Ric Swihart says he became a farm journalist because he had “neither the money nor the guts to be a farmer.” TheLethbridge Heraldreporter and frequent freelance writer forThe Western Producerofficially retired June 1. Swihart grew up in Fort Macleod, Alta., graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1969 and soon landed a job […] Read more
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Alta. farm journalist retires from weekly newspaper
Conservatives confident of long term in Ottawa
More than a celebration of the May 2 election of a Conservative majority government, last weekend’s Conservative Party national convention was an anticipation of at least eight more years. As more than 2,000 delegates gathered in Ottawa to mark the first Conservative majority victory in 23 years, there was a clear message that if they […] Read more
Farmers desperate to seed
POPLAR POINT, Man. – A trip through many parts of the Manitoba countryside is a journey through farmer hell, with big weeds, unseeded and late seeded fields and refugee cattle making the landscape an ugly quilt of bad-looking farmland. Super-saturated soil has hobbled farmers across large parts of the province since spring thaw, and the […] Read more
Sask. pork industry awards of distinction
Saskatchewan’s hog industry is accepting nominations for this year’s awards of distinction. The awards honour individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the pork industry and serving Saskatchewan producers. Eligible nominees include employees, employers, suppliers and stakeholders who make a difference in their operations. Nominations will be accepted until Oct. 14.
Single desk elimination a priority, says Harper
As prime minister Stephen Harper gave a triumphant speech to Conservative party national convention delegates June 10, rural MPs were scattered throughout the audience listening for signals on government priorities. Late in the speech, Harper affirmed the government’s intention to fulfill a promise to reform the Canadian Wheat Board, eliminating the single desk. “Yes,” said […] Read more
Goodale trips up transportation minister on rail service plans
The new federal minister responsible for implementing the Rail Service Review recommendations got off to as rocky start on the file last week. Denis Lebel, a rural Quebec businessperson with less than four years of House of Commons experience, was named minister for the mammoth transport, infrastructure and communities department in the new Conservative cabinet. […] Read more
Alberta Pulse Growers hires executive director
Leanne Fischbuch is the Alberta Pulse Growers’ new executive director. Fischbuch, who grew up on a farm, has worked as operations manager of the Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta and manager of the Innovation in Agribusiness Management Fund. She has collaborated on projects with Alberta Agriculture, Agriculture Canada, University of Alberta and the Agricultural […] Read more
Viterra anticipates strong year
Western Canadian farmers are expected to plant 52 to 56 million acres this year, according to Viterra’s chief executive officer. Speaking to grain industry analysts during a conference call last week, Mayo Schmidt reported company profits of $33 million for the three month period ending April 30 and estimated that prairie farmers would at least […] Read more
Highways flooded in Sask.
Rain continues to cause problems for southern Saskatchewan residents and transportation. Monday afternoon RCMP at Indian Head, Sask., east of Regina, closed westbound lanes of the Trans Canada highway due to overland flooding. Police reported water up 60 centimeters deep across the roadway near Sintaluta with traffic diversions at Grenfel onto highway 47. Highway 47 […] Read more
Clock ticks on China’s canola import rules
The anniversary of the one year extension on Canadian canola seed’s restricted access to China is fast approaching. The Canola Council of Canada announced a year ago that China had agreed to extend access for canola seed imports for another year under a certain set of restrictions designed to keep blackleg disease out of the […] Read more
