Karen Briere

Former Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert spent his last day in the legislature May 14, nearly 23 years after he first arrived. A day earlier, he submitted his letter of resignation, effective June 30, to the speaker. He took over as principal of St. Andrew’s College at the University of Saskatchewan the next day. Government and […] Read more

The Saskatchewan government won’t directly help Iogen Corp. bring a cellulosic ethanol plant to the province, no matter where it locates. The company had intended to build at Birch Hills but just recently disclosed it is looking at the now-closed Domtar pulp mill near Prince Albert, about 25 kilometres away from Birch Hills. Energy minister […] Read more

How Saskatchewan’s new greenhouse gas legislation will affect agriculture is still unknown, but the industry will figure in both sides of the emission equation. Agriculture is responsible for 17 percent of the province’s emissions, according to 2007 data, but it also offers offset opportunities such as carbon sequestration, agri-forestry and renewable energy. Kim Graybiel, director […] Read more

The Saskatchewan government is not planning more assistance for hog producers in the wake of the H1N1 influenza outbreak. Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud, responding to questions from opposition critic Pat Atkinson, said that producers are receiving cheques from the hog support program announced in February. Producers who applied are receiving $20 for each market hog […] Read more

The sale of Investment Saskatchewan’s interest in Saskferco, the fertilizer plant at Belle Plaine, pushed the corporation’s earnings to an all-time high. The corporation sold the plant to Yara International last year for $816.9 million, resulting in overall earnings of $691 million. That is far above the target of $42.2 million and the $11.5 million […] Read more

A woman from Findlater, Sask., will face charges of animal cruelty in provincial court next month. The woman was charged after the SPCA seized 13 horses and one pig in October following a complaint that they were not being properly cared for, which can mean lack of food, water or shelter or that sick animals […] Read more

EDGELEY, Sask. – Flanked by his agriculture minister and people who might benefit from the announcement, prime minister Stephen Harper made good May 1 on a budget promise to extend more credit to farmers. Harper chose the backdrop of a Saskatchewan farm to announce amendments to the Farm Improvement and Marketing Cooperative Loans Act (FIMCLA). […] Read more

Saskatchewan continues to sell agricultural crown land it no longer wants to own. Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud told a legislative committee April 21 that nearly 19,000 acres have been sold. Of that amount, about 11,600 acres are cultivated and the remainder is grazing land. Agriculture critic Pat Atkinson asked if sales were slow, considering the […] Read more