Brandon-Souris MP Rick Borotsik, for more than six years the Progressive Conservative agriculture critic, is not so sure Canadian farmers are seeing the real Bob Speller. Speller, the new agriculture minister, has been drawing positive reviews by touring at a frantic pace since his Dec. 12 appointment, spreading the message that he wants to listen […] Read more
News
MP questions ag minister’s public persona
Coming Events
Feb. 9: Sustainable Rural Alternatives seminar series, Converting to Organic Farming, Community Legion Hall, Craik, Sask. (Carmen Bell, 306-734-5192 or Mary Beckie, 306-665-8103) Agri-Trend 2004 farm forum. (Agri-Trend Agrology Ltd., 403-343-8288) Feb. 6: Flexi-coil Place, Saskatoon Feb. 17: Hi-Way Service, Lethbridge Feb. 18: Red Deer Lodge, Red Deer Feb. 19: Fort Inn, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. […] Read more
Schmeiser win could hurt seed research
A farmer’s ability to save seed for next year’s planting, at the heart of the fight between Monsanto Inc. and Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser, is incompatible with patent rights required by seed companies to develop new products, says the companies’ representative. “Within the current Patent Act, we’re saying there is no so-called farmer privilege to […] Read more
U.S. BSE safeguards hit ethnic delicacies
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A traditional polka song poses the question, “Someone stole the kishka. Someone stole the kishka. Who stole the kishka, from the butcher’s shop?” Finally, there’s an answer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stole the kishka, not to mention the tripas and the pho tai sach – all ethnic delicacies made with small […] Read more
Mailbox
Looking for history information from the 1920s in the Govan-Semans area of Saskatchewan. Anything about links between the Fincham family and the family of Ernest and Valerie Barry. This is for genealogical research. Write: K.R. Fincham, 1189 Stillin Dr., Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1P3, e-mail ken_fincham@telus.net. Elnora/Pine Lake history book, $45 plus $5 shipping and handling. […] Read more
Vets lose monopoly on horse teeth
The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld a decision that allows lay people, not just veterinarians, to practice horse dentistry. The three appeal court justices ruled Jan. 28 it is legal for non-veterinarians to practice dentistry on horses in Alberta. Todd Williams, owner of the Canadian Equine Dental Consultants, who helped shepherd the case through […] Read more
Drying system can increase quality of hay
A new hay drying system could reduce energy costs while drying more uniformly. Philippe Savoie, a research scientist with Agriculture Canada at Ste.-Foy, Que., said conventional systems blow air from one direction. That can lead to overdrying of the first layer, making it brittle and unpalatable to cattle. Overdrying by four percent translates into bales […] Read more
Producers advised to sell feed peas
Last month’s soybean meal market rally spurred a surge in domestic feed pea consumption. American soybean growers harvested nine million fewer tonnes of crop this fall on the same acreage they seeded in 2002, due to the lowest yields in a decade. That crop shortage combined with strong world demand pushed soybean meal futures higher, […] Read more
Indian farmers still scarce in Saskatchewan
Two years ago the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations unveiled a program to expand the number of First Nations farmers in the province and increase investment in value-added projects like intensive livestock operations. It hasn’t worked, said University of Saskatchewan animal and poultry science professor Red Williams, who was part of the FSIN agriculture task […] Read more
U.S. sets sights on Iraqi markets
ATLANTA, Ga. – After taking over the Iraqi nation, the United States is now hoping to take over the Iraqi wheat market. A big part of that effort will involve “indoctrinating” Iraqi buyers in the advantages of American wheat, said a senior official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We’re looking forward to a successful […] Read more
