The Saskatchewan government has clarified a recent notice that went out to cattle producers who lease Crown land. Producers were confused about changes outlined in the letter, which changed billing dates and addressed the use of personal information. The notice said the annual rent would be due Oct. 1 from now on and that interest […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Drought still top of mind for cattle producers in Sask.
Cow herd likely to shrink further following several years of dry conditions, particularly in province’s southwestern region
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Drought will take its toll on the Saskatchewan cow herd again this fall, said Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association vice-chair Keith Day. Speaking after the fall district meeting in his region and before some much-needed moisture a few days later, Day said the situation is worse than the 1980s after several years of […] Read more
Economist sounds alarm over carbon reporting
Prof attempts to draw attention to how policy is affected by ignoring the carbon sequestration value of grain production
University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist Richard Gray says the worldwide carbon accounting system used to plan grain policy is flawed because it fails to properly include how grain stores and releases carbon. He told the standing committee on agriculture that every tonne of produced grain removes 1.65 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The […] Read more
Fossil fuel alternatives not workable on farm scale
The chief executive officer of the Agri-Food Innovation Council last week said the technology to replace fossil fuels with alternative sources isn’t yet scalable. Serge Buy told the standing committee on agriculture that examples of farmers using biomass to dry grain are just that, and only larger farms with bigger, healthier budgets are likely to […] Read more
Farmer questions tire shred in dugout fill
A Saskatchewan farmer is concerned that the provincial government is filling his dugout with shredded tires
A farmer south of Regina still has many questions after the provincial highways’ ministry expanded a dugout on his property and filled it with shredded tires. John Metz, who farms in the Wilcox area, said he knew the ministry wanted to expropriate land for the eventual twinning of Highway 6 but not that the plan […] Read more
Ag committee to study food inflation
Members of Parliament on the standing agriculture committee want to know what is driving food inflation. They have agreed to study rising food costs and grocery store profits as soon as they are done clause-by-clause assessment of Bill C-234, which proposes exemptions from the carbon tax to natural gas and propane used on farms. NDP […] Read more
Poilievre names shadow cabinet
Alberta Conservative MP John Barlow will continue as the shadow minister for agriculture under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre. The Conservative party leader announced his new critics Oct. 12. Barlow had endorsed Poilievre during the leadership campaign and had been the critic under previous leaders as well. Associate shadow ministers of agriculture are Warren Steinley, […] Read more
Vaccine protocols keep herd healthy
Vaccines are among the most effective disease management tools producers have, as long as they are used correctly
Cattle producers and veterinarians should develop vaccine protocols specific to their operations to manage disease risk, says Dr. Joyce Van Donkersgoed. The beef cattle veterinarian from southern Alberta said vaccines are among the most effective disease management tools producers have, as long as they are used correctly. “Vaccination is only one aspect of disease control,” […] Read more
Sask. plans carbon offset credit program
The Saskatchewan government intends to move ahead with its own carbon offset credits program. In the speech from the throne read today by Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty, the government said there “are better ways to address climate change than the punitive taxes and ineffective regulations imposed by the federal government.” It said the program will […] Read more
Task force targets supply chain improvement
Grain sector would benefit from recommendations for a smoother and more efficient transportation system
The national supply chain task force final report recommends strengthening provisions that would improve grain transportation, including some within the most recent legislation. There has been concern since summer about capacity to move this year’s crop. Grain shippers met with transport minister Omar Alghabra in Winnipeg after the task force report was released Oct. 6 […] Read more
