The Saskatchewan government is still weighing whether it will provide assistance to producers who lost animals and property in October’s wildfires. Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said the province has already agreed to help pay for the burial of what is now estimated at 770 cattle killed or euthanized as a result of the fires in […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Wildfire damage ‘catastrophic’
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association has launched a relief fund to help producers who lost feedstock and at least 750 cattle in last week’s wildfires. The livestock losses alone represent about $1 million. But kilometres of fences, acres of grass and thousands of bales are also gone after the fires that burned through areas from Tompkins […] Read more
Vet refutes theory on danger of glyphosate
A University of Saskatchewan toxicologist says it’s not likely that glyphosate residue in livestock feed is causing animals to become sick. Dr. Barry Blakley said suggestions from Dr. Ted Dupmeier, a large animal veterinarian, that sick animals get better when feed containing glyphosate is removed, and molasses is fed to improve gut microbes, aren’t supported […] Read more
Dairy farmers president slams latest U.S. demands at NAFTA talks
The fourth round of NAFTA negotiations wrapped up last week with one certainty: there will be more talks. Despite an earlier U.S.-imposed deadline of the end of this year to reach a deal, trade representative Robert Lighthizer announced the country would participate in negotiations at least until the end of next March. The fifth round […] Read more
Sask. to review emergency response
Officials in Saskatchewan’s emergency management office say they will review its procedures and response in the wake of last week’s destructive grass fires in the southwest. Commissioner Duane McKay said there were at least 50 fire departments involved during the Oct. 17 emergencies and more than 1,100 calls to 9-1-1 at the peak. The first […] Read more
Sundog keeps producers abreast of water issues
Art Weiss knows at least three times a day whether his cows have enough water in their troughs. He gets pictures on his cellphone at 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. from one system, and pictures from a motion-activated camera from another. Weiss, who through Shadow Ranch near Mossbank, Sask., sells cattle handling equipment […] Read more
Sask. gov’t to invest in agriculture
The Saskatchewan government will introduce an incentive program to encourage more investment in agriculture. Today’s throne speech to open the six-week fall sitting, delivered by Lieutenant-Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield, highlighted the sector’s contribution to the economy. It pointed out the $14.4 billion worth of agricultural products exported in 2016, which accounts for more than half […] Read more
Latest NAFTA talks wrap, U.S. demands Canada end supply management
The fourth round of NAFTA negotiations wrapped up earlier this week with one certainty: there will be more talks. Despite an earlier U.S.-imposed deadline of the end of this year to reach a deal, trade representative Robert Lighthizer announced the country would participate in negotiations at least until the end of next March. The fifth […] Read more
Family of men injured fighting fire ‘overwhelmed by generosity’
A fundraising campaign for a Saskatchewan father and son severely injured while fighting a fire near Tompkins Oct. 17 far surpassed its goal in just one day. The Gofundme campaign for Ron and Evan Wedrick set a goal of $5,000. Within a day 497 contributors had pledged nearly $72,000. You can find that GoFundMe campaign […] Read more
Several hundred head of livestock killed by wildfires
Assessments are still underway but Saskatchewan Agriculture is estimating at least several hundred head of livestock are dead as a result of the Oct. 17 fires. Grant Zalinko, executive director of the livestock branch, urged affected farmers and ranchers to contact the Farm Stress Line. “We’re receiving reports that approximately 400 animals have either perished […] Read more
