Thirteen Saskatchewan short lines will share $900,000 in provincial grants this year to upgrade infrastructure. The matching grants are funded yearly through the Saskatchewan Grain Car Corp. and the Shortline Railway Sustainability Program. The amount each short line receives depends on how much track it has. Great Western Railway, with 508 eligible kilometres, will receive […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Environmental farm programs enhanced
The federal and Saskatchewan governments have announced enhancements to environmental farm programs under Growing Forward 2. The list of beneficial management practices in the farm stewardship program has been increased to 24, including five new ones and improvements to seven others. As well, a new online portal for environmental farm plans has been established. New […] Read more
Hantavirus warning issued
Saskatchewan health officials are reminding people to take precautions against hantavirus when spring cleaning their garage, cabin or Quonset. The virus is contracted by breathing in contaminated air particles from the droppings, urine and saliva of infected deer mice. Fever, muscle aches, cough, headaches, nausea and vomiting are symptoms. “Symptoms then get worse and lead […] Read more
Ice causing problems on Sask.’s Battle River
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency is warning of high flows and ice jams on the Battle River near North Battleford. Ice has built up near the confluence with the North Saskatchewan River, the agency said. Flows on the Battle River are 50 cubic metres per second. Flows are not expected to reach the 2011 level of […] Read more
Sask. short lines receive $900,000 in provincial funding
Thirteen Saskatchewan short lines will share $900,000 in provincial grants this year to upgrade infrastructure. The matching grants are funded yearly through the Saskatchewan Grain Car Corp. and the Shortline Railway Sustainability Program. The amount each short line receives depends on how much track it has. Great Western Railway, with 508 eligible kilometres, will receive […] Read more
Mineral rights talks move online
Landowners who also own their mineral rights may not know how to get the most from them. Cameron Wyatt, a petroleum engineer and chief executive officer of Heritage Energy Corp. in Regina, connects buyers and sellers through MineralRights.ca “I saw an opportunity via discussion with colleagues, friends and family,” he said. Wyatt, who has spent […] Read more
Farm officials relieved cuts not worse
Saskatchewan farm leaders accepted a 2.5 percent cut to the provincial agriculture budget last week, saying they understand the fiscal pressure of low oil prices. The March 18 budget estimates agricultural spending of $362.4 million in 2015-16, down from $371.6 million last year. “Glad to see there was no tax increases, and a 2.5 percent […] Read more
New group to take over animal protection in rural Sask.
A new humane society will take over rural animal protection services in Saskatchewan April 1. A two-year funding agreement was announced March 26 between the provincial agriculture ministry and the non-profit Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan. The ministry will provide $610,000 a year for the new corporation to enforce the Animal Protection Act after the […] Read more
Budget focuses on infrastructure
$1.3 billlion will be spent on schools, health-care facilities and road building
Saskatchewan residents who had braced themselves for increased taxes and significant spending cuts were likely relieved when finance minister Ken Krawetz tabled the 2015-16 budget last week. However, some will pay more for items such as medication, and potash companies will contribute more to government coffers. The government had been signaling a tough budget for […] Read moreSask. crop insurance will oversee wild boar program
Program tracks wild boars and can provide resources for producers to remove animals
The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. is taking over administration of the feral wild boar control program. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities has delivered the program for years, but in February told the province it was no longer a good fit, said Shawn Jaques, chief executive officer of crop insurance. “It made sense for SCIC […] Read more
