Saskatchewan’s Progressive Conservative party says the agriculture ministry should not lead a review of farmland ownership legislation because of a potential conflict of interest. The province was expected to announce this week the details of how the review will proceed. It is to be completed by end of summer with legislation potentially introduced in the […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Threatened species label only on public bison herds
Private ranchers worry the designation will hurt bison trade with the U.S.
The Canadian Bison Association says people should not confuse what a threatened species designation for wild Plains bison would mean for commercial operations. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has considered wild Plains bison threatened since May 2004. That status was re-examined and re-confirmed in November 2013. However, the federal government […] Read moreNever take anything for granted: Wall
Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall congratulated Alberta premier-elect Rachel Notley last week and gave his own take on the NDP majority government elected May 5. “You can’t take away anything from a campaign that goes from just a handful of seats to a very sizable majority and so we congratulate her on that,” said Wall. “It’s […] Read more
Finning buys Caterpillar dealership
Family owned Kramer Ltd. has been sold. Finning International Inc. of Vancouver announced last week that it would buy the operating assets of the Regina-based company’s Caterpillar dealership for $230 million. The deal is expected to close by July. Tim Kramer, who managed the company for the last 23 years, said the family is retiring […] Read more
Alta. ranchers top users in price insurance plan; little interest for hogs
Manitoba
The numbers are in after the first year of a four-year pilot program offering price insurance to livestock producers. The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program was announced early last year and modelled after an existing program in Alberta. It is intended to help producers ride out the highs and lows of the cattle market by […] Read moreSask. Cattlemen’s Association hires new CEO
Ryder Lee has been named the new chief executive officer of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. Lee is from Saskatchewan and has been spent the last nine years with the CCA in Ottawa as manager of federal-provincial relations. He has worked as the staff representative on committees for domestic agriculture policy, regulations and animal care. Since […] Read more
Sask politicians react to Alberta NDP win
Lethbridge, Regina bureaus Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall congratulated Alberta premier-elect Rachel Notley last week and gave his own take on the NDP majority government elected May 5. “You can’t take away anything from a campaign that goes from just a handful of seats to a very sizeable majority and so we congratulate her on that,” […] Read more
Shelterbelt centre sits in limbo
The federal government doesn’t intend to lease out the former shelterbelt centre at Indian Head, Sask., this growing season. Agriculture Canada says it’s still in negotiation with Carry The Kettle Nakota Nation, which has expressed interest in buying the property. The First Nation did not respond to a request for an interview. “At this time, […] Read more
Sask. repeals 1979 act created to lend money to farmers
The legislation, brought in by premier Tommy Douglas in 1955, lent farmers $7 million by 1967 but it is no longer required
The Saskatchewan legislature last week agreed to repeal a decades-old piece of legislation that made credit available to farmers. The Family Farm Credit Act was enacted in February 1979 to update a 1959 act and hadn’t been used for years. Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart noted during debate on the bill to repeal the act that […] Read moreSask. gov’t announces ag scholarship winners
Four Saskatchewan students today received scholarships from the agriculture ministry. The four were selected from among applicants who had to provide a letter of reference and either a 1,000-word essay or three-minute video about why agriculture is a good career choice. Morgan Heidecker from Middle Lake won $4,000 for her video highlighting her passion for […] Read more
