After 19 years in provincial politics, Saskatchewan’s deputy premier and finance minister says he will not seek re-election. Ken Krawetz, the MLA for Canora-Pelly since 1995, announced his decision April 28. Nomination meetings are underway across the province in advance of the next general election, which is expected in April 2016. Krawetz is a former […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. creates fund to help prevent, cope with PED
SaskPork, gov’t support The $400,000 fund will be used to help producers offset losses if the disease is discovered in the province
Ottawa and Regina have announced $200,000 in funding to help the Saskatchewan hog industry deal with potential cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea. SaskPork will match that to establish a $400,000 contingency fund. No cases have been confirmed in the province, but the fund will be in place to help offset costs of disease containment, mortality […] Read moreSask. expands grain bag, twine collection sites
Fourteen collection sites will accept plastic grain bags and twine for recycling this year as Saskatchewan works toward an industry-led permanent recycling program for 2015. The federal and provincial governments announced last week that the pilot project will receive $100,000 in funding through Growing Forward 2 for another year. The program began with six sites […] Read more
Ag trade delegation visit to South Korea, Japan nets deals in wheat, pork, seafood
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz and more than 30 agricultural associations and companies have completed a trade mission to South Korea and Japan to build upon recent trade negotiations. The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement negotiations concluded in March, and the trade trip included meetings with key importers. It also included a cooking demonstration and a […] Read more
North Sask. River faces ice jam threat
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency warned Thursday of the potential for ice jams to develop on the North Saskatchewan River. The ice cover on the river is breaking up and jams are a particular concern between the Petrofka Bridge on Highway 12 near Blaine Lake and Prince Albert to the east. Ice jams are unpredictable and […] Read more
Drainage complaint leads to conviction in Sask.
A formal complaint made in 2007 has led to a conviction under Saskatchewan’s Water Security Act and a fine of $11,200. Gerald Faye of Lestock was convicted in Wynyard Provincial Court for failing to comply with an order to build and maintain ditch blocks. His company, GJMK Farms, was also fined. The total fine includes […] Read more
East-central Sask. farm focuses on growth
WILLOWBROOK, Sask. — Levi Hull always knew he’d come back to the farm. What he didn’t know was that he’d take his passion for the cattle industry into the political arena — at least not so early. At 25, Hull has completed just more than a year of at least a two-year term as a […] Read more
New regulations allow Sask. truckers to haul more
Changes to Saskatchewan trucking regulations will allow heavier and longer loads on the province’s roads, says the highways minister. New regulations that took effect April 1 will reduce operating costs and red tape, said Don McMorris. For example, the rules allow tridem drive trucks, or trucks with three rear-drive axles, to tow pony trailers. They […] Read more
Ravens, wolves under new rules
Regulatory amendments will change how farmers and landowners can deal with problem ravens and wolves in Saskatchewan. The amendments mean landowners would no longer need a permit to deal with ravens. Currently, they need permits to kill the birds, which might be damaging grain bags or harming or killing newborn livestock. Farmers have been complaining […] Read more
Producers told to probe goat deaths
Kids are vulnerable | Deaths among newly born goat kids are high, says veterinarian
Goat kid death rates are higher than they should be, says Dr. Chris Clark, a large animal science professor at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Producers should try to find out why. Clarke told the Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association annual meeting in Regina that producers should consider two possibilities: the kid was born dead […] Read more
