Saskatchewan has introduced a rebate program to help the livestock sector voluntarily move forward with traceability. Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud maintains traceability should be voluntary, but Ottawa and the other provinces have agreed that it be mandatory by 2011. He said the program will help Saskatchewan stakeholders get ready. “They’ve said we’ve got to get […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
No promises for ag
Saskatchewan farm leaders say they aren’t too worried about the lack of new agricultural initiatives in last week’s throne speech. However, they agree that the state of the livestock industry bears watching. The speech to open the fall session of the legislature reiterated the measures the Saskatchewan Party government has taken over the last two […] Read more
Farmers protect water quality
CREELMAN, Sask. – Les Johnston thinks governments haven’t done enough to help cattle producers since BSE was discovered in Canada in 2003. But he gives them credit for funding available through the environmental pillar of Growing Forward and says producers should grab as much of it as they can while it’s available. Johnston, a beef […] Read more
Producers vie for SCA positions
ASSINIBOIA, Sask. – The lineup of cattle producers registering at the door sent meeting organizers looking for more chairs. Interest in the first Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association district elections is high, and about 175 people filled a room in Assiniboia Oct. 22 where voting took place for District 3A. The meeting started 30 minutes late to […] Read more
‘Patient first’ model for Sask.
On the heels of a report focused on what patients want from the Saskatchewan health-care system, the provincial government has announced new health measures. Among them is a promise that within four years, surgical wait times will be reduced to no more than three months. A physician recruitment strategy, re-establishment of a provincial addictions treatment […] Read more
Author flying high from book acclaim
Trevor Herriot isn’t sure why his latest book has struck such a chord with readers. “It’s a difficult thing to figure out,” the Regina author said. “It’s a book about little obscure brown birds that nobody knows or cares about. They’re just out there in the grass and we most of the time ignore them.” […] Read more
Sask. ag dept. contributes to provincial belt tightening
The Saskatchewan agriculture ministry has reduced its budget by $20.4 million as part of an overall provincial government response to an unexpected revenue shortfall. However, agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said farmers shouldn’t be alarmed. The money is available largely because the federal government overestimated how much it and the province would have to pay for […] Read more
Hardy appointed to SAMA chair
The Saskatchewan government has appointed Neal Hardy of Hudson Bay to chair the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency. Hardy is a former president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and was an MLA from 1980 to 1991. He held cabinet portfolios that include rural development. He replaces Craig Melvin, who retired Sept. 1 when his […] Read more
Farmers begin canola deliveries
YORKTON, Sask. – The LDM Foods construction site resembles a bustling small town. More than 400 workers and equipment are in motion, putting the final touches on the new canola processing plant near Yorkton, Sask., on the Yellowhead Highway. It’s a slightly more difficult task in the mud after recent rain and snow, but the […] Read more
XL Foods workers still on picket line
Pickets will remain outside the XL Foods beef packing plant in Moose Jaw, Sask. after employees voted to reject the company’s latest offer. The locked-out workers, who are members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1400, voted 93.5 percent against the offer Oct. 15. No new talks had been set as of Oct. 19. […] Read more
