Twelve agricultural organizations across Canada will deliver nearly $183 million on behalf of the federal government to farmers who adopt beneficial management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced Feb. 22 that a large chunk of that money will go to the prairie provinces and farmers who adopt rotational grazing, cover […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
FCC denies compiling convoy list
Farm Credit Canada says it did not compile a list of clients under the Emergencies Act, contrary to a media report. Blacklock’s Reporter, a subscription-only service, reported that the Regina-based lender had begun to blacklist “customers suspected of sympathizing with the Freedom Convoy.” However, FCC issued a statement refuting that claim. “FCC has not compiled […] Read more
Sask. farmer loses appeal in lending case
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal from a Saskatchewan farmer in a years-long dispute with Input Capital Corp. Terry Gustafson had appealed a Queen’s Bench court decision ordering him to pay nearly $9 million to the company after he failed to deliver canola as promised, claiming that the judge erred. In that […] Read more
National farm income soars despite drought
Economist says assessing national numbers difficult because receipts and income vary depending on province and sector
Agriculture Canada said farmers’ net cash income in 2021 will likely set a new record of $26.6 billion, despite the challenges farmers faced last year. The department said net cash income is expected to have grown 49.1 percent from $17.8 billion in 2020. “Large increases in receipts and program payments are projected to have outpaced […] Read more
Sask. crop insurance hikes coverage, premiums
Average coverage is $405 per acre and the average total premium is $12.05, up from $273 and $8.59 per acre last year
Enhanced forage and corn rainfall programs, an expanded contract price option program and increased establishment benefits are all part of this year’s Saskatchewan crop insurance program. Agriculture minister David Marit announced the 2022 program last week, saying coverage and premiums are up due to higher commodity prices but premium rates have dropped. The average coverage […] Read more
Cost sharing wanted for livestock insurance
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association says premiums for livestock price insurance should be cost-shared with governments similar to crop insurance. President Kelcy Elford said the organization has asked that cattle producers be treated the same as other producers, “that the weight of the premiums shouldn’t all be on the producer.” Currently Livestock Price Insurance premiums […] Read more
AGT to build oat processor in Sask.
Regina-based AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. has announced construction of an oat-milling facility in Aberdeen, northeast of Saskatoon. The company announced March 3 the value-added plant will produce oat groats, flour and other milled oat products for human consumption, specialty ingredient markets and animal feed products. The milling facility adds to the company’s existing facility […] Read more
MPs vote to confirm right to collect CP taxes in Sask.
The House of Commons has voted unanimously to amend the Saskatchewan Act to ensure Canadian Pacific Railway is not exempt from provincial taxes. The railway has sued the province for $341 million in taxes it paid since 2002, saying it should be exempt because of a contract that became part of the Saskatchewan Act when […] Read more
Labour shortage focus of supply chain debate
Members of the House of Commons agriculture committee are told that a lack of workers was evident before the pandemic
Persistent labour shortages will jeopardize the agricultural supply chain without a strategy to deal with them, the Commons agriculture committee has heard. The committee launched a study of the supply chain earlier this month and witnesses so far have been clear that labour is a top concern. The lack of workers was evident even before […] Read more
Producer makes distance between farms work
On the Farm: Aaron Gray operates an irrigated grain farm and a 200-head cattle operation that are 350 kilometres apart
LANGENBURG, Sask. — It’s a good thing Aaron Gray’s commute between farms isn’t daily. About 350 kilometres separate the 4,000-acre irrigation grain farm he and his brother operate near Brownlee, Sask., and the 200-cow cattle operation he and his wife operate at Langenburg, Sask. In the eight years since Gray moved to the east-central area […] Read more
