The policy and research organizations that represent Saskatchewan irrigators are finally, officially, moving toward amalgamation. After years of discussion, the memberships of the Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association and the Irrigation Crop Diversification Centre voted at their annual meetings earlier this month in favour of board recommendations to proceed. Last year the boards formed a joint […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Charolais bull takes top Agribition title
Supreme bull comes from Cays Cattle of Kinistino, Sask., while supreme female is a Black Angus from Ontario
There are all kinds of connections made at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, but the links between family members and fellow breeders took centre stage as the 2022 show wrapped up with the Beef Supreme Dec. 3. Brother and sister Sean Enright and Lauren Oattes from Renfrew, Ont., exhibited the supreme champion female, a Black […] Read more
Sector mourns CCA president’ death
Cattle producers across the country are mourning the loss of Reg Schellenberg, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, who died suddenly Dec. 2. Schellenberg from Beechy, Sask., had been president since March. Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau was among those who paid tribute to him. She had been scheduled to meet with him in Regina […] Read more
Feds’ plan to approve gene editing slows down
Hold-up appears to be how to satisfy organic sector, which opposes biotech tool because of impact on sensitive markets
Guidance on how gene editing will be used in Canadian plant breeding is still not available and that doesn’t sit well with the Conservative opposition. “This is important and we need this done,” said agriculture critic John Barlow in an interview. He raised the concern during a standing agriculture committee meeting on food security, saying […] Read more
Ag minister talks trade with producers at Agribition
Marie-Claude Bibeau discusses the implications of the federal government’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy
Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau met with farm organizations at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina last week to discuss the government’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy. The strategy includes investing $31.8 million in a new office in the region. The location hasn’t yet been decided. Bibeau said the government will consult with industry and stakeholders to determine […] Read more
Consultations planned on school food policy
Online consultation has opened on a national school food policy. The federal minister of families, children and social development, Karina Gould, is leading the consultation on how healthy food could be provided at schools. One in five children across Canada are at risk of going to school hungry, the government said, and school meal programs […] Read more
UN food security rep angers MPs at committee
Special rapporteur for the right to food asks for global co-operation but also says larger-scale farms are not part of the solution
The United Nations special rapporteur for the right to food said international co-operation is required to tackle the food crisis arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael Fakhri, a Canadian lawyer who teaches at the University of Oregon, told the standing committee on agriculture that he was appointed just as the pandemic began. “For the last […] Read more
Agribition commercial prices strong
Sale saw 168 open and bred heifers sell for almost $400,000, which producers say will set the tone due to high quality
The commercial cattle sale at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina isn’t as large as it used to be, but it still draws a good crowd and sends a price signal. The final cattle sale of the show saw 168 head of open and bred heifers sell for just shy of $400,000. Bred heifers averaged $2,565 […] Read more
Maine Anjou operation’s trip to Agribition a family affair
Duane and Bev Ronsko’s first trip from Daysland, Alta., to Regina for Canadian Western Agribition began with an ulterior motive. They wanted to remind two of their teenage grandchildren how great the cattle business is. The kids lost interest in 4-H during the COVID pandemic and had stopped attending. So, they involved Weston and Tianne […] Read more
Gelbvieh breed celebrates 50 years in Canada
Exhibitors included an international component with the return of Ledgerwood Gelbvieh from Clarkston, Washington
Canadian Gelbvieh producers celebrated the 50th anniversary of the breed’s arrival in the country with their national show and a gala during Canadian Western Agribition held Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 in Regina. Long-time Saskatchewan breeder Vernon Davidson from Ponteix, Sask., said the event was a natural choice. “It’s the showcase of Canada, so we […] Read more
