The second largest agriculture budget in Saskatchewan history does not contain money for farmers in case of another flood disaster, but the government says it will find funds if necessary. Funding for crop insurance and other business risk management programs took up more than three-quarters of the budget, which was announced March 23. The $418 […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Groundswell of excitement in potash
Gary and Carol Dunbar sit smack dab in the middle of potash possibilities. They farm beside Highway 33 southeast of Regina near Kronau, Sask. On one side is a large area that Brazilian mining giant Vale has exploration permits for. On the other is a large area held by Vancouverbased Western Potash. Both companies are […] Read more
Sask. biodiesel maker welcomes gov’t incentives
Saskatchewan’s only major biodiesel manufacturer says an incentive announced in last week’s provincial budget will put the company on a level playing field with its competitors. Joe Holash, chief executive officer of Milligan Bio-Tech Inc. in Foam Lake, said the 13 cents per litre incentive for companies that make at least 500,000 litres of biodiesel […] Read more
Record funding approved for Sask. producer-led summer projects
Seventy-four producer-led projects will go ahead across Saskatchewan this summer through the Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies, or ADOPT, program. The federal and provincial governments announced a record $608,000 in funding for the summer projects submitted by 31 producer organizations. Funding for fall 2011 projects will increase, the ministers also said, from $50,000 per […] Read more
Grain bag recycling projects launched
A one-year pilot program will launch six grain bag recycling projects in Saskatchewan this year to help farmers get rid of plastic waste. Provincial agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said the bags are becoming more popular because they are convenient, but disposal is a concern. “Those grain bags are humongous,” he told reporters after announcing the […] Read more
CWB directors step into ship storm at farmer meetings
The Canadian Wheat Board’s decision to buy two lakers to shuttle grain from Thunder Bay, Ont., to the St. Lawrence Seaway continues to rankle farmers. In Taber, Alta., new District 3 director Stewart Wells said the $65 million purchase announced in mid-February, one of the first issues he had to deal with as a board […] Read more
Help needed for farmers’ flooded acres
Saskatchewan NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter says the provincial government should roll back crop insurance premium increases for farmers who had flooded acres last year. However, agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said he doesn’t think that is possible. Premiums and coverage levels are based on prices, and forecasts are strong right now, he said. As well, he […] Read more
Hog plant off to slow start
Two months after opening its doors, Thunder Creek Pork is running at about half capacity. The Moose Jaw, Sask., plant underwent extensive renovation last summer and fall to accommodate the plans of its new owners, Donald’s Fine Foods/ Britco Pork of British Columbia. The plant had been closed for about four years after the previous […] Read more
Irrigation operators receive $4.5 million from gov’t
Saskatchewan irrigation districts will receive $4.5 million in federal and provincial funding to expand irrigation within their existing boundaries. Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association president Roger Pederson said the funding, announced last week, is earmarked for infill projects. The money will cover 90 percent of eligible costs, which include buying and installing pumps, turn outs, power […] Read more
Funds offered for farm BMP
Agricultural watersheds participating in the federal government’s evaluation of beneficial management practices program received funding boosts last week. In a series of announcements across Canada, the nine smaller watersheds learned what they would receive for projects that run until 2013. The projects began at seven locations in 2004; Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island have been […] Read more
