Agriculture Canada expects record farm income for 2017 and forecasts near-record levels for this year. The department’s latest outlook suggests net cash income will come in at $16.2 billion in 2017, up five percent from the year before. “Net cash income is expected to then decline modestly to $15.6 billion in 2018 as operating expenses […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Transport bill passage down to wire
Farm organizations lauded the passing of an amended transportation reform bill, Bill C-49, in the Senate last week, but the changes still have to clear the Liberal majority in the House of Commons. Parliament is on a break until April 16 and it’s unknown when MPs will deal with the legislation. Farmers want it passed, […] Read more
Sask. will discuss trespass laws after pressure from RMs
The Saskatchewan government says it’s willing to look at current trespass laws that put the onus on landowners to post their land to keep others out. “Maybe it should be the other way around,” said Justice Minister Don Morgan after a bear pit session during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities annual convention. “I think […] Read more
New gov’t farm programs resemble previous versions
The strategic initiatives offered in Saskatchewan under the next five-year, federal-provincial agricultural agreement look a lot like the programs offered the previous five years. Programs available as of April 1 under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership were announced March 28. The pot of money for the programs is the same at $388 million over the life […] Read more
Sask. sets legal age for marijuana possession
The minimum age to consume recreational marijuana in Saskatchewan will be 19, the provincial government has announced. Justice Minister Don Morgan said that decision was made after much discussion and consultation. “We decided this kept us in line with what the age for consumption and possession of alcohol was and that seemed to be the […] Read more
Sask. unveils strategy for monitoring clubroot
Saskatchewan plans to expand its clubroot survey in 2018 as it tries to get a handle on where the disease might be and how to contain it. Provincial plant disease specialist Barb Ziesman said 1,800 fields are expected to be sampled this year in the crop districts along the northern and eastern edges of the […] Read more
Spring runoff still expected to be low in southern Sask.
March snowfall has increased the runoff potential in Saskatchewan, but the southern grain belt can still expect very little from the spring melt. That could lead to agricultural water supply issues. The Water Security Agency released its most recent outlook April 4, noting that winter snow accumulation was near average across the province except for […] Read more
Sask. gov’t stands its ground on carbon
The Saskatchewan government continues to reject a carbon tax, saying it would cost the province $4 billion over the next five years. Premier Scott Moe said the province won’t sign the national framework on climate change “as long as a carbon tax lies at the heart of that document and it does.” However, NDP opposition […] Read more
Transport minister says grain movement is improving
The railways supplied 68 percent of requested hopper cars in Week 33, up from 53 percent during the previous week
Transport Minister Marc Garneau said last week he monitors grain movement daily to make sure progress is made on the rail backlog. The minister told the standing committee on transport March 21 that service from Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway has improved after unacceptable levels. “It is moving very efficiently at this point […] Read moreNumber of landfills shrinking in Sask.
The days of the small rural garbage dump are long gone but waste disposal remains an issue in Saskatchewan. Stringent regulations have made it difficult for municipalities to operate landfills but the cost of closing them is also a problem. Premier Scott Moe had promised a review of landfills during the recent Saskatchewan Party leadership […] Read more
