MELVILLE, Sask. — Soil tests this spring are critical after a couple of years of flooding, says soil scientist Jeff Schoenau. Farmers face planting into soil that is not in optimal condition after lying under water or covered in weeds, the University of Saskatchewan professor explained at a recent Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation crop […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Crown land rents changing in Sask.
Updated formula | New calculation will use previous year seeded acreage information
Saskatchewan is updating the formula it uses to calculate the rent it charges on cultivated crown land. Most rents will go up, although they would have this year anyway. Over the next three years, Saskatchewan Agriculture will phase in a calculation using information from Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. to make the rent more reflective of […] Read moreCrop insurance only assistance option for Sask. growers
There will be no AgriRecovery program for Saskatchewan farmers affected by disastrous weather this year, agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said last week. After paying out about $1.4 billion over the last two years to help farmers and ranchers deal with excessive moisture, both Ottawa and Regina say the coverage offered through Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. […] Read more
Cattle producers’ security fund under consideration
A proposal to establish a Saskatchewan cattle producers’ assurance fund is now in agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud’s hands. The plan, which was developed by the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, sets out how a fund could help producers who aren’t paid when livestock dealers go under. Although dealers carry bonds, the amounts aren’t usually large enough […] Read more
Farmers warned: no weather disaster assistance
Saskatchewan farmers should not expect ad hoc assistance for weather-related disasters in 2012, agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said today. While announcing details of the crop insurance program for the year, the minister stressed that governments will not provide an AgriRecovery payment such as last year’s excess moisture program. Instead, the province is giving producers the […] Read more
Small group makes the most noise: CCA president
SASKATOON — Beware the tiny fraction of beef consumers who want to tell producers how to do their jobs, warned Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Travis Toews at a recent industry event. He told the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Symposium that 99 percent of consumers want healthy, nutritious food at a reasonable price. He cited studies showing […] Read more
Sask. mustard company gets funds to restructure
Operations continue | The company intends to have plans for creditors in place in 90 to 120 days
Mustard Capital Inc. is restructuring under court supervision and with the help of interim financing from a Swiss lender. It remains operating as usual during the process. A Queen’s Bench justice in Saskatoon last week authorized the Gravelbourg, Sask.-based company to borrow $250,000 from Granosa AG of Switzerland to fund ongoing operations and develop a […] Read moreGap widens between rural, urban numbers
Even as rural populations increase, the gap between the numbers of rural and urban residents continues to widen across Canada. The 2011 census data released Feb. 8 shows a trend that doesn’t surprise Ray Bollman, who recently retired from the rural research group at Statistics Canada and serves as adjunct professor at the University of […] Read more
Sask. spring runoff levels expected to be low
It could still snow this winter, but current conditions suggest spring runoff in southern Saskatchewan will be below normal. Last year at this time, municipalities and residents were dealing with more snow than usual and preparing for runoff that suggested widespread flooding. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority released its first forecast for 2012 last week, and […] Read more
U.S. cattle groups urge COOL change to ease trade
COOL violates trade rules | Farm groups want country-of-origin labelling retained, but amended to conform with WTO rules
SASKATOON — A large American farm organization says it is in livestock producers’ best interests to resolve issues surrounding country- of-origin labelling and not appeal last year’s World Trade Organization ruling. The ruling declared that the U.S. labelling requirements violated WTO rules. The office of the U.S. Trade Representative is to announce in March whether […] Read more
