Many Canadians are buying food from local producers because of COVID-19, but it will take time to increase production
Many Canadians have turned to local farmers to fill their food needs and many producers are scrambling to meet the new demand. “It’s (COVID-19) definitely increased sales,” said Mark Hoimyr, whose Box H Farm in Gladmar, Sask., produces grass-fed beef. “It was easily double or more… what we would have normally delivered.” However, meeting the […] Read moreFarm Living
Farmers mentally prepare for hectic six weeks
Many producers will have to deal with unharvested crops before applying fertilizer and seeding new crops this spring
Roberta Galbraith has a long to-do list this spring. The first item on the list is dealing with a section of unharvested crops on her 4,800-acre grain farm near Minnedosa, Man. Galbraith and her husband, Neil, were unable to harvest 650 acres last fall, mostly wheat, because snow fell in early October and flattened the […] Read moreOnline learning embraced in Sask.
Eighty percent of students are working with teachers remotely as they make supplemental education packages available
Saskatchewan students, teachers and families are receiving good grades as they adjust to school closures and home-schooling demands resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. “Everyone is trying to do the best that they can in a very difficult, unique and rapidly changing situation,” said Kyle McIntyre, director of education at the Chinook School Division based in […] Read moreTwo types of ways to cope with COVID stress
Hoarders and deniers are both dealing with unprecedented pressure — and both kinds of behaviour are based on fear
There seem to be two common responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s the toilet paper hoarders who act out of fear and the dismissive folks who also act out of fear. The former are over-responders and the latter are under-responders, but both are responding to anxiety, said psychologist McMillan James. Speaking via an April 2 […] Read moreConsumers expect more from beverages
Modern options include ready-to-drink teas, drinks with less sugar and beverages containing pulses and cannabis
Comfort and health are behind the most recent trends in consumer beverage choices. And the COVID-19 virus may affect consumer beverage purchases, said Howard Telford, head of soft drinks for Euromonitor International. “Particularly when we think about the last few weeks, this anxiety economy of consumer products, I think that’s certainly an area where demand […] Read more
Sask. unveils plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions
Saskatchewan’s five-point plant to re-open the province from COVID-19 restrictions will begin May 4 while maintaining current limits on public gathering size, physical distancing and travel. As restrictions are lifted, the chief medical health officer will monitor the number of positive cases and other factors to determine if further phases should be implemented. Only the […] Read more
Sask. issues wildfire warning
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is warning farmers and landowners to be careful to prevent wildfires and grassfires this spring. Acting vice-president Steve Roberts said this spring isn’t necessarily drier than any other, but COVID-19 presents additional challenges for residents of the agricultural zone. “What we’d like to ensure is that our first responders are […] Read more
UFA donates 4,800 N95 masks
The United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative has donated 4,800 N95 masks to help health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation comes at a time when front-line health care workers are in need of personal protective equipment, the UFA said in a news release this week. Chief operating officer Glenn Bingley said the decision was […] Read more
Animal welfare groups use COVID-19 against farming
Animal welfare groups are using the COVID-19 crisis to attack the meat packing industry and farmers who raise cattle, pigs and poultry. In the last week or so, several groups have blamed “factory farming” for pandemics like COVID-19 and said more will happen unless intensive agriculture comes to an end. “The exploitation of 50 billion […] Read more
Alta. changes cause rural doctors to reduce services
Some rural doctors in Alberta are deciding to offer fewer services, saying new measures imposed by the province are putting their practices in jeopardy. The changes mean there is significant risk that many might decide to permanently close their practices, said Dr. Christine Molnar, president of the Alberta Medical Association. “What’s happening right now is […] Read more
