When most people think about getting a pet, they usually consider a cat or a dog and maybe a rabbit or some fish. Few people would think about something like an alligator or a fox, but these kinds of exotic pets are becoming more popular. “People are just drawn to things that are different,” said […] Read more
Stories by Miranda Burski
Chickens aid research into human epilepsy
Two researchers will soon be studying some rather unusual subjects: epileptic chickens. “Very little research had been conducted with this unique strain, and due to our interest in developmental ethology, we proposed a study to examine the learning abilities of these chickens and how learning might change across lifespan,” Inga Tiemann said in an e-mail […] Read more
History creates legacy of concern
There are certain guarantees that come with living on the Prairies. One of the most definitive is drought. It affects the landscape, the economy and, in many cases, livelihoods. “The prairie natural region, the Prairies, is defined by the repeated occurrence of drought that prevents trees from surviving in this climate,” says Dave Sauchyn, a […] Read more
Compensation for wildlife losses now 100 percent
The Saskatchewan government is changing its Wildlife Damages Compensation Program, but the changes don’t go far enough for some producers. The program previously covered 80 percent of crop losses, but in October the government announced coverage would increase to 100 percent. However, some producers say 100 percent crop production coverage takes care of only a […] Read more
Crop advisers issue insect alert for next year
Grasshoppers, worms and beetles may cause farmers headaches next year. Agri-Trend crop adviser Michael Dolinski said grasshoppers, cutworms, wireworms, and cereal leaf beetles are among the pests farmers need to watch for in 2010. Grasshoppers, which are usually associated with dry weather, may hatch more quickly than usual because of the unusually warm fall experienced […] Read more
Sask. success stories look to inspire others
A new book takes a unique look at Saskatchewan entrepreneurs. Birth of a Boom: Lives and Legacies of Saskatchewan Entrepreneurs is the first in what the Prairie Policy Centre hopes will be a collection of books highlighting the province’s entrepreneurial spirit. Released Dec. 2, the book profiles 13 Saskatchewan businesses whose multi-generation survival has made […] Read more
Three months, many stories, more shoes – Editorial Notebook
It’s been three months since I wrote my last column, almost to the day. Just like that last time, the writing of this column marks a turning point in my life as a journalism student. By the time this is published, I will no longer be an intern at The Western Producer. I’ll be preparing […] Read more
More Christmas trees could be local: Sask grower
With Christmas less than a month away, many families are getting ready to track down the perfect tree. However, where they find that tree could affect the future of one of their province’s less-common resources. Although the prairie provinces don’t have the lowest number of Christmas tree farms in Canada, their totals don’t amount to […] Read more
Identify lameness and determine cause
Determining if a cow is lame can be as simple as watching it walk. Chris Clark, an associate professor of large animal medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, said lameness in cattle is caused by pain. “The animals are lame because something in their leg hurts, and probably 90 percent of […] Read more
Hearing loss common but is anyone listening?
Noise-induced hearing loss in farm workers is a common but often ignored problem, say farm safety specialists. “Studies have shown that most agriculture workers have experienced (some) hearing loss by the age of 17,” said Raelyn Peterson, Alberta Agriculture’s farm safety co-ordinator. However, Louise Hass, who wrote a study about hearing loss in the dairy […] Read more
