The number of sheep on farms dropped in 2008, according to Statistics Canada, but the Canadian Sheep Federation president questions whether the decline is as much as the numbers indicate. Dwane Morvik of Eastend, Sask., said he believed the numbers could be skewed because smaller producers are selling out to larger ones. Flocks are getting […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Rural Sask. schools upgraded or replaced
The physical condition of the high school in Porcupine Plain, Sask., is so bad that Ivan Yackel didn’t know where to begin his description. “It’s one of those schools that, when you see it, outside and in, you say it should’ve been closed a few years ago,” said the director of education for North East […] Read more
Clean coal project moving along
SaskPower placed three companies on its list for its carbon capture project at the Boundary Dam Power Station near Estevan. The crown corporation selected Powerspan Corp., Cansolv Technologies Inc. and Fluor Canada Ltd. to proceed to the next stage, after issuing a request for proposals last July. “The technologies that were selected present the lowest […] Read more
Fire destroys Sask. clay product plant
A fire at Canada’s major bentonite processing plant has disrupted the flow of an ingredient used in a variety of agricultural products. Fire broke out around 9 a.m. Feb. 18 at Canadian Clay Products at Wilcox, Sask., south of Regina, and destroyed the packaging and shipping operation. Equipment inside that building was also destroyed, including […] Read more
Hog cycle may have hit bottom
During 35 years in the hog business, Florian Possberg has seen his share of ups and downs. But the events of the last year have definitely been the lowest. The loss of federal slaughter capacity in Saskatchewan, government programs that limited the ability of large hog operations to weather low prices and high costs, country-of-origin […] Read more
Canadian cattle herd shrinks; largest reductions in Sask., Ont.
There are at least 220,000 fewer beef cattle on Saskatchewan farms than there were a year ago. That number underscores what industry leaders have been saying for months but couldn’t quantify. “I don’t think this was a surprise to us,” said agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud after the Statistics Canada Jan. 1 livestock estimate was released. […] Read more
Insurance to include yield trends
Saskatchewan farmers wanted yield trending as part of their crop insurance program, and they got it. But after analyzing 17 years worth of data, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. could include only four crops. Yield trending is the practice of adjusting historical yields where technology, either through production practices or varieties, has resulted in a […] Read more
Fast-track funding gives Sask. RMs shot in arm
Roads, schools and health-care facilities throughout Saskatchewan are all in line for construction and upgrades after the province said it would accelerate funding announced last fall. Premier Brad Wall said one-third of the $1.5 billion Ready for Growth infrastructure fund would be spent in the current fiscal year. The program was supposed to be part […] Read more
New Sask. crop insurance welcomed
Saskatchewan farmers are lauding changes to the crop insurance program for this year, saying they address many long-held concerns. The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC) acted on 12 of 16 recommendations made after last year’s program review. “They were changes that were really needed and I was happy to see them,” said Greg Marshall, president […] Read more
Sask. customers may get break on their gas bills
SaskEnergy has applied to cut its natural gas commodity rate, a move that could save farm customers $28 per month. The crown corporation last week said natural gas prices have dropped substantially in the last year and a rate cut is warranted. It has asked the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel to approve a 27 percent […] Read more
