Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association has asked Ottawa to come through with its portion of AgriRecovery funds. Recently the province announced it would spend $70 million to help cattle producers coping with drought and feed shortages. However, the federal government, while acknowledging receipt of the province’s request to enact AgriRecovery, has not yet announced what it will […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Rainfall insurance pays out
Record payments were made to producers who participated in the Saskatchewan forage rainfall insurance program this year. The governments of Saskatchewan and Canada announced Sept. 5 that $60.4 million was paid in 17 forage risk zones. Most payments were made in the southwest and west central parts of the province after drier than normal conditions. […] Read more
Construction begins on Alta. dairy processing facility site
The plant at Blackfalds near Red Deer will help reduce producers’ transportation costs and serve processors
Work is finally underway on a 300-million-litre milk processing facility at Blackfalds, Alta., that is expected to save dairy farmers significant transportation costs. The $67-million Dairy Innovation West de-watering plant, the first of its kind in Canada, was announced in 2019 and supposed to be open by 2021. However, chair Henry Holtmann, a Manitoba dairy […] Read more
Farmers call fuzzy sustainability definition a barrier to emissions progress
A survey finds producers prefer outcome-based incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as tax credits and non-financial incentives such as improved extension services
Canadian farmers want a clear, common definition for sustainable agriculture and its associated practices, according to a recent survey from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. That would make it easier to navigate the programs and incentives available to encourage widespread adoption of those practices, said comments from those who participated in the survey. CAPI managing […] Read more
Vietnam removes thistle from pest list
Vietnam has removed creeping thistle from its quarantine pest list, effective Sept. 29. The weed had been on Vietnam’s list of phytosanitary restrictions on wheat since 2018. It included all countries where creeping thistle can be found. Creeping thistle is also known as Canada thistle or field thistle, and is a perennial plant found across […] Read more
TB tracing continues in Sask.
Post-mortem inspection is complete on the Saskatchewan beef herd that tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. The number of confirmed positive tests remains at 10 and laboratory tissue testing is ongoing, according to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency update Aug. 11. The single life line herd, defined as a herd traced from an infected animal in […] Read more
Moe shuffles Sask. cabinet
Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe shuffled his cabinet today, adding two new ministers to replace two who have said they won’t run in the next election. Agriculture minister David Marit remains in his portfolio, as do eight others. Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod enters cabinet as the minister of mental health and addictions, seniors, and […] Read more
Sask. RM declares ag disaster despite irrigation
Province asked for irrigation project commitment as even irrigation areas are hard hit by drought, grasshoppers this year
The council of the Rural Municipality of Rudy declared a drought disaster late last month even though it’s in the heart of Saskatchewan’s main irrigation area. The RM said drought and grasshopper infestations created the agricultural disaster. Less than 25 millimetres of rain have fallen in much of the region around Outlook. “In the RM […] Read more
Sask. makes water, vacant land available
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency has announced it will make water and vacant land available to farmers and livestock producers during the drought. The agency owns and manages land across the province and those who live near these lands can contact it to see if under-used or vacant land is available. “With the well-below normal amounts […] Read more
Camp uses access to participate in reconciliation
Facility grants access to Treaty Land Sharing Network, which explores how settlers and First Nations can share land
LUMSDEN BEACH, Sask. — Lumsden Beach Camp is the oldest summer camp in Western Canada, taking in adults and children since 1905. Now, it’s welcoming others after joining the Treaty Land Sharing Network a couple years ago. The camp is on nearly 260 acres of mostly native prairie that the United Church of Canada wants […] Read more
