Old Dutch cheddar and sour cream potato chips are the subject of a recall announced Dec. 20 by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency due to risk of salmonella contamination. The potato chips have been distributed in the four western provinces and in Ontario and are being voluntarily recalled by Old Dutch Foods Ltd. There have […] Read more
Farm Living
Tree farm makes holiday memories
FALUN, Alta. — Pine scents fill the air as Fir Ever Green Tree Farm owner Peter Kappeler trims a few inches from the base of a balsam fir. This tree was selected by a family looking to create special Christmas memories. “Some of the trees even come with a free bird’s nest,” joked Peter. He […] Read more
Holiday decorating and gift giving with locally sourced materials
Add authenticity and meaning with locally sourced materials as you decorate your home for the holidays this year. These decorations will also make excellent gifts for family and friends. Evergreens are a natural choice for wreaths, swags and centrepieces and can include pine, spruce, cedar or juniper. Be careful to collect your greens from the […] Read more
Christmas alive with light displays
It’s getting easier to find the top light displays almost anywhere. Simply do an internet search for Christmas lights and the name of a community and chances are that you’ll find a few pleasant surprises. A useful resource in Saskatchewan is www.sparkletour.ca, which includes maps of 15 communities and addresses and descriptions of Christmas displays […] Read more
Standards developed for no-stun livestock slaughter
Public consultation is being sought on the practice of slaughtering animals without stunning them first. Animal slaughter processes for the halal and kosher markets do not allow stunning in accordance with religious belief. The market for such meat is growing, but there is no national standard in Canada for acceptable practices. “What is acceptable can […] Read more
Christmas day dinner in the ’30s melded cultures and traditions
The turkey in the oven was almost ready and Mother had just finished making a tray of baklawa and ghurayba cookies. Now, she was busy cleaning the house for our Christmas dinner guests. Christmas in the mid–1930s was a busy time on our family farm in southern Saskatchewan. Albert Hattum and his family had been […] Read more
Alta. ranchers affected by TB should receive compensation by Christmas
Compensation should be in the hands of Alberta ranchers affected by bovine tuberculosis before Christmas. Applications for help through the 2016 bovine tuberculosis assistance initiative is now available and a number of affected producers have already applied to Alberta Financial Services Corporation which is processing requests. “We urge the remaining ranchers to complete the application […] Read more
Sask. ponders options for education reform
A report delivered to Saskatchewan Education Minister Don Morgan this month suggests three main options for education governance structure in the province. Dan Perrins, a long-time civil servant now retired, was tasked with examining K-12 governance with a view to meeting two key provincial targets: reducing the difference in graduation rates between aboriginal and non-aboriginal […] Read more
New forecast points to slow spring next year
CHICAGO, Ill. — Forecasters thought La Nina would be the major weather factor in 2017, but its looking more like La Nada, says Bryce Anderson, DTN’s senior agricultural meteorologist. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology says the likelihood of a La Nina developing is now low. That viewpoint is shared by the U.S. National Weather Service’s […] Read more
Feds vow to boost rural internet service
The federal government committed $500 million in its 2016-17 budget in March to improve rural internet service. In December, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains delivered the goods. “By increasing access to high-speed Internet, the Connect to Innovate program enhances our rural and remote communities’ ability to innovate, participate in the digital economy […] Read more
