Karen Briere

to be the producer of low-cost feed supporting a strong, competitive livestock sector. That premise hasn’t played out for hogs exactly as some thought. Al Mussell, a researcher at the George Morris Centre in Guelph, Ont., told the recent Manitoba Swine Seminar that Canada doesn’t have a competitive advantage in feed grain. “This is surprising, […] Read more

Greg Tanner answers the phone these days at Moose Jaw Pork Packers Ltd. That’s about all he can do since the plant shut down in September. Tanner is one of the few employees left after two years of turmoil at the former Worldwide Pork slaughter and processing plant. It closed in mid-May 2005 after producers […] Read more

The rationale for removing Saskatchewan’s single desk marketer for hogs was, in part, to encourage expansion in packing and processing. However, little has changed since then-agriculture minister Eric Upshall unilaterally eliminated SPI Marketing Group’s monopoly in the province nearly 10 years ago. The number of hogs raised in the province has increased, but the slaughter […] Read more

When the call went out 10 years ago for Saskatchewan hog producers to step up production, they did. The idea was to add value to grain by feeding it at home, rather than shipping it to foreign markets, and build a stronger livestock sector. Saskatchewan producers now market about 2.5 million hogs, up from one […] Read more

Saskatchewan agriculture minister Mark Wartman says the province is willing to pay 10 percent of a disaster program that would help drought-affected farmers. But he couldn’t say when farmers might see any money because the federal-provincial program has not yet been finalized. About 100 farmers from 23 rural municipalities that have declared disasters due to […] Read more

One picture can tell the whole story of rural-urban divide. On one side of a hill in Grasslands National Park sit students from Val Marie, Sask.; on the other, students from Saskatoon. But don’t underestimate the power of place to bring the two groups together, said Karin Smith-Fargey, program manager of the Prairie Learning Centre […] Read more

Details are sketchy, but a 10 year, $5 billion plan to improve Saskatchewan roads, railways and airports is meeting with approval. Premier Lorne Calvert and highways minister Eldon Lautermilch announced the spending March 6 as a way to enhance economic activity in the province. The government now budgets $350 million a year for transportation and […] Read more

The theory “if you build it they will come” didn’t pan out in Saskatchewan’s hog industry. Ten years ago, the province was high on hogs, poised to become the North American hog mecca. The Crow freight subsidy was gone, value-added was the buzz word. The government had a target of tripling hog production to three […] Read more

A proposal to move Canadian Pacific Railway’s container yard from downtown Regina to a site west of the city is far from a done deal, according to the railway. Spokesperson Ed Greenberg said March 5 that the company is aware of the idea but needs more details. “As part of regular or ongoing discussions (with […] Read more

A real estate listing that asks $6.8 million for more than 35,000 acres in southwestern Saskatchewan has set tongues wagging. It’s the largest piece of land ever listed by Regina-based Lane Realty Corp. and the highest price, said listing agent Garth Hendry. The price reflects the parcel’s unique characteristics, he said. It includes 35,740 acres […] Read more