Karen Morrison

Saskatchewan seed potatoes are like athletes who train at high altitudes and outperform those at lower elevations, said Steve Sanders of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association. “Basically we’ve created a super potato,” he said. “It outperforms seed in traditional potato growing areas.” The SSPGA cited the potato’s northern vigour characteristics that come from long, […] Read more

LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. – The Tarentaise cow, described as “the best mom a calf could have,” has adjusted well to life on this side of the ocean. The animals were one of the last continental breeds to come to North America from France, said Bryce Burnett of Burnett Tarentaise in Swift Current, Sask. Moderate in structure, […] Read more

Entertainment farms that sell rural experiences instead of simply growing food could be the next big trend in agritourism, market gardeners told growers in Saskatoon in November. Allen Schernus, who operates The Garden outside Calgary with his wife Norma, cited Knott’s Berry Farm in California as an example. It began as a simple fruit growing […] Read more

Seasonal fruit is becoming a thing of the past as fruit production increases worldwide, Leo Baribeau told a joint meeting of the Saskatchewan Greenhouse Growers and Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Nov 7. The president of Star Produce Ltd. of Saskatoon, who also chairs the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, said Australia, New Zealand and Chile are steadily […] Read more

A successful greenhouse operation starts with good decision making skills, says Mohyuddin Mirza. “People make good decisions and bad decisions and that affects everything,” the Alberta Agriculture greenhouse specialist told the Saskatchewan Greenhouse Growers Association conference in Saskatoon Nov. 8. Mirza advised growers to keep good records of their inputs, check gauges and meters, keep […] Read more

OSLER, Sask. – Dave Meier holds enough split peas in his hands to feed one Ethiopian for a day. The Saskatchewan co-ordinator of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank said wheat grown on one quarter section of land on the Prairies can feed 5,000 people in the developing world for one year. Ontario and Saskatchewan are the […] Read more

LLOYDMINSTER – Despite lower than normal sale prices and show entries at the Lloydminster Ivomec Stockade Round Up, producers remained upbeat about their cattle herds’ future. Producers blamed bovine spongiform encephalopathy, drought and the economy for keeping many participants from the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 event. There were 281 cattle shown here last year, compared to […] Read more

LLOYDMINSTER – Speckle Park cattle could become a recognized breed in Canada within the year, says Battlefords, Sask., rancher Ed Smith. Smith, a member of the Canadian Speckle Park Association with his wife Kathy, has been involved with this evolving breed for 25 years. The association has 1,500 head registered and its members participate successfully […] Read more

BATTLEFORD, Sask. – Spent tractors sink into the tall grass at Battleford Agro Services, the hulls pecked at by the human magpies that rip out their tires, doors and lights. Combines, swathers, radiators and tires litter the sprawling graveyard for used implements, while thousands of smaller parts line shelves inside warehouses. Owner Earl Jones, eyes […] Read more

BIGGAR, Sask. – Four Saskatchewan cowboys trained for the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas, last year by saddling their horses for work every day on their home ranches. Battleford area cow-calf operators Dan Bertsch, Dale Vayro, Jim Robertson and Mark Ellis raise cows and horses on their own ranches but come together regularly […] Read more