Realized net farm income has risen for the third year in a row, says Statistics Canada. The agency reported Wednesday that realized net farm income was $8.8 billion in 2016, up 7.6 percent. Realized net income is the difference between cash receipts and operating expenses, less depreciation, plus income in kind. The largest increase of […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Conventional, organic systems see different weeds
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Green foxtail is the most common weed in both organic and conventional fields in Saskatchewan, but that’s where the two systems part ways. Julia Leeson, weed monitoring biologist at Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon, told an organic workshop in Swift Current that an average of eight weed species exist in an organic […] Read more
Report that feds will copy Alta. carbon plan unconfirmed
Only Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec have carbon tax plans in place despite Ottawa’s Jan. 1 deadline
Ottawa was expected to release this week its draft plan for a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system in provinces that don’t implement their own plans by Jan. 1. Media reported last week that the plan will look like Alberta’s, which applies a tax on heating and transportation fuel but not gas and diesel used on […] Read moreBRM review suggested, but too late for next program
Farmers say AgriStability and AgriRecovery aren’t working and new business risk management programs are needed
An agreement on the next agricultural policy framework, expected in July, could be in jeopardy, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart suggested after a ministerial meeting last week. “I think the possibility of that does loom,” he said in an interview when asked if the five-year deal might not be signed. “I don’t want to get […] Read moreResearchers continue quest for organic oats
Weather issues plagued Oravena crop trials, with the first year being wet, the second suffering drought, then a wet fall last year
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Four years after the first organically bred oat variety was registered in Canada commercial seed is still not available. Terry Tyson, procurement manager for Grain Millers in Yorkton, Sask., said it’s been a long haul to get Oravena to market. In the meantime, a second variety, OT8006, was approved for registration […] Read moreAg policy seen as bigger risk than farm debt
Policy, particularly that from south of the border, is the biggest risk Canadian farmers face right now, says an agricultural economist from the University of Guelph. Alan Ker from the Institute for Advanced Study of Food and Agricultural Policy told the House of Commons agriculture committee’s study on farm debt that although debt is large, […] Read more
Organic farming gains momentum, but do homework first
Farmer says strong rotations and good soil building programs are needed, along with research and marketing skills
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Denis Brisebois liked the economic edge that organic farming could give him. So when he left a career in the oil patch three years ago and began farming near McCord, Sask., he decided to go that route. “In less than two years the shift has gone from ‘you’re one of those’ […] Read more
Sask. vows to fight Ottawa’s carbon tax plan in court
Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall says the province will take Ottawa to court if it imposes a carbon-pricing plan. Environment minister Catherine McKenna last week released a technical discussion paper that outlines what the federal government would implement if the province doesn’t come up with a plan of its own. “This federal government white paper is […] Read more
Water legislation passed in Sask.
The legislation to support Saskatchewan’s agricultural water management strategy has passed third reading in the legislature. Bill 44 was passed without amendment and paves the way for the creation of two advisory boards in place of the Water Appeal Board. One board will provide advice on policy development and the other will be a technical […] Read more
Bidding closes on rail cars May 12
The bill to repeal the Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation Act and make way for the sale of the provincially owned cars has received third reading. Offers on the 900 cars are due May 12, and during committee debate on the bill, Highways Minister David Marit wouldn’t say how many had been received. However, he did […] Read more
