SASKATOON — Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit announced Crown pasture lease rates have been frozen at 2022 levels for 2023. He also announced that lessees who have to decrease their stocking rate due to dry conditions will be eligible for reduced rent of up to 50 percent. He told the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference that […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Federal ag policy causes concern
Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit remains concerned about the environmental aspects of some of the agricultural policy coming out of Ottawa. The federal-provincial-territorial ministers met by conference call last week ahead of the April 1 implementation of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Marit said the province has yet to sign the agreement but he will […] Read more
U of S researcher questions feds’ fertilizer targets
Professor expresses concern over the amount of influence Environment Canada seems to have with Agriculture Canada
Concerned that emotion rather than empirical evidence is driving the federal government’s fertilizer emissions reduction target, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have gathered baseline data they say Ottawa should use. Stuart Smyth, associate professor in agricultural and resource economics, said he can’t find any evidence that Environment and Climate Change Canada used concrete information […] Read more
Forage rejuvenation pays off
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Escalating land prices mean cattle producers must pay attention to the productivity of their forage stands. University of Saskatchewan economic researcher Kathy Larson said land prices in southwestern Saskatchewan have quadrupled in the last 10 years. The price per acre was $321 in 1996, rose to $506 in 2011 and in […] Read more
More emphasis on nitrogen can benefit forage stands
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — A project looking at 4R nitrogen management in forage stands found nitrification inhibitors will boost yields and reduce nitrogen losses, but results will depend on rain. Jordan Johnson, livestock and feed extension specialist at Saskatchewan Agriculture, said forage productivity declines over time and, like any other crop, will benefit from fertilizer. […] Read more
Researchers launch feed testing survey
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Researchers are surveying western Canadian producers to find out how often they test their feed. Funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council and Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund, the survey hopes to reach 500 cow-calf producers. Kathy Larson from the University of Saskatchewan is leading the project with Emma Stephens from Agriculture […] Read more
Foreign-trained veterinarians seen as shortage solution
SASKATOON — The veterinarian shortage won’t be eased in the short-term by adding more seats at veterinary schools, said a panel of veterinarians at a conference last month. Nor will allowing cattle producers to do some procedures on their own solve the problem in rural areas, they said. “Chronically, in Canada, we have not been […] Read more
WP reporter honoured with jubilee medal
The email arrived during the busy week of Canadian Western Agribition when I happened to be sitting with my editor at the show. “Look at this,” I said to Mike Raine, handing him my phone. “Is this for real? Or is someone pranking me?” The subject line, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) Invitation, […] Read more
Charity works to reduce waste, feed the hungry
Food waste decomposing in landfills is responsible for adding more than 56 million tonnes of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere each year. Lori Nikkel, chief executive officer of Toronto-based Second Harvest, wants to change that. The non-profit charity works across Canada to redistribute food that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Nikkel, speaking to […] Read more
Wheat growers flag concerns over ag strategy
At least one farm organization has concerns about the federal government’s planned national sustainable agriculture strategy. The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association said the online consultation toward the strategy could signal more intrusive regulations. The organization said the replacement for what was originally known as a Green Plan for agriculture comes after the carbon tax […] Read more
