Taxed on full value Grain elevators, rail rights of way and pipelines will see 2013 assessment raised from 75 percent to 100 percent
The full value of grain elevators, railway rights of way and pipelines will be used to calculate taxable assessments for those properties in 2013, the Saskatchewan government announced last week. The percentage of value will rise from 75 percent to 100 percent. It had been 75 percent for the three types of property within the […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Make premises ID mandatory: SCA
Opposing views | The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association says the province is lagging in mandatory traceability, but the Stock Growers Association wants to keep it voluntary
ASSINIBOIA, Sask. — Saskatchewan’s main cattle group says premises identification should be mandatory, but the agriculture minister is sticking with a voluntary process for now. The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, which represents all cattle producers who pay check-off levies when they market their cattle, has asked that mandatory premises ID be implemented as part of the […] Read moreProducers debate branding options
Cost and contracts weighed | Inspections are an important part of livestock traceability
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — As a committee works toward a new method of brand inspection, producers at a meeting here said it should be a made-in-Saskatchewan system controlled by the cattle industry. Saskatchewan announced in August that an eight-person committee would consider industry-led options and report a preferred option to agriculture minister Lyle Stewart early […] Read moreSask. gives more for flood control
The Saskatchewan government has added $500,000 to a program that funds channel clearing and flood control. The Water Control Assistance Program now has allocated more than $1.2 million to help municipalities deal with water-related issues after two years of excess rain and high moisture levels. The program provides up to half the cost of the […] Read more
Producers to join Sask. cattle board
Two producers will join the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association board for the first time after the January annual general meeting. Elections were scheduled this fall in five districts. Incumbents will represent three of the districts: Paula Larson in District 7 after an election and Ryan Sommerfeld in District 9A and Larry Grant in District 3B by […] Read more
Funding available to help buy community pastures
Patron groups preparing to take over former federal community pastures are now eligible for funding. Saskatchewan agriculture minister Lyle Stewart announced at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities mid-term convention Nov. 15 that each group is eligible for a maximum benefit of $120,000 through the Saskatchewan Farm Business Development Initiative. “This funding will help patron […] Read more
Puratone bid could ease supply issues at Maple Leaf plant
A Maple Leaf Foods offer to buy assets of hog producer Puratone Corp. for $42 million is an attempt to ward off potential supply issues at its Brandon slaughter plant. Maple Leaf’s offer includes Puratone’s livestock, facilities and interests in some joint ventures. “This acquisition will ensure a consistent supply of hogs to our processing […] Read more
Sask. gov’t boosts funding for flood control
The Saskatchewan government has added $500,000 to a program that funds channel clearing and flood control. The Water Control Assistance Program now has allocated more than $1.2 million to help municipalities deal with water-related issues after two years of excess rain and high moisture levels. The program provides up to half the cost of the […] Read more
Producers yearn for return of Sask. processor
ASSINIBOIA, Sask. — Saskatchewan cattle producers are worried about how the industry will recover from the negative publicity of E. coli at the XL Foods slaughter plant in Brooks, Alta. They also wonder if a Saskatchewan slaughter plant fits into future plans of JBS USA, the company that is now managing XL with an option […] Read more
Ag research a priority for Wall government
$20 million allocated | Value-added processing targeted, Opposition calls announcement a rehash of growth plan
The NDP opposition called it a rehash, and it’s true that the Oct. 25 throne speech to begin the Saskatchewan fall legislative session was mostly a rerun of the growth plan announced a week earlier by premier Brad Wall. Wall told reporters that the lieutenant-governor shouldn’t get to announce all the good things a government […] Read more
