Michael Raine

ERSKINE, Alta. – George Corpataux’s moustache is solid with ice. His dark hair springs from behind long, fold-down ear flaps of his hat and his heavy Swiss Army wool coat flaps in the wind that batters the edge of his corrals. The warmest thing he wears is his broad grin. “It is good to be […] Read more

SASKATOON – Surfers normally find themselves carried back to the beach where they started, but prairie farm surfers are finding they have some places to go, even at -60 C. Provided they are on the internet. The World Wide Web is an internet system that allows individuals, groups, companies and governments to create easily accessed […] Read more

REGINA (Staff) – Saskatchewan Government Insurance has announced three programs designed to give vehicle owners more flexibility and convenience when buying insurance. As of March 1, vehicle registrations in Saskatchewan will no longer expire at the end of a designated month. Vehicle owners will have to renew their registrations on or before a specific date […] Read more

SASKATOON – The future power of pulse was touted at the Saskat-chewan Pulse Crop Development Board’s information day held here recently. Al Slinkard, a senior plant breeder at the University of Saskatchewan, told more than 850 producers gathered at the event, that Saskatchewan pulse acreage will increase dramatically over the next 10 years. “There will […] Read more

SASKATOON – Inoculants and fungicides are often associated with mess and stress. Problems with measuring and applying the product, fears of treating too much or too little seed or fears that a four-day deluge will suddenly hit and wash the treatment away, can all combine to build a tension headache. Flexi-Coil, a Saskatoon-based farm equipment […] Read more

SASKATOON – The grass may be getting greener on the other side of the globe for grass seed producers. As European farm subsidies are mowed down, regular market forces might force higher prices and increase demand for Canadian grass seed. Michel Nas, director of production for Barenbrug, an international grass seed company based in Holland, […] Read more

VIRDEN, Man. – A faxed appeal urging farmers to attend a court case here to serve as watchdogs for the defence didn’t appear to impress the judge presiding over the case. Farmers for Justice, a loose coalition of farmers fighting the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly, sent a fax to many farmers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan […] Read more

SASKATOON – A television ad depicting a woman on a tractor with her ear glued to a cellular phone is pure fiction for many farmers. While rural areas have not been bypassed by the cellular revolution, cellular phones don’t reach many areas and those wishing to do business from a tractor seat need to find […] Read more

SASKATOON (Staff) – Douglas Stow of Carman, Man., has been appointed a commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. Stow has been involved in the Manitoba grain industry for many years through a number of family-owned businesses. He held various positions with Stow Seed Processors from 1978-90, was president of Stow Agro Grain Co. from 1990-92 […] Read more

HOLLAND, Man. – A government decision to allow dual marketing of Manitoba pork may turn into a duel with Manitoba pork producers. The Manitoba government announced at the end of October last year, the end of single-desk selling for pork in that province. At the time producers were angry with the government for not consulting […] Read more