Surprise win at Agribition prompts producers to consider rebuilding their herd after recently scaling back the operation
Cindy Donally had few thoughts of winning at this year’s Canadian National Bison show. Donally Livestock and XY Bison from Fort St. John, B.C., had sold the main herd in February 2020, leaving just 17 cows and 14 calves. But then Donally got a call on Sept. 30 to enter animals in the show held […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Simmental proponent says breed is about ideal balance
Bruce Holmquist, who was inducted into the Simmental association’s hall of fame, says the breed has a lot going for it
The Canadian Simmental Association Hall of Fame has inducted long-time producer, board member and current general manager Bruce Holmquist. The presentation was made at Canadian Western Agribition, where Holmquist is past president. “I’ve been really privileged to see the industry from a lot of different sides,” he said. Holmquist began as a Simmental breeder at […] Read more
Sask. trespass laws take effect Jan. 1
Saskatchewan’s changes to trespassing laws finally take effect Jan. 1, 2022. The amendments that place the onus on individuals to obtain permission to be on private property were passed in 2019 but not proclaimed. The government announced this fall the Trespass to Property Amendment Act and the Trespass to Property Consequential Amendments Act would come […] Read more
Winners repeat for bull and female
A pair of purebred cattle from Bashaw, Alta., win the annual Beef Supreme event at the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina
If winning Canadian Western Agribition’s Beef Supreme is the pinnacle of achievement for purebred cattle breeders, winning it more than once is undoubtedly a sign of continued excellence. The winners of the 2021 event have both won before, and both are from Bashaw, Alta. “Never gets old. It’s a fabulous, fabulous thing to win,” said […] Read moreGov’t threatens ag organization in public spat
Sask. budget report spins crop insurance as budget expense, outraged when called on it
A public spat between the provincial government and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan last week should have been handled with a couple of phone calls, said premier Scott Moe. Instead, a letter from finance minister Donna Harpauer and agriculture minister David Marit, made public by communications staff, lambasted APAS for issuing a news release […] Read more
Bison designed to fight climate change, with fewer emissions
The ancient animal has been living in hot and challenging environments for millennia and will even reduce fire risk
Bison are likely well suited to a warming climate, says Dr. John Church, research chair in cattle industry sustainability at Thompson Rivers University. “The heat’s coming. I think we’re all starting to appreciate that,” he told the Canadian Bison Association annual conference. “Of the species that we raise for livestock I’m probably the least worried […] Read more
Couple brings P.E.I. ideas to prairie farm
On the Farm: A Saskatchewan couple apply culinary talents to prairie terroir to produce unique tastes for the market
DUVAL, Sask. — The story of Hillside Food: Kitchen and Farm goes something like this: two Saskatchewan kids go to Prince Edward Island for school, meet, marry and return to establish a successful farm business. The reality, of course, is more complex. Destiny Williams grew up in Regina and worked in restaurants where she learned […] Read more
Back to the show
AGRIBITION 2021 Participants happy at return of Western Canada’s premiere livestock show
The 50th anniversary of Canadian Western Agribition came a year late but the smiling eyes over pandemic masks told organizers that the celebration was better late than never. A positive mood permeated the show from Day One and exhibitors said they were happy to be back and doing what they love after the live 2020 […] Read more
Researchers continue to fine-tune irrigation
The Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification Centre in Outlook updated producers on 2021 research projects during two recent virtual field days. Even under irrigation, the drought affected some of the projects. Gursahib Singh, co-research director at the Irrigation Crop Diversification Corp., was trying to study fungicide application timing to prevent fusarium head blight in winter wheat, durum, […] Read more
Teenagers taking the ribbons home
For 50 years, Agribition has been the training ground for the industry’s future, 2021 was no exception
Jorja Beck is a determined teenager. Once the 16-year-old from Lang, Sask., decided she wanted to show cattle at a September show she made it happen — with a little help from her family. “I had an old 4-H heifer that had a pretty decent bull calf,” she explained. “I told my brother I wanted […] Read more
