The chorus calling for assistance for livestock producers grew louder last week when the leaders of three prairie farm organizations chimed in. The presidents of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and Keystone Agricultural Producers said the federal and provincial governments must shed their wait-and-see attitudes. “Livestock producers are very concerned that […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. gov’t to spend on irrigation upgrades
The Saskatchewan government says it will spend $30 million over the next 10 years to restore Lake Diefenbaker’s irrigation system that last saw a major cash infusion in the 1980s. The promise was made in the Oct. 27 throne speech. The government has allocated $1 million this year to repair the 22.5 kilometre M1 Canal, […] Read more
MotherFirst presents recommendations to government
One in five Saskatchewan women will experience mental health issues after having a baby. Elita Paterson, Tania Bird and Carla O’Reilly all suffered depression after the birth of their children. They coauthoredThe Smiling Mask to document their experiences. Last week, they had something to smile about when the MotherFirst working group presented its report to […] Read more
Sask. grower touts berries to Dragons
There was likely a collective gasp across the Prairies during a recent episode of CBC Television’s Dragons’ Den when two dragons said they had never heard of saskatoon berries. But that’s exactly why Sandra Purdy, co-owner of Prairie Berries at Keeler, Sask., approached the potential investors. The fruit is not widely known outside the West […] Read more
Planned feedlot clears hurdle in Sask.
The council for the Saskatchewan Rural Municipality of Rudy has approved a land-use application for a 36,000 head feedlot after learning it was not able to deal with a petition for a referendum. At a special meeting Oct. 28, the council voted 5-2 in favour of a resolution to allow Stuart Thiessen of Namaka Farms […] Read more
Sask. back on track to reduce education tax on farmland
The second phase of the Saskatchewan government’s plan to reduce education tax on property will go ahead next year. The reduction was postponed a year because of the collapse in the potash market, but improving resource revenue means the government can fulfill its promise to reduce the reliance on property tax to fund schools, it […] Read more
Feds reject BHP Billiton takeover bid for Potash Corp.
Cheering echoed through Regina’s Legislature late Wednesday as federal industry minister Tony Clement announced he had turned down BHP Billiton’s takeover bid for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan.”Some decisions can only be taken once and there is no turning back, ever,” he told the national media in Ottawa. “Such is the case today.”Clement said the nearly […] Read more
Record insurance payouts registered
The true cost of excess moisture this year will take time to calculate but the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. is already registering record payouts. According to Oct. 15 statistics, SCIC logged 12,277 unseeded acreage claims in 2010. That compares to 18,199 in the 10 previous years combined. About 98 percent of the claims have been […] Read more
Producers want XL plant review
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – The Canadian cattle industry wants the federal Competition Bureau to examine the mothballed XL Foods beef plant in Moose Jaw. The National Cattle Feeders Association has written to the bureau asking that it consider the plant’s future. Bill Jameson, NCFA chair and a board member of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, told […] Read more
Sask. cattle producers request feed aid but gov’t skeptical
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Cattle producers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have asked for government help after a season of flooded pastures and poor quality feed. The Manitoba government has already asked federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz for assistance under AgriRecovery. A Manitoba government spokesperson said the province’s money is in place and negotiations are ongoing. […] Read more
