REGINA — Monette Farms Ltd. has moved to foreclose on Purely Canada Foods Corp.’s facility in Avonlea, Sask., claiming it defaulted on a $2.5 million mortgage dated Aug. 20, 2024. That mortgage was signed less than a week before the Canadian Grain Commission revoked Purely Canada’s licences in Avonlea, Kindersley, Sask., and Lajord, Sask., meaning […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
NWT closes elevator for foreseeable future
REGINA — North West Terminal Ltd. in Unity, Sask. has idled its grain elevator after several years of losses. Its adjacent plant-based fermentation and distillation business remains open. CEO Jason Skinner said there have been significant headwinds the last three years and this year was not any better. The board of directors opted to let […] Read more
Provincial associations commit funds to new facility
REGINA — Four organizations announced funding for the planned Global Agriculture Technology Exchange in Winnipeg Sept. 17. Alberta Grains, SaskWheat, Manitoba Crop Alliance and Grain Farmers of Ontario will contribute $13.4 million to the project known as Gate. All are members of Cereals Canada, which has proposed the $102 million building to advance Canada’s position […] Read more
Researchers call for rapid adaptation to global trade environment
REGINA — Canada must prepare for a future featuring a less friendly trade environment, says a new policy note authored by two leading policy analysts. Al Mussell and Ted Bilyea, researchers at Agri-Food Economic Systems Research, said the recent action by China on Canadian canola illustrates their point. They said Canada needs a “rapid pivot” […] Read more
Irrigators say Sask. expansion plan is necessary
The expansion project has faced criticism in the province, but supporters argue it would boost the province’s GDP
REGINA — Proponents of Saskatchewan’s plan to add 90,000 acres of irrigation by rehabilitating a decades-old uncompleted project are looking forward to progress. The Westside Irrigation Rehabilitation (WIRP) project is part of a 10-year, $4-billion megaproject announced four years ago to expand Saskatchewan’s irrigable acres from Lake Diefenbaker to 500,000. At the time, the WIRP […] Read more
Cattle shortage squeezes auctions
Two Sask. livestock auctions closed in August as facilities struggle to bring in cattle from a smaller herd
REGINA — Two Saskatchewan livestock auctions have closed this summer, and more could follow as a result of the declining cow herd. The Livestock Marketers Association of Canada (LMAC) said the major decrease in cow numbers, exacerbated by drought, has changed market conditions considerably. Fewer cattle to sell at live auction plus a lack of […] Read more
Network aims to share drainage research and innovation
REGINA — A variety of agricultural stakeholders have formed a new provincial drainage research and extension network. The Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship Association, which promotes drainage, announced the network Sept. 10, describing it as a private sector leadership initiative and a collaboration of industry leaders and strategic advisers. The Saskatchewan Drainage Extension Network will be known […] Read more
Arrest made in Sask. hay bale fires
UPDATED Thursday August 29, 2024 – 1340 CST – REGINA — Saskatchewan RCMP have charged a local man in relation to a hay bale fire near Macklin. Logan Sieben, 25, of Macklin was arrested and charged Aug. 26 after an investigation began due to a July 31 fire. In a post to social media the […] Read more
Grain commission revokes Purely Canada licences
REGINA — The Canadian Grain Commission has revoked the licences of Purely Canada Foods. The commission said Aug. 28 both dealer and primary elevator licences at the company’s Saskatchewan facilities in Avonlea, Kindersley and Lajord had been pulled and farmers in all three prairie provinces could be owed money. Farmers should contact the CGC if […] Read more
GM wheat moves closer in U.S.
UPDATED: September 4, 2024 – 0830 CST – REGINA — The United States has deregulated the HB4 trait in wheat, paving the way for genetically modified wheat to be grown in that country. However, it will likely be years before GM wheat is commercially available there. The drought-tolerant and herbicide-resistant trait is available from Bioceres […] Read more
