Karen Briere

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Effective agricultural policy has to come from the grassroots, farm leaders said at a conference here last week. As farm organizations and individuals work to develop what they think is appropriate and approach it from different philosophical and political viewpoints, agreement seems unlikely. But everyone agrees that something has to change. […] Read more

Saskatchewan farmers who tried to take their crop insurance case to Canada’s highest court were turned down last week. The Supreme Court of Canada said it would not hear an appeal of a Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision that overturned a class action certification. Terry Zakreski, the Saskatoon lawyer for Michael Hicks and Leigh Stuart, […] Read more

Henry Skjerven won’t let a bad investment experience stop him from trying again. However, he will take some lessons from his involvement in Natural Valley Farms and says other farmers who consider investing in value-added processing should do the same. “There should be a curriculum of course work for producers,” he said. “Investment 101 would […] Read more

A new influenza strain detected in two Saskatchewan hog barn workers is not related to the H1N1 pandemic strain, provincial health and veterinary officials said last week. The virus, dubbed novel non-pandemic influenza A, has not affected any hogs. Provincial chief medical health officer Moira McKinnon said the virus is a combination of seasonal human […] Read more

Value-added processing is often seen as a solution to inadequate farm income. Farmers and community backers often start companies with the intention of adding value to the commodities they produce to increase incomes and create local jobs. Some projects succeed but many fail. Western Producer Regina bureau news reporter Karen Briere talked to experts and […] Read more

Prairie farmers and ranchers are an optimistic lot. After the initial shock of the door slamming shut to Canadian cattle exports in May 2003 following the discovery of BSE in Alberta, many sought to make the best of a bad situation. Cut off from American feedlots and packers and with more cull cattle than existing […] Read more

Optimistic, yes, but realistic is a better word to characterize how the proponents of Blue Hills Processors went about establishing their pulse processing business. The farmers and business owners in Avonlea, Sask., took a look at a business plan they commissioned, decided it was too “rosy” and proceeded to create their own. Several of the […] Read more

Farmers are fabulous idea generators. They’re well known for inventions of all kinds and technological advances that have revolutionized their industry. But for every successful product and agribusiness are many others that have failed. “Sometimes the marketplace isn’t as excited as you are,” said Clark Sullivan, a financial adviser from Regina. Getting into the value-added […] Read more

Farm groups often have good ideas for a business but run into problems between hatching the idea and producing and marketing the final product. Here are tips from people who have gone through the process: 1. Optimism is good to build support, but the business plan must be built on realism and the flexibility to […] Read more

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – American agriculture is in good shape and that gives president Barack Obama breathing room at a time when other industries are struggling. “Agriculture has been the least of his problems,” said American journalist Jerry Hagstrom, who has been covering agriculture in Washington for the last 15 years. “These other areas have […] Read more