Karen Briere

Most of Saskatchewan is expected to escape major insect infestations in the coming growing season. But Scott Hartley, the province’s insect specialist, has compiled forecasts that show some growers could face high numbers of wheat midge, grasshoppers, cabbage seedpod weevil and other pests. It all depends on where the crop is and what the weather […] Read more

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Saskatchewan acreage seeded to pinto beans is poised to more than double as Walker Seeds Ltd. offers up more contracts for its exclusive variety. Les Aubin, the company’s country operations manager, said farmers planted 3,000 to 4,000 acres of the slow-darkening White Mountain pinto bean last year. “Our goal is 10,000 […] Read more

Three months into a crown land sales program, the Saskatchewan government has already completed sales for about 7,000 acres. “Sales are brisk,” associate deputy agriculture minister Nithi Govindasamy told a recent Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association meeting. Gloria Parisien, lands branch director, agreed with that assessment. “We’ve had a phenomenal level of interest,” she said. The […] Read more

Saskatchewan agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud says he needs more information before he can consider allowing cattle producers to use crown lease land for lender security. The topic was debated at the recent Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association semi-annual meeting, although a resolution on the matter was tabled until the June convention. The resolution noted that Alberta […] Read more

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Canaryseed growers often report higher yields when they apply potash to their fields. Researcher Bill May wanted to know if it was the potassium or the chloride in the fertilizer that made the difference. After two years of study, it turns out it was chloride, he told farmers at the Indian […] Read more

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Farmers who want to spread risk by splitting fertilizer applications should be aware they create risk by not applying all their nitrogen at seeding. Guy Lafond, a scientist at Agriculture Canada’s Indian Head, Sask., research farm, said the window of opportunity for post-emergent application is small. “We estimate a window of […] Read more

The Saskatchewan agriculture ministry is expanding its rural extension service while cutting city jobs. Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud announced Jan. 29 that three regional extension offices would be re-established in Kindersley, Watrous and Moose Jaw. Each office will be fully staffed with crop, livestock, forage and farm business management specialists. As well, vacancies in the […] Read more

A Winnipeg company will spend the next three years evaluating the suitability of Saskatchewan land identified for possible irrigation. Nearly 20,000 acres within the existing South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District (SSRID) near Outlook, could be irrigated if the soil and water quality allow, said John Babcock, director of Saskatchewan Agriculture’s irrigation development branch. “We are […] Read more

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – The Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation has developed two tools to help farmers do their own research. IHARF research associate Chris Holzapfel said it makes sense for farmers to be able to examine differences in practices or products on a field scale, such as comparing two seeding systems. However, they may […] Read more