UPDATED – January 3, 2024 – 1350 CST – Story updated to include comment from Viterra. REGINA — Viterra says it has a contingency plan in place should its unionized employees go on strike. It also suggested workers could be locked out if an agreement isn’t reached. “We are committed to the collective bargaining process […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Hepworth honoured for agricultural achievements
REGINA — Lorne Hepworth, former Saskatchewan agriculture minister and current chair of the Agriculture Research Institute of Ontario, has been named a member of the Order of Canada. Hepworth was among 78 appointments announced by governor general Mary Simon in late December. The London, Ont., resident was recognized for his contributions to agriculture and research […] Read more
Sask. may deregulate pests
REGINA — The Saskatchewan agriculture ministry is reviewing several pests for possible deregulation, including clubroot, grasshoppers and Richardson’s ground squirrels. Changes could be in place by spring 2024. SaskCanola requested changes a year ago to how clubroot is treated. The organization asked for clubroot to be removed from the Pest Control Act where it had […] Read more
APAS takes stock of ’23; looks ahead
REGINA — Tisdale farmer Ian Boxall was re-elected president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan at the organization’s annual meeting earlier this month. Vice-president Bill Prybylski of Willowbrook and Bev Pirio of Radville were also re-elected. Two board members, Donovan Block in District 5 and Wanda Reid in District 1, stepped down. Christopher Procyk […] Read more
Carbon pricing exemption bill hits another roadblock
Supporters failed to get the bill on the House agenda before Christmas break, delaying it for at least another six weeks
REGINA — A last-ditch attempt to get Bill C-234 on the House of Commons agenda before a winter break failed Dec. 15. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis moved a motion for Parliament to sit Dec. 18 to push the bill through after a longer-than-expected delay in the Senate. However, the vote required unanimous consent and some […] Read more
Activist or journalist? WP editor left a legacy
Violet McNaughton shaped the lives of the farm women of her time as long-time women’s editor of The Western Producer
REGINA — Long before Harris Turner and Pat Waldron founded The Western Producer, Violet McNaughton was rallying Saskatchewan farmers to support a progressive agenda. She had, by 1923 when the paper was born, already amassed an impressive resume of organizing both men and women through grain growers’ locals and then the Saskatchewan Grain Growers Association. […] Read more
Commission addresses test weight controversy
Canadian Grain Commission official says the organization needs to review how it goes about making decisions
REGINA — The Canadian Grain Commission plans to review its processes in light of what happened this past summer regarding test weights, says assistant chief commissioner Patty Rosher. Speaking at the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan annual meeting, Rosher said the decision to align primary and export test weights, and then reverse it, indicates the […] Read more
Fewer hunting licenses sold after trespass laws changed
Saskatchewan environment ministry says it’s too soon to know if the decline is because of the law or other factors
REGINA — Hunting licence sales for white-tailed and mule deer in Saskatchewan dropped after the province implemented its new trespass laws. Joann Skilnick, director of wildlife for the environment ministry, said the decline after the Trespass to Property Act came into force Jan. 1, 2022, was the first in years. “We recognize single year data […] Read more
Study shows Sask. growers sequester more carbon than others
REGINA — A study analyzing the carbon footprint of five key crops found Saskatchewan’s emissions are far lower than other leading producers. The Global Institute for Food Security released the results of its two-part study on canola, wheat, durum, field peas and lentils last week. The study was carried out with the provincial government. Olufunke […] Read more
Grocery code of conduct hits snags
REGINA — Canada’s grocery code of conduct appears to be in jeopardy after Loblaw and Walmart said last week they weren’t prepared to sign on to it. Loblaw executive chair Galen Weston told the standing agriculture committee the code as currently written would cause higher, not lower, prices. Walmart Canada chief executive officer Gonzalo Gebera […] Read more
