Thousands of cattle will head home to Alberta this fall after spending the summer in Saskatchewan. In the northwest region alone, 23,000 to 26,000 cattle from Alberta graze in Saskatchewan each summer. Each time the cattle move over the border, their owners are required to pay inspection fees. Some producers say that is one cost […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Nominees picked for Sask. cattle group election
Twenty-six producers have been nominated for a spot on the first-ever elected board of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. Nominations closed Sept. 15 for the 11 positions based on the nine provincial crop districts. Districts 3 and 9 were split in two because of their large cattle populations. Three of the nominees are automatically on the […] Read more
Ottawa promises adequate vaccine supply for flu season
Canada will have enough vaccine for those who want or need to be immunized against H1N1, officials say. The Public Health Agency of Canada released its guidelines for provinces to use in determining who gets vaccinated first. The agency identified seven groups that would benefit the most but is leaving it up to the provinces […] Read more
Yellowfeed refusing to dry this year
Some producers who use yellowfeed as livestock forage are finding it a bit challenging to harvest this fall. Humidity is keeping crops from drying down, said regional forage specialist Lorne Klein of Weyburn, Sask. Yellowfeed is the practice of applying glyphosate to an annual cereal crop at the milk-dough stage and leaving it standing to […] Read more
Grasshoppers’ late debut a harvest headache
Grasshoppers are causing concern for farmers this fall but not in the usual way. Although the insects are damaging late crops still in the field, their presence in harvested crops is the big problem. Grant McLean of Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Knowledge Centre said reports are coming in from farmers, particularly pea growers, who say they are […] Read more
Producers offered loan extension
Saskatchewan cattle and sheep producers who borrowed money through the provincial breeder livestock loan guarantee program have a bit of breathing room to repay the principal. Provincial agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud announced last week that participants have the option to defer their principal payments for one year. They still have to pay the interest, however. […] Read more
SCA urges voter turnout
Nominations closed Sept. 15 for the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association first board of directors and elections will follow between Oct. 20 and Nov. 6. Every producer who has paid a checkoff within the last two years, and has not received a refund, is eligible to vote and hold office. Janice Bruynooghe, management consultant for the SCA, […] Read more
Fertilizer margins hurt Viterra
Canada’s largest grain handler last week reported third-quarter earnings of nearly $121 million, down from $167 million year-over-year. For the first nine months of the year, Viterra Inc. posted profits of $114 million, down from $241.5 million the same time last year. This includes a write-down of $28.1 million on fertilizer inventory in the first […] Read more
XL Foods mum on reopening
Workers affected by the April closure of the XL Foods plant in Moose Jaw, Sask., likely have Sept. 28 circled on their calendars. The province’s major beef slaughter plant is scheduled to re-open that day after a five-month shutdown. Norm Neault, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1400, said last week he […] Read more
Grasshoppers’ late debut a harvest headache
Grasshoppers are causing concern for farmers this fall but not in the usual way. Although the insects are damaging late crops still in the field, their presence in harvested crops is the big problem. Grant McLean of Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Knowledge Centre said reports are coming in from farmers, particularly pea growers, who say they are […] Read more
