Saskatchewan continues to struggle to meet its BSE testing target, and producers agree that has to change. However, they also say there has to be an incentive to test their animals. Producers attending the recent Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting debated a resolution calling for a $4 levy on marketed animals to create a compensation […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Pasture transition needs changes: Sask. report
Four Saskatchewan organizations are calling on the province to change the way it is handling the transition of the former federal pastures. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, the Community Pasture Patrons Association of Saskatchewan, the Public Pastures — Public Interest and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation paid for a study done by Dave Phillips at […] Read more
Sask. agri-food exports lead country
Saskatchewan agri-food exports topped $13.9 billion last year to set a record for the fourth year in a row and lead the country. The province sold its agricultural and food products to 153 countries last year, and 15 of them each bought more than $200 million, said agriculture minister Lyle Stewart. He said the numbers […] Read more
Sask. expects normal spring runoff
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency is forecasting near normal spring runoff for the grain belt, based on conditions in January. The warm weather and melting last month has lowered the snow pack. However, most of the province was saturated going into winter freeze-up last fall, and there is still potential for the conditions to change. “The […] Read more
Sask. freezes wages of senior officials, including cabinet ministers
Saskatchewan has frozen wages for cabinet ministers and all senior government officials. Premier Brad Wall announced the freeze today, citing revenue challenges due to low energy prices. He said it will save $15 million. The freeze applies to senior managers and out-of-scope employees in executive government and crown corporations, as well as out-of-scope health region […] Read more
Mycotoxin levels in feed need scrutiny
There are still more questions than answers about safe levels of mycotoxins in livestock feed, says John McKinnon, beef industry chair at the University of Saskatchewan. Problems with ergot and fusarium contamination have been increasing across the Prairies in the past few years, likely because of climatic conditions. There are guidelines for recommended tolerance levels, […] Read more
Young bulls need protein
Feeding a bull a proper diet early in its life is critical to how it performs as a sire, says Dr. John Kastelic, head of the University of Calgary’s department of production animal health. Studies have shown that bulls that get their full energy and protein requirements, or more, have larger testes and therefore will […] Read more
Saskatchewan Stock Growers reduces rates to attract new, young members
Members of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association have voted to implement a $25 junior membership for producers younger than 25 in an effort to attract young beef producers to the organization. Regular membership rates begin at $105 for one year. President Doug Gillespie said the board has been working hard to sign up new members. […] Read more
Jameson elected new chair of Sask. Cattlemen’s
Bill Jameson of Moose Jaw has been elected chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. Jameson represents the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association on the SCA board. Ryan Beierbach, the SCA District 1 director from Whitewood, is the new vice-chair and Rick Toney of Gull Lake, District 4, is the finance chair. The member at large is […] Read more
Pasture patrons working with conservation organization
Nature Conservancy of Canada will pay part of the manager’s salary for the next year while it works with Lone Tree Grazing Ltd. to develop best practice guidelines for the former federal pasture. The pilot project announced last month is an investment in conservation practices, said Mark Wartman, the conservancy’s regional vice-president. “In this case, […] Read more
