Canadian and American officials will establish a working group to develop a management plan for the Souris River Basin reservoirs in 2012. Officials from Saskatchewan, North Dakota, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others met in St. Paul, Minnesota Dec. 8 to discuss the flood events of the past year. Of special concern was […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. MLAs elect speaker; throne speech outlines agenda
Long-time Saskatchewan Party MLA Dan D’Autremont was elected speaker of the legislature Dec. 5 as the house convened for the first session after Saskatchewan’s November election. D’Autremont, who represents Cannington, defeated former speaker Don Toth, from the neighbouring constituency of Moosomin, in a secret ballot vote prior to the throne speech. Both were first elected […] Read more
Cattle killed by wolves on rise
Wolves are becoming a problem for cattle ranchers in northern Saskatchewan. Colin Hughes, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Canwood and chair of the Cookson community pasture patrons’ committee, said the predators have always been a concern, but the past year has been worse. “We lost 38 head in our fields this year by wolf […] Read more
Energy company not responsible for gas contamination, says report
Cenovus Energy says the carbon dioxide gas it uses in its enhanced oil recovery project near Weyburn, Sask., is not leaking to the surface. The Calgary company held a news conference last week to release the results of a third-party site assessment. Brad Small, Cenovus’s vice-president of oil and natural gas for Saskatchewan, said the […] Read more
High prices, low supply hurt, not help bison markets
Meat processors warn that unprecedented high bison prices and low supply could put some markets at risk. Prices are running near $4 per pound, up from about $1.15 in 2003, and buyers say that’s too much. Kelly Long, co-owner of Carmen Creek Gourmet Meats, said Europe is her company’s largest market. High meat prices and […] Read more
K+S to build potash mine
K+S Aktiengesellschaft of Germany will spend $3.25 billion to build a new potash mine 50 kilometres north of Moose Jaw, Sask. The Legacy Project is expected to be operating in 2015. Board chair Norbert Steiner said in a news release the project, along with existing mines in Germany, will allow K+S to be globally competitive. […] Read more
Strong sales wow sheep producers
Two strong sheep sales highlighted the final day of Canadian Western Agribition as the industry continues to benefit from high demand. The Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders Association and the Saskatchewan Katahdin Sheep Association both held sales Nov. 26. Kim MacDougall, president of the SSBA and an Agribition director, said producers are enjoying good prices at all […] Read more
Horse catches bidder’s eye at Premier Select
A horse that had a tough time in the show ring fared better in the sale ring during Canada’s Premier Select Ranch Horse events at Canadian Western Agribition. Wayne A. Morris saw the potential in SQ Mr. Blue Socks, a young buckskin gelding consigned by Sim Qua Ranch of Kola, Man. Morris, bidding on behalf […] Read more
Beef genome project will improve carcass quality
The Saskatchewan government has matched a contribution from Alberta to fund a genomics research project. The Canadian Simmental Association is leading the project to identify genes that will improve carcass quality and efficiency. All breeds will benefit from the results. Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said the province’s $375,000 contribution from the Agriculture Development Fund will […] Read more
Agriculture not prominent is Sask. legislative session
The Saskatchewan government’s throne speech read in Regina by lt. gov. Gordon Barnhart Dec. 5 made no new promises for Saskatchewan farmers. The speech was largely a recitation of campaign promises made by the Saskatchewan Party, which was re-elected Nov. 7 with a larger majority. Agriculture did not figure prominently in the campaign although rural […] Read more
