The Canadian Crop Hail Association estimates prairie farmers received $164 million for claims on more than 15,000 losses in 2011. In a final report issued today, the association said producers paid premiums worth $268 million for an industry-wide loss ratio of just more than 61 percent. There were more losses last year, but payouts were […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Agriculture not election priority
Farmers and ranchers looking for specific promises from the two main Saskatchewan political parties will have to dig deep into their election platforms. The Saskatchewan Party and the New Democrats released their full platforms last week in advance of the Nov. 7 vote. Neither highlighted agriculture as a main priority. Saskatchewan Party leader Brad Wall […] Read more
First farmer-elected CWB chair dies
The first farmer-elected chair of the Canadian Wheat Board has died. Ken Ritter had cancer and died Oct. 23. The current chair of the CWB board of directors, Allen Oberg, issued a statement of condolence. “I was saddened to hear of Ken’s untimely death and extend my sympathies and the thoughts and well wishes of […] Read more
Hantavirus to blame in Sask. death
A person in west-central Saskatchewan has died after contracting hantavirus, the province said Oct. 21. Deputy chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said the infection is rare but potentially fatal and people should be careful to avoid contact with deer mice and their droppings. “This is the time of the year when mice are […] Read more
Cattle producers vote this month
Voting begins next week for directors in several Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association districts, and there will be at least two new faces at the board table as a result. Chair Jack Hextall is not running again in District 1. Two people were nominated to replace him : Kevin Woods of Moosomin and Ryan Beierbach of Whitewood. […] Read more
Tight Agribition schedule forces end to draft horse show
There will be no draft horse show at Canadian Western Agribition this fall. An April decision by the board of directors to suspend the event also means the North American Equine Ranching Informatin Council draft horse classic sale and futurity is moving after 10 years in Regina to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon […] Read more
Parties pitch freeze in university tuition, aid for disabled
The first week of Saskatchewan’s election campaign came and went without a word about agriculture from the two main contenders. Saskatchewan Party leader Brad Wall and NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter spent the week outlining how they would make health, education and shelter more affordable. Wall announced Oct. 17 what will be the most expensive campaign […] Read more
Wheat, pulse processor planned
Alliance Grain Traders Inc., a Regina- based international pulse export company, has announced plans to build a $50 million durum and pulse processing facility and pasta plant just west of the city. The facilities will be located at the Global Transportation Hub, which houses a food distribution company, trucking and logistics experts. It is expected […] Read more
Harper pledges bill to end CWB will come ‘very soon’
Prime minister Stephen Harper says the government will pass legislation to end the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly by next year, despite the NDP’s claims it will block the bill. Speaking in Regina Oct. 7 at the Alliance Grain Traders’ announcement of a new $50 million durum and pulse processing facility and pasta plant, Harper said […] Read more
APAS president issues resignation
Greg Marshall has resigned as president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan in a letter to the board and staff. Marshall suffered a near-fatal heart attack recently and after emergency surgery is recovering at home. His resignation was announced Oct. 6. The board of directors has agreed that vice-presidents Don Connick and Arlynn Kurtz […] Read more
