Having grown up on a farm near Biggar in one of Saskatchewan’s driest regions, climatologist Elaine Wheaton knows first hand about the impact of drought on the Prairies. She brings that background to her work at the Saskatchewan Research Council and as part of a new research team analyzing the physical characteristics and processes involved […] Read more
Stories by Karen Morrison
Saskatchewan fruit growers encouraged to ‘grow it slow’
Fruit production can yield good returns but obstacles line the path to profitability, an economist told the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association meeting in Saskatoon Jan. 12. “There is risk, so grow it slow,” cautioned Joe Novak of Saskatchewan Agriculture. He advised growers to begin by calculating their operation’s costs and gathering information from experts. “Be […] Read more
Dairy program promotes control of Johne’s disease
Producers will have additional tools to battle Johne’s disease in their dairy herds through a new project. CanWest DHI, a non-profit milk recording organization, is leading and co-ordinating the project that will provide training to up to 75 western Canadian dairy veterinarians and increase the awareness and knowledge of the disease among producers in Ontario […] Read more
Rodeo lifestyle keeps cowboys craving more
Alberta cowboys Lee Graves and Rod Warren have captured championships at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steer wrestler Graves of Black Diamond, Alta., and saddle bronc rider Warren of Big Valley, Alta., both champions at the Canadian Rodeo Finals in Edmonton in November, won the aggregate points total after 10 rounds of […] Read more
Environmental plan reduces vulnerability
Dave Biesenthal believes an environmental farm plan saved his cow-calf operation at Walkerton, Ont., in 2000. Interviewed at the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan annual conference in Saskatoon Dec. 13-14, he detailed his experiences after his town’s water supply was contaminated by cattle manure. A town well near Biesenthal’s cow-calf operation was identified as the […] Read more
Producers focus more on overall herd health
Dairy producers are more likely to consult a veterinarian today about managing herd health than about treating one sick cow. Those findings are contained in a study commissioned by Pfizer Animal Health and conducted by Ipsos Reid. It included five focus group sessions with farmers in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia in the summer of […] Read more
Just what the doctor ordered
On Christmas morning at Kelvington Hospital, patients’ eyes blink open as Christmas carols echo through the corridors from a boom box at the nurses’ station. The breakfast trays arrive as they do every day, but this morning they include Christmas napkins and stickers on name cards. A festively wrapped parcel from the hospital’s ladies auxiliary […] Read more
Barn dust effects studied
University of Saskatchewan students will take their books to the pig barn in the new year to help researchers find ways to cope with dusty air. Ninety volunteers are expected to sit in the barn for five hours passing the time reading, working through crossword puzzles and sometimes riding a stationary bike to simulate work, […] Read more
One-stop fundraising
ZENON PARK, Sask. – For curler Mary Hudon, change is a good thing. The president of the Zenon Park curling club said joining the Zenon Park Community Partners probably saved her club from extinction. “If not for the Community Partners, I’m not sure if our curling rink, arena and hall would still be open,” she […] Read more
Group pushes water awareness
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. – The Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association marked its 10th anniversary with a pledge to build. Ron Tittle, SIPA’s first chair, said the group has made strides in raising its public profile, lobbying government and increasing awareness of water development. Recently, it took issue with Montana’s push to re-examine water apportionment between Canada […] Read more
