More than half of the Saskatchewan farmers who responded to an on-line survey last week said they are bracing for reduced farmgate revenue and lower commodity prices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey, conducted by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) suggested that 68 out of 128 survey respondents (55 percent) […] Read more
Farm Living
Pandemic threatens typical branding style
Before starting:
Cattle branding on the Prairies has always been a combination of necessity and tradition. The sound of cows bawling, the smell of burning hair, the sight of rope-wielding cowboys, the taste of the baked beans and beef at lunch — this sensory feast is part of the traditional western branding party. This year it will […] Read more
Grandfather-inspired chicken project thrives
Two Saskatchewan youngsters turn Andi & Alex’s Farm Fresh Eggs into a booming business, gathering up to 10 dozen eggs a day
CREELMAN, Sask.— It all started with a chicken coop built by Grandpa. Last spring, Andi and Alex Ray’s grandfather, John Ray, decided his grandkids would benefit from having a chicken project in their shared farmyard. The grandkids embraced the idea, starting with one brand-new coop and 60 laying hens. One year later, nine-year-old Andi and […] Read more
Gardening is healthy and a good diversion in scary times
Last fall, I planted a variety of bulbs in anticipation of a burst of spring flowers. As the weather warms I keep checking for green shoots to appear. I held two hyacinth bulbs back to force for some pre-spring blooms. They had been tucked in the back of the fridge until early March when I […] Read more
Love of a lifetime starts with a gift of farming
On the Farm: The choice to farm came naturally for Danny and Diane Kotylak, but starting up wasn’t without obstacles
CANDIAC, Sask. — It all started with a birthday gift — a quarter of land. Danny Kotylak knew he’d be a farmer early in life. With his grandmother gifting him his first quarter section, one-half cultivated and one-half pasture, it was like destiny came calling. “After that, my parents gave me six Simmental heifers to […] Read more
Is picking up a takeout an act of civic duty?
What local decisions can farmers make that would help preserve the social fabric of their communities?
The other night I picked up a big takeout order at our favourite Indian restaurant in Winnipeg. I phoned in the order and picked it up at the entrance, where it was safely and distantly transferred into my hands. When I got it home I got everything out of the containers, garbaged all the packaging, […] Read more
Poor cell service leaves rural Manitobans feeling unsafe
About 65 percent of rural Manitobans are unhappy with their cell phone service, says a new survey. The finding isn’t a shock because many rural regions have dead zones where cell service is spotty or non-existent. Even along the Trans-Canada Highway between Portage la Prairie and Brandon, there are sections of highway where the number […] Read more
Pandemic forces home schooling on families
Lack of adequate broadband speed is a major problem for rural families trying to replace school with online learning
Adrienne Ivey isn’t worried about her kids not learning enough during this time of school closures and home-schooling. “There are real-life skills being learned here every day,” said Ivey, a cattle producer in Ituna, Sask. Those skills are being picked up more than ever these days as her 12-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter spend their […] Read moreIt is important that talk of suicide be taken seriously
Q: Last Wednesday, in the middle of the night, our nephew was taken to the hospital by his wife. Apparently he had overdosed on his antidepressants. She got him to the hospital before there was too much damage, and between her and his physician they managed to see him through his crisis with not too […] Read more
Sask. helps oil and gas sector
Saskatchewan’s oil and gas sector is getting some help from the province as it faces COVID-19 and the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Provincial energy minister Bronwyn Eyre announced relief measures today that include extending filing and other deadlines so companies can stabilize operations as their employees move to work from home. Mineral […] Read more
