Concern about the future of regional crop evaluation trials in Alberta may result in prairie growers taking over the program. The Alberta government won’t fund the research after this year and Alberta Barley Commission chair Terry Young said that could deny producers an independent assessment of varieties. The regional trials compare crop varieties side-by-side at […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. cabinet shuffle sees three newcomers
Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert appointed three first-time ministers to his cabinet May 31 as he replaced those who will not run in the next election and moved others to new portfolios. Agriculture minister Mark Wartman retained his file but other key ministries changed hands. Longtime Saskatoon MLA Pat Atkinson is the province’s new finance minister, […] Read more
Sask. parents look at school closure options
The shock is wearing off and Saskatchewan communities affected by recent announcements that their schools will close are starting to look at their options. Some have accepted their fate but others are fighting back. The Save Our Schools lobby has hired an educational consultant to develop a proposal for a “small school” rural division. It […] Read more
Firings, resignation shake APAS
The former president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan says he stepped aside mainly because of a difference in philosophy with other board members. “I’m not sure that I had enough of the confidence of the entire board,” said Ken McBride. He said a board’s job is to come up with a vision and […] Read more
Sask. teen plugs into flower power
TORQUAY, Sask. – Among the tables of baking, vegetables and crafts, Justin Marcotte’s booth at the Estevan Farmers’ Market last summer quickly turned into a favourite. The 16-year-old entrepreneur established a regular clientele, sold out every week and had money in the bank at summer’s end. His product was a bit unusual for a teenage […] Read more
Ducks Unlimited sells Sask. land
Ducks Unlimited Canada’s decision to sell 16 parcels of land in Saskatchewan is part of a new process that will see conserved land returned to farmers. Under an as yet unnamed program, Ducks Unlimited will buy land, place a conservation easement on it, restore drained wetland and offer it for sale with the condition that […] Read more
Multiple land use undervalued: APAS
Canadian governments are lagging behind other countries when it comes to funding programs that recognize multiple land use. Kerry Holderness, vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said federal and provincial governments haven’t learned the value of programs such as Alternative Land Use Services, which see agricultural and environmental groups working together to use […] Read more
Saskatchewan outlaws municipal tax revolts
Municipalities that withhold the education portion of property tax that they have collected on behalf of school boards could soon suffer financial consequences. Saskatchewan’s NDP government passed a law in the legislative session that concluded last week outlawing tax revolts as of Jan. 1, 2008. The move comes after many rural and small municipalities refused […] Read more
West Nile cases dropping
The number of West Nile virus cases in Saskatchewan has dropped dramatically since affecting nearly 1,000 people in 2003, but the provincial health department says people should still take precautions. Last year there were 20 cases of the virus, including two of the severe neurological syndrome associated with the virus. There were no deaths. Those […] Read more
APAS head resigns post
The president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan resigned last week, citing personal reasons. Ken McBride, a grains and oilseeds producer from Kindersley, had been president since December 2005 and was not challenged for the job at the 2006 annual general meeting. Vice-president Glenn Blakley said McBride told the board of his decision at […] Read more
