Saskatchewan manufacturers will soon have access to specialists who can help them implement lean principles in their operations. Lean manufacturing is a philosophy that focuses on reducing waste and increasing efficiency. The federal and provincial governments announced $198,000 in funding, shared equally, to finance a one-year pilot project to help companies adopt the principles. The […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Bull buyers willing to pay top price at Regina sale
Average sale prices were up for all breeds at last week’s Regina Bull Sale, but particularly for Simmental and Charolais bulls. Prices have been strong for both breeds this spring as producers look to add extra growth on their calves and earn more money, said sale secretary Candace By. “Guys want more bang for their […] Read more
Sheep sector weighs value-added options
Lamb producers and processors hope to earn $10 to $15 more for each lamb through more efficient marketing and production practices. Tim Stolz, an Alberta member of a committee set up to explore value-added opportunities for the prairie lamb industry, said the idea is to increase the amount and quality of lamb available. He said […] Read more
Short-line rail company hauls first grain shipment
Saskatchewan’s newest short-line railroad has begun operating out of its home base at Leader. In its first few days of operation, Great Sandhills Railway had already travelled the length of its 188 kilometre track – slowly – to serve its customers. Although Canadian Pacific Railway used the track until the day before officially transferring it […] Read more
Oat company lawsuit comes to close
Ceapro Inc. has settled its long-running lawsuit with the Saskatchewan government regarding a Saskatoon oat processing plant. The Edmonton company announced March 17 it had agreed to pay $705,000 in court costs and discontinue its appeal in a case that dates back to 1998. “This chapter in Ceapro’s history is now closed and this settlement […] Read more
Settlement reached in listeria lawsuit
A Regina judge has approved a class action lawsuit launched after a deadly listeria outbreak last summer at Maple Leaf Foods, moving the case a step closer to completion. The $25 million settlement has already been approved in Ontario and was scheduled to go before the Quebec Superior Court March 20. Queen’s Bench justice Ron […] Read more
4-Hers show top quality at Regina sale
Six-year-old Hadley Schmidt was dwarfed by her 4-H steer, 973 pound First Chance. As a result, she needed a little assistance to walk the Maine-Anjou/Angus steer through the show ring at Canadian Western Agribition’s Spring Steer and Heifer Show in Regina. Fittingly, Marcella Hamilton, a senior in the Carlton Trail 4-H Beef Club, was doing […] Read more
Sheep sector wants cash
Some sheep producers were angry about being excluded from Saskatchewan’s recently announced livestock support program, but a senior industry official wasn’t one of them. Gordon Schroeder, executive director of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board, said it would be inappropriate for a sector doing so well to take an ad hoc payment. However, that doesn’t mean […] Read more
Sask. budget brings good news for landowners
Most Saskatchewan landowners will pay less education tax this year as the provincial government makes good on its 2007 election promise to pay a greater share. Saskatchewan joins seven other provinces in moving to provincially set education mill rates for each property class – residential, agricultural and commercial. Finance minister Rod Gantefoer announced in the […] Read more
Viterra well positioned: CEO
The recession has many in the business world wringing their hands and cutting their operations, but Viterra’s chief executive officer is not among them. The grain company is in good financial shape and plans an ambitious growth strategy, Mayo Schmidt told shareholders attending the annual meeting last week. He said the company is “hungry for […] Read more
