway Association of Canada has relied on the first report to tout low rates. Chief executive officer Marc Brazeau again told the standing agriculture […] Read more
Public trust in journalism worth attention
The regular columnist in this space, Bruce Dyck, recently wrote about the value of a good proofreader. He’s right. But mistakes do happen, and I’ve made some doozies over the years. The thing about a journalist’s mistakes, especially in the digital world, is that everyone can see them. In the “old” days, a reader sent […] Read more
Agribition 2024: Two breeds reign supreme
REGINA — Twenty-five years in, and the anticipation and excitement of the Beef Supreme at Canadian Western Agribition still thrills. The show announcer describes the event that brings together champions from 15 shows as the Grey Cup, Super Bowl and World Series all in one, and for the competitors it is that big. Tracey Willms […] Read more
