Two western farm leaders are challenging the Ontario incumbent for the presidency of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Humphrey Banack from Round Hill, Alta., and Norm Hall of Wynyard, Sask., are running against Ron Bonnett, who has been unopposed as president since 2010. But both say their decision to run has nothing to do with […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Cattle producers asked to participate in trace-in program to find tuberculosis source
Producers who sold cattle to operations affected by bovine tuberculosis can soon expect a letter from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency outlining how they will aid in the investigation. Rick James Davies, the agency’s chief inspector for Western Canada, says these trace-in herds represent the lowest risk, even though one of them could be the […] Read more
Beef, forage research receives Sask. funding
The Saskatchewan and federal governments announced $3.5 million in beef and forage research funding this week. The amount is down considerably from last year, but provincial agriculture minister Lyle Stewart said the 2016 total was unusually high because of some unique projects. The University of Saskatchewan will receive the lion’s share of the funding at […] Read more
Couple knows way to success can be painful
LUMSDEN, Sask. — Dan and Erin Howell will calve out 170 purebred Black Angus cows this spring. That might not be so remarkable, except the cattle business wasn’t always so kind. Dan understands completely how producers recently affected by bovine tuberculosis feel because his family went through a similar experience. His parents, Robert and Marg, […] Read more
Premises ID becomes mandatory for Sask. livestock
Registration had been voluntary but only 20 percent of beef producers were enrolled, compared to almost 100 percent in other sectors
Premises identification is now mandatory for Saskatchewan livestock producers. After several years of voluntary registration, the hog, poultry and sheep sectors are at or near 100 percent compliance, said agriculture minister Lyle Stewart. However, only 20 percent of the province’s 14,500 beef producers have registered. Less than 3,000 producers, veterinarians, feedlots and other commingling sites […] Read moreRural Sask. may benefit from move to single health authority
The move to a single provincial health authority should improve emergency services in rural areas, says the president of the Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association. Kyle Sereda said the association supports a more effective and efficient EMS system. SEMSA represents 75 of 104 services that re-spond to about 90 percent of the ground ambulance calls. […] Read more
Will amalgamation affect rural health?
The Saskatchewan government’s move to consolidate health-care services have rural residents and communities on edge
There are still many unknowns as Saskatchewan moves to a single provincial health authority from 12 regions later this year, including what financial savings there might be and how rural residents might be affected. The provincial government announced its decision last week, saying it had accepted recommendations from a three-member panel to better co-ordinate health […] Read more
Poor harvest, spring flooding on mind of Sask. ag minister
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart is hoping for a smoother ride this year after the roller-coaster that grain producers endured in 2016. “When you have an early seeding and a late harvest, that doesn’t combine to make very good news usually,” he said. “It caused lots of problems.” Early seeding in dry conditions, predictions of […] Read more
Panel to take three governance options, concerns to gov’t
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association says a report suggesting three possible options for a governance structure has identified concerns that boards have been hearing for some time. Dr. Shawn Davidson, chair of the Prairie South school division, said people worry about further amalgamation and the loss of local voice in the education system. “Many of […] Read more
Consumers still opposed to GM food
If given a choice, most consumers would choose to buy a non-GM food item — though most don’t read the labels
Health Canada says the results of a 2016 survey of consumer views on genetically modified foods will help the department communicate to Canadians. However, opinions remain largely unchanged from previous research that showed consumers are skeptical about, if not completely opposed to, genetically modified foods, the report said. “The findings from this public opinion research […] Read more
