There’s no fighting it, so why pretend otherwise? Football is the only thing on Saskatchewan’s mind right now. It’s all green and white, all the time, as the clock ticks down to Sunday when the Roughriders play the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup for the second time in as many years. This time the […] Read more
News
Football and farming: same basic strategy
Unusual breed turns some heads
Paddy was the talk of the barn at this year’s Saskatoon Fall Fair, catching the attention of many passing by his stall. It was the first time in the fair’s 45-year history that a Highland bull was shown. The eight-month-old bull, owned by 11-year-old Wyatt Millar of Grandora, Sask., spent much of his time at […] Read more
Trade plan with EU progresses
Canada-European Union trade negotiations continue to progress but sensitive agricultural negotiations still have not been tackled, said the chief Canadian negotiator. After the latest negotiation in Ottawa last month, ministers from Canada and the EU promised to decide by year end if there is enough common ground to conclude an agreement next year. If not, […] Read more
Manitoba expands insurance in ag sector
The Manitoba government has promised to introduce insurance programs for the province’s cattle, hog and honey producers. Keystone Agricultural Producers president Rob Brunel welcomed the announcement, which was made in the government’s recent speech from the throne. “We don’t typically hear a lot about agriculture in the throne speech … but there were a few […] Read more
Sask. farm sues CWB over ineligible variety
A Saskatchewan grain farming company has launched a $50 million plus lawsuit against the Canadian Wheat Board. Ben Hudye, president of Hudye Farms of Norquay, Sask., filed the lawsuit in Court of Queen’s Bench in mid-November, in the middle of the current CWB election period. The lawsuit claims the board acted improperly earlier this year […] Read more
Question election
CWB monopoly candidate Stewart Wells, in the Sept. 9Western Producer,said the CWB elections will send a message to Ottawa. The only message going to Ottawa should be that this is the seventh CWB election run under highly questionable guidelines. This election has absolutely no credibility on the basis that there is no way to check […] Read more
Welfare groups say they’re not activists
Animal welfare groups want producers to know that welfare isn’t the same as rights. The distinction is important because welfare groups want to work with farmers rather than against them, says Geoff Urton, animal welfare co-ordinator with the British Columbia SPCA. “Anything we can do, (we try) to communicate to producers that we’re actually on […] Read more
Ag exports up eight percent in wake of ag trade missions
The federal government’s aggressive agricultural trade agenda is paying dividends with a sharp increase in the value of exports this year, says agriculture minister Gerry Ritz. “I’m proud to report that Canada’s agricultural exports have risen by eight percent this year alone,” he told MPs on the House of Commons agriculture committee Nov. 18. “This […] Read more
Eco-home suitable for rural residents
The Western Development Museum is well known for showcasing the past. But in its latest exhibit, the Saskatoon museum has taken a different tack by displaying alternatives for the future. A zero net energy home is on display for the next year to show how buildings can be designed to produce as much energy as […] Read more
Critic bemoans lack of debate in CWB election
A grain industry consultant and former vice-president of Informa Economics says the Canadian Wheat Board’s director elections are lacking in meaningful debate. John De Pape, a former trader at the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange and grain trader with Cargill, is posting a blog called the CWB Monitor, with the intent to bring important grain marketing issues […] Read more
