New report recommends stronger measures, but Sask. agriculture minister says processes have already been improved
REGINA — Agriculture minister Daryl Harrison is confident there is no unauthorized foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland. He said processes at the Farm Land Security Board were already being improved before last week’s report from provincial auditor Tara Clemett, which recommended stronger procedures. Related story in this issue: “I don’t think they completely know,” she […] Read moreNews
Alta. brothers named national OYF winners
The Gemstone Cattle Co. of Gem, Alta., and Polyculture Plante 1987 Inc. of Saint-Pétronille, Que., are this year’s national young outstanding farmers. Gemstone is run by Barry, Daniel and Lorin Doerksen. Related story in this issue: The brothers started implementing regenerative agriculture practices 10 years ago and say rotational grazing, poly-cropping for silage and winter […] Read more
Ag committee discussion grows testy as minister appears
MacAulay’s appearance sets off a feistier meeting than usual as opposition MPs ask about visit to China and crickets
REGINA — Crickets: it’s a word that could mean a few different things but turned out to be at least a couple of them during federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay’s appearance at the House of Commons agriculture committee last week. The minister was there to discuss the latest supplementary estimates, worth about $123 million. That […] Read more
Farm group told it needs to expand its membership
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan members worry about organization’s future due to static resources
REGINA — The new president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is promising more collaboration with other organizations to get things done for farmers. Bill Prybylski said all agricultural groups are working toward similar goals, and there can be more opportunities to work together. However, some delegates at the recent annual meeting say the […] Read more
Producers urged to ensure grain deliveries are protected
Canadian Grain Commission says it watches at-risk companies, but acknowledges that changes in a firm’s situation can happen quickly
REGINA — Farmers have until Jan. 27 to file claims with the Canadian Grain Commission against Purely Canada Foods. Jon Friesen, the commission’s chief operating officer, said the cluster of companies that have fallen into financial difficulty in the last year is unusual. Purely Canada is the only ongoing claim assessment situation. The company’s licences […] Read more
Farmers encouraged to keep Senate soil study prominent
Senator Rob Black says committee will seek more details on government’s response to Critical Ground in the new year
REGINA — The senator who led the Canadian soils study says farmers have to hold the government’s feet to the fire if they want the recommendations implemented. Rob Black told a recent Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan meeting that the Senate’s agriculture committee was “less than happy” with some of the government’s response, which offered […] Read more
Farm revenues and profits were strong in 2023
WINNIPEG — It seems like a long time ago, but 2023 was a great year for Canadian farmers. Statistics Canada data on farm operating revenues and expenses released Dec. 6 shows that total operating revenues were $117 billion in 2023, up from $108 billion in 2022 and $97 billion in 2021. Breaking that down by […] Read more
Chinese buyers slash Canadian canola imports
Fears over looming imposition of an anti-dumping duty are expected to significantly reduce December shipments
SINGAPORE/BEIJING, (Reuters) — Chinese importers are scaling back purchases of Canadian canola with shipments from December likely to plunge as most buyers appear reluctant to sign new deals for fear that Beijing could impose retaliatory anti-dumping duties. The canola trade between the two countries is worth about US$2 billion a year, but lower imports by […] Read more
Climate change worries Canadian farmers: poll
WINNIPEG — A poll released Dec. 11 suggests that Canadian farmers worry more about the impacts of climate change than they do about input costs and market prices for canola, corn, wheat and cattle. The poll of 858 producers from coast to coast determined that farmers rank climate change as their No. 1 concern. “When […] Read more
VIDEO: The dollars and sense of on-farm fertilizer
SPERLING, Man. — The retail price of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer was about $1,100 per ton this summer in Western Canada. That number comes from Curtis Hiebert, who farms near Sperling, Man. Hiebert now has a green ammonia production system on his farm, which has a capacity of 100 tons of ammonia per year. Related stories: […] Read more
