Sask. NDP leadership candidate bows out

The field of candidates running to lead the Saskatchewan NDP has narrowed to three. Erin Weir, a Regina economist, announced today he is withdrawing from the race and throwing his support behind Saskatoon doctor Ryan Meili. The other two candidates are MLAs Cam Broten of Saskatoon and Trent Wotherspoon of Regina. Weir said during the […] Read more

Sask. growers urged to get crop insurance

Premiums up 12 percent, insured prices up 14 percent

The Saskatchewan agriculture ministry is once again urging producers to sign up for crop insurance, saying there will be no ad hoc payment if a weather-related disaster occurs this year. This is the second time that the province’s agriculture minister has said farmers should not expect payments through AgriRecovery. Participation in crop insurance rose to […] Read more

Sask. gov’t releases timetable for pastures

Patrons of federal community pastures in Saskatchewan now know when their pastures are slated to be turned over to the province and ultimately to them. A tentative transition schedule for all 60 pastures has been developed, and letters were sent to patrons a couple of weeks ago. Provincial agriculture minister Lyle Stewart said the patrons […] Read more


Food security post provides new challenge

Global Institute | The opportunity attracted Roger Beachy to move to Saskatoon from St. Louis

Roger Beachy likes a challenge, and figuring out how the world will feed itself is certainly a big one. He has spent his career researching plants, food and agriculture, and setting up a new Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan presented an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “Because of the nature […] Read more

Farmers told to assert position on ethical hierarchy

Be accountable to public | Counter activists by holding media tours and using social media to tell message, says expert

“Trust me, I’m a farmer,” isn’t good enough to persuade increasingly engaged consumers that they should support what producers do, says the chief executive officer of the Missouri-based Center for Food Integrity. Charlie Arnot told the Agriculture Awareness Summit in Regina Feb. 6 that plying them with scientific data won’t create trust either. While farmers […] Read more


Innovation focus aims to boost livestock sector

Sask. outlines agriculture spending priorities

SASKATOON — Saskatchewan has the potential to expand its cattle industry further and faster than Alberta, says a provincial deputy agriculture minister who has worked in both provinces. Nithi Govindasamy, associate deputy minister in Saskatchewan for the last several years, said the opportunity for a stronger livestock industry is greatest in Saskatchewan. “I think this […] Read more

Sask. exports set record last year

Saskatchewan set a new record for agri-food exports last year, the province said Feb. 14. The record $11.1 billion in exports is nine percent more than 2011 and 75 percent higher than 2007. Saskatchewan accounted for 23 percent of all of Canada’s agri-food exports in 2012. Agriculture is responsible for more than one-third of all […] Read more

Above average runoff expected for Sask.

Spring runoff in Saskatchewan is expected to be above normal, according to the Water Security Agency’s first forecast released Feb. 12. Although there were below normal rainfall and dry conditions last fall, most regions of the province have experienced above normal snowfall this winter. The forecast says that there is well above normal water equivalent […] Read more


Sask. unveils new recycling plan

The Saskatchewan government has approved new regulations that will lead to a province-wide multi-material recycling program. The Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations set the framework to fund the collection and recycling of paper, newsprint, cardboard, plastic, metal and glass. By Aug. 6, industry, through Multi-Material Stewardship Western Inc., will present the minister of […] Read more

Crop insurance premiums to increase in Sask.

Saskatchewan crop insurance participants will generally pay higher premiums but get better coverage this year. Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart announced details of the 2013 program this morning. Premiums will be an average of $9.98 per acre, up from $8.91 last year. Coverage levels will rise from $174 per acre to a record $194 per acre, […] Read more