The Saskatchewan government has acted on about two-thirds of 220 recommendations put forward by a committee appointed to find ways to revitalize rural Saskatchewan. A monitoring committee formed from the larger Action Committee on the Rural Economy has examined progress to date and reported that 143 recommendations have been dealt with and should be taken […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
CGC official defends position
Donna Welke has one major concern as she prepares to leave her job at the Canadian Grain Commission- and it’s not about her own future. It’s about the farmers she will leave behind when her 12-year tenure as assistant commissioner in Saskatchewan ends Dec. 12. “My major disappointment would be if no one replaced me […] Read more
Buy-local can get complicated
VANCOUVER – Selling produce locally is easy for fruit and vegetable growers. It’s even possible for livestock producers to take meat directly to consumers. But what are grain farmers, who typically produce tonnes of grain that are shipped around the world, supposed to do? Food policy advocates agree that all farmers must get a decent […] Read more
Water shortage affects future calf crops
Larry Grant believes poor water quality is responsible for the low pregnancy rate among his heifers this fall. When a veterinarian checked the 82 females recently, only 61 were pregnant, or about three-quarters of them. Usually, the conception rate for his heifers is 90 to 95 percent. “Even the vet commented, ‘this is odd,’ ” […] Read more
Food has strong emotional appeal
VANCOUVER – There’s something that people love about fall suppers, and it might have more to do with the feeling than the food. Cathleen Kneen says people have always shared food as a way to build communities and make sure everyone has enough. It’s what she calls the “zucchini theory of food security.” Think about […] Read more
Vet drug warning issued
Producers who bought the veterinary drug Penpro and didn’t receive dosage instructions should return it to the retailer. Health Canada issued an advisory last week warning that administering the wrong dose could cause an allergic reaction or pain and irritation at the injection site. Penpro is a non-prescription penicillin used to treat bacterial infections in […] Read more
Environment project needs gov’t funding
An alternative land use services task force expects to have a pilot project running in Saskatchewan next spring. However, financial details haven’t been finalized for the incentive-based program that would pay producers for providing environmental benefits to the public on their private land. A three-year pilot would cost between $550,000 and $650,000 annually, according to […] Read more
Custom grazing requires owner’s attention
Have you seen your cows lately? The Saskatchewan SPCA asks that question in a brochure it distributes to prevent situations like the one that occurred in northwestern Saskatchewan last month. Lenard Carpenter of Vermilion, Alta., was fined $1,500 and banned for two years from owning or have custody of cattle in Saskatchewan. He pleaded guilty […] Read more
South still dry despite recent autumn rain
Recent rain and snow have changed soil moisture conditions in Saskatchewan only slightly – the wet areas are now really wet and the dry areas are still dry. Although the provincial agriculture department doesn’t examine subsoil moisture conditions until closer to freeze-up, agrologist Terry Bedard said current topsoil maps show the southern half of the […] Read more
Sask. pushes biofuel focus
Saskatchewan’s deputy premier used the launch of a Regina biofuel test centre last week as an opportunity to push for a national centre of excellence in that city. Clay Serby said the Saskatchewan Research Council, which houses the $1 million testing lab, along with farmers and other proponents of biodiesel and ethanol plants are leading […] Read more
