A chorus of voices is opposing the federal government’s plan to add 30 seats to the 308-seat House of Commons by the 2015 election. An underlying theme in many of the presentations is that the real problem in Canadian parliamentary representation is the over-representation of rural voters in Canada. It is not an issue the […] Read more
News
Commons debates rural-urban representation
Cattle killed by wolves on rise
Wolves are becoming a problem for cattle ranchers in northern Saskatchewan. Colin Hughes, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Canwood and chair of the Cookson community pasture patrons’ committee, said the predators have always been a concern, but the past year has been worse. “We lost 38 head in our fields this year by wolf […] Read more
High prices, low supply hurt, not help bison markets
Meat processors warn that unprecedented high bison prices and low supply could put some markets at risk. Prices are running near $4 per pound, up from about $1.15 in 2003, and buyers say that’s too much. Kelly Long, co-owner of Carmen Creek Gourmet Meats, said Europe is her company’s largest market. High meat prices and […] Read more
Sask. MLAs elect speaker; throne speech outlines agenda
Long-time Saskatchewan Party MLA Dan D’Autremont was elected speaker of the legislature Dec. 5 as the house convened for the first session after Saskatchewan’s November election. D’Autremont, who represents Cannington, defeated former speaker Don Toth, from the neighbouring constituency of Moosomin, in a secret ballot vote prior to the throne speech. Both were first elected […] Read more
AgriStability problems likely to persist: report
The AgriStability farm income support program remains flawed and in need of repair, the office of the auditor general has told Parliament. In a late November report, interim auditor general John Wiersema reported that the program remains so flawed it is a barrier to farmers who need help. “We note that Agriculture and Agri- Food […] Read more
Smiles all round from Angus producers
REGINA — The Wilson crew may have had one of the coldest spots in the Agribition barn, but the Bashaw, Alta., ranchers have also had one of their hottest show seasons ever. Lee and Dawn Wilson maintained a hot pace this year as their 2011 show season wound up at Canadian Western Agribition. They marketed […] Read more
Canola yield potential largely untapped: agrologist
Prairie producers aren’t realizing the full potential of canola, says an expert on the increasingly popular oilseed. With proper management, producers should be able to see an 80 bushel per acre yield on the crop, explained Phil Thomas, a senior agri-coach at Agri-Trend. Thomas presented his case for proper canola management at the Agri-Trend 2011 […] Read more
Technology opens doors for ag sector
Agriculture is no longer just about feeding a hungry world, says a professor from New Mexico State University. Lowell Catlett, a keynote speaker at the Agri-Trend Farm Forum in Saskatoon, said the agricultural world is changing into a place where organic food and gluten free manufactured products are in demand. “The organic (food) in North […] Read more
Industrial milk price boosted
Canadian dairy farmers will receive a 1.5 percent increase in prices they receive for milk sold for processing, effective Feb. 1 Prices for table milk and cream tend to follow industrial milk price increases, but they are set by provincial milk boards and can vary. The Canadian Dairy Commission announced the industrial milk price increase […] Read more
Ag + education = confusion
WINNIPEG — “Have you ever seen Food Inc.?” Considering it’s 8:30 a.m. at Westwood Collegiate in Winnipeg, the students in the home economics classroom are reasonably alert and responsive when asked if they’ve watched the 2009 documentary film. Most of the students in the Grade 12 foods class, a mix of boys and girls, raise […] Read more
