REGINA — An analysis of eight food items found little connection between higher grocery prices and what farmers earn at the farmgate. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and market analyst Kevin Grier looked at beef, pork, flour, bread, canola oil, lentils, margarine and beer. Related stories: Report sees Canadian food inflation fading Grocery code […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Costs rise for FCL ag complex
REGINA — The CEO of Federated Co-operatives Ltd. said front-end engineering and design continues on its planned Regina integrated agriculture complex even as costs escalate. Heather Ryan said inflation is a concern. Although she wouldn’t say how much beyond the initial $2-billion price tag the cost has gone, she did say it isn’t far off […] Read more
Canola growers scramble to address federal policy issues
Another day, another issue for canola growers to tackle. From the federal government’s musing on reducing emissions from fertilizer use to trade matters to carbon pricing, policy dominates much of the work carried out by farmer organizations. The most recent concern surrounds amendments made in the Senate to Bill C-234 that removed barns and greenhouses […] Read more
Senate passes amended Bill C-234
REGINA — Bill C-234 has passed in the Senate, although it looks far different than when debate began. It was amended twice to remove barns and greenhouses from a carbon pricing exemption clause and to shorten the sunset period of the exemption for propane and natural gas used in grain drying from eight years to […] Read more
Canada tackles cattle methane emissions
REGINA — Canada intends to offer cattle feeders incentives to reduce methane emissions. In a statement issued Dec. 10 Environment and Climate Change Canada said it had published a draft protocol, Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle, to encourage producers to make changes that would cut emissions from burping cattle. In return producers would […] Read more
Animal health biosecurity bill makes way to Senate
REGINA — A private member’s bill to amend the Health of Animals Act has received third reading and gone to the Senate. Agriculture critic John Barlow’s bill, C-275, addresses biosecurity on farms and was passed by a 278-36 vote Nov. 29. During third reading debate a week earlier, Charlottetown Liberal MP Sean Casey said making […] Read more
Swedish guests eye Charolais cattle
Swedish cattle have smaller, more angular legs compared to Canadian stock because of the hilly terrain
REGINA — Two Swedish visitors to Canadian Western Agribition spent a lot of time looking at legs. Charolais legs, to be exact. Patrik Gustafsson and Emil Martensson agreed they didn’t really like the legs on the North American cattle because they wouldn’t serve their animals well. “Legs is a big thing in Sweden. I think […] Read more
Sheep exhibitor maintains family tradition
Fourth generation helps weigh, vaccinate and sort lambs, and enjoys spending time in the show and sale ring
REGINA — Lois Trowell said her late father would be “proud as punch” to see a fourth generation in the Canadian Western Agribition show ring. He would be even more pleased that Trowell’s granddaughter, Karly Eritz, showed the grand champion market lamb. “The market lamb class was my dad’s thing,” said Trowell. “He had a […] Read more
Shorthorn breeder continues aim to maintain breed purity
REGINA — Many producers would have called it quits by their mid-80s but Bill Acheson was still bidding on cattle at Canadian Western Agribition last month as he neared his 85th birthday. In fact, he and his wife, Isabel, bought the high-selling lot in the Shorthorn sale, spending $19,000 on a pick of the herd […] Read more
Carbon pricing exemption bill in doubt after senate amendment
REGINA — The Senate amended Bill C-234 Dec. 5, leaving its future very much in doubt. By a narrow 40-39 margin, senators voted in favour of Independent Senators Group Pierre Dalphond’s amendment to remove heating and cooling of barns from the bill that would have exempted propane and natural gas from carbon pricing. An exemption […] Read more
