Mark Oddan

Most producers shudder at the thought of going back to school, but for rancher Aaron Hougham from Frenchman Butte, Sask., the recent Western Canada Feedlot Management School had one advantage: “You come willingly to this one.” The school, held Aug. 9-11 in Saskatoon, covered all the bases. It was designed for people already in the […] Read more

Purebred animals may come and go, but the Canadian Livestock Records Corp. is here to stay. That’s the impression of Ron Black, general manager of the CLRC, as it celebrates 100 years of service. The national agency has seen much growth and change over its first century and its mandate has never wavered from providing […] Read more

Saskatchewan forage seed producers can look forward to increased research capacity and new technologies and products from a producer-directed Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission. “Producers felt there was a need to improve agronomic practices in growing forage seed crops. They felt that increased support for research is necessary to lead to improved quality and higher […] Read more

People flying in and out of Regina for the 2005 Canada Summer Games have experienced a visual feast as through two large pieces of crop art near the airport. The crop creations have been labours of love for Tisdale, Sask., born artist Laura Hale, herself a former Canada Games competitor. “I like that it’s an […] Read more

Flat land and endless open skies are often taken for granted by prairie residents. But as 10 Manitoba 4-H youths discovered when they ventured to Japan last month, wide open horizons are rare in the land of the rising sun. “Everywhere you looked there was a building in sight or a power line or the […] Read more

A drought resistant canola plant that could maintain or increase yields while battling drought could mean large gains for the Canadian canola industry. However, such a variety is years away. Data gathered by Performance Plants Inc. from three years of extensive field trials in multiple sites shows that transgenic canola plants grown with the company’s […] Read more

Warren Spagrud admits he has trouble putting into words what he and his wife Wendy do for a living every day. But the Rockglen, Sask., rancher was more than happy to try articulating his love of the land to a bus load of inquisitive teachers during the Agriculture in the Classroom Sask. Inc. 2005 Ag […] Read more

Money will soon be pumped down the pipe from Ottawa to give several rural Saskatchewan communities a more reliable, sustainable supply of quality water. Up to $27.3 million will be set aside to potentially flow to nearly 30 communities and rural municipalities, announced Ralph Goodale, federal minister of finance, and Peter Prebble, provincial minister responsible […] Read more

The railroad histories of two prairie towns are on the line as CN Rail begins a six-month process of relocating 225 employees out of Biggar, Sask., and Dauphin, Man. It’s a move that CN train crew employees were notified of in mid-July and is set to be complete by the end of January. However, the […] Read more

Farmers and fertilizer suppliers are being urged to keep a close eye on their anhydrous ammonia tanks as thefts of the chemical may increase. RCMP officers across the Prairies are watching for an increase in thefts of anhydrous ammonia to be used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, or crystal meth as it is commonly […] Read more