Wildlife compensation lacking Saskatchewan Crop Insurance is supposed to pay 100 percent of wildlife damage to crops but rural municipal politicians say it is falling short. John Priestley, from the Rural Municipality of Blaine Lake, said the damage includes the cost of cleaning grain after wildlife has contaminated it. He said insurance pays 32 cents […] Read more
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SARM in brief
Sask. plant plans to burn animal offal to create energy
An energy company owned by Weyburn Inland Terminal is getting into the business of animal offal disposal. Rob Davies, chief executive officer of WIT, said NorAmera Technologies Inc. (NTI) is building a combustion facility that will turn animal material and flax straw into thermal energy. Energy produced in the $6 million plant will be used […] Read more
Ottawa rules out more aid for hogs
Despite hog industry pleas that existing farm safety net programs are not doing the job, the federal government said programs will not be changed, at least for now. The government gave two explanations for the lack of action. At a March 17 appearance before the House of Commons agriculture committee, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said […] Read more
Coal fired ethanol sees profit turn to losses
NEVADA, Iowa – In Iowa corn country, Wyoming coal fires an ethanol plant that fuels California cars and feeds Mexican cattle. At first the idea of coal-fired ethanol production from corn might seem environmentally questionable. But when properly done, the system is as greenhouse gas efficient as any other grain alcohol facility, say officials at […] Read more
Ritz, CWB agree on Colombia trade
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz appeared happy at times last week to describe the Canadian Wheat Board as an ally, particularly on trade issues. One example was the Conservative push to get a free trade deal with Colombia through Parliament over opposition objections. “Even the wheat board, love them or hate them, supports the Colombia […] Read more
Cougar study designed to help provinces develop management plan
Saskatchewan’s environment ministry has embarked on a two-year study of cougars in the Cypress Hills. The study follows one carried out on the Alberta side of the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park over the last two years. Mike Gollop, the ministry’s fur and problem wildlife specialist, said the study will help develop a management plan for […] Read more
Sins of the fall are visited upon the spring
A lot of wet canola was bagged last fall. Nobody knows how much is frozen solid, how much is heating and how much can be salvaged. Producers would ideally try to store the higher value canola in the yard and bag the lower value cereal crops in the field. However, it’s not an ideal world […] Read more
Flood forecasters downgrade risk in Manitoba
Runoff is expected to be average or below average across Manitoba this year, which is why provincial flood forecasters have downgraded the chances of severe flooding in the Red River Valley this spring. Manitoba Water Stewardship released its flood outlook last week and predicted that floodwaters on the Red would peak at approximately 2.9 feet […] Read more
Former CFA leader moves to FNA-Stag
A former president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture has been appointed head of an organization dedicated to increasing farmer profitability. Bob Friesen, who held the top job at the CFA for nearly 10 years, is chief executive officer of Farmers of North America Strategic Agriculture Institute (FNA-Stag). Friesen said his organization will have a […] Read more
Grain bag born in Saskatchewan
Contrary to popular belief, the idea of stuffing grain into big poly bags originated in Saskatchewan and not Argentina. Brothers Jules and Gerard Clavelle built the world’s first grain bagger on their farm at Viscount, Sask., in 1982, according to plastics specialist and longtime family friend Mike Lynch. “They had too much barley and were […] Read more
