The quest to focus on asexual plant reproduction, or apomixis, is creating new research opportunities in plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. “I came here focused on apomixis, but now we’re branching off and applying these technologies to other plants,” said Tim Sharbel, director of the seed and development biology program at the Global […] Read more
William DeKay
Stories by William DeKay
Why Angus is synonymous with quality beef
The power of branding has people thinking Angus when they think beef, said Brian Good of the Canadian Angus Association. “Just the name Angus alone is synonymous with beef,” said the director of field services. But Fred Taylor phrases it in a different way. “A dog is a dog but some are smarter than others,” […] Read more
New ventures seen as ideal way to expand
GLADMAR, Sask. — Five pigs are teaching teenagers Anna and Jeremy Hoimyr about small business. Encouraged by their parents, Mark and Laura Hoimyr, the siblings have been raising and selling pork on the family’s cattle ranch for two years. The pigs root about within a strand of electric fence, which Anna and Jeremy move regularly […] Read more
Johnson’s Canal — cottage life at home
Ken and Lorrene Johnson don’t go boating at the lake. That’s because they brought the lake to their farm near Smiley, Sask. Just shy of a kilometre long, 36 metres wide and about four metres deep, Johnson’s Canal, as they call it, is the only homemade body of water in Saskatchewan that has its own […] Read more
Foray into bulk fertilizer pleases Federated Co-op
FCL sees more opportunities in the future after opening two prairie terminals to provide retail stores with product
HANLEY, Sask. — It recently opened and a giant fertilizer terminal is already being eyed for growth. Located in Hanley, the 96,000 sq. foot facility is one of two terminals commissioned by Federated Co-operatives Ltd. as part of a $75 million initiative to provide Co-op Agro Centres and prairie producers with crop nutrition products. “We’re […] Read more
Thresher rebuilt — one piece at a time
LANGENBURG, Sask. — Ken Mack calls his restored grain thresher the Johnny Cash Special. Like the famous song says, he got the parts for his vintage thresher one piece at a time and it didn’t cost him a dime. “One Piece at a Time is where I got the inspiration from. I’ve listened to that […] Read more
Study uses drones to assess hail damage, yield losses
MELFORT, Sask. — A study is underway to see if aerial imagery captured by drones could be used to efficiently assess hail damage in canola and accurately predict yield loss following hail. Lena Syrovy, a research officer in the agronomy program at the University of Saskatchewan, and graduate students have been working with National Crop […] Read more
Oat benefits easy to swallow
There is no magic recipe to successfully market a product, says George Barreras. “What works for your neighbour doesn’t work for you most of the times.… You have to persevere. You have to be ready for failure. But there’s no formula. Otherwise, all companies would succeed, or all companies would fail if there was a […] Read more
Sask. soybean acres expand along with research
This chart shows the dates, treatment number and varieties used in the soybean test plots:
MELFORT, Sask. — Soybean acres are expanding rapidly in Sask-atchewan but it’s still too early to draw definitive results from the field tests that have been carried out, said a crop physiologist. Trials are underway at 10 locations across the province, Rosalind Bueckert from the University of Saskatchewan said July 26 during a joint annual […] Read moreFeed options drying up in southern Sask.
Tim Stewart is trying to plan his next move. Searing hot weather and months without significant moisture have left his hay crops and pastures bone dry. “We’re stuck in a pretty tough spot,” said the cattle producer who lives west of Rockglen, Sask. “The price of hay is awfully high so it’s pretty near impossible […] Read more
