Saskatchewan Wheat Pool hopes to break even this fiscal year, even though it began with a $9.8 million loss in the first quarter. Chief executive officer Mayo Schmidt said the company is “within striking distance” of its break-even goal, if Mother Nature co-operates. “It would be a remarkable accomplishment given 21/2 years of drought-reduced crops, […] Read more
News
SWP crosses fingers to break even
Vanclief pushes APF through as last ministerial act
Lyle Vanclief held his last news conference as federal agriculture minister Dec. 11, announcing the national birth of the controversial agricultural policy framework on the eve before prime minister Paul Martin announced a new cabinet. The launch of the APF was a career highlight, the end of more than six years in office during which […] Read more
Bondholder sales affect share price
The more Saskatchewan Wheat Pool bondholders convert their debt to equity, the less the company’s share price is likely to rise. Under the terms of a deal struck with bondholders last February to save the company, $255 million worth of bonds are convertible to Class B shares. Since the restructuring was completed, $60 million worth […] Read more
Mustard acres, prices expected to decline
Prairie farmers could lose their taste for mustard next spring. After three years of unbridled expansion, mustard acreage in Western Canada is expected to contract in 2004. “I think a range of 650,000-700,000 acres is probably realistic,” said Steve Foster, senior merchandiser for mustard with Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. That would represent a decline of around […] Read more
I’m dreaming of a white amaryllis (just like the one at Canadian Tire, aisle 2)
Christmas dinner. The candles are lit, wine is poured and the turkey begins its journey around the dinner table, followed by a vat of potatoes. All is like clockwork, until it reaches the gardener in the family, who appears mesmerized by the bowl of mixed vegetables. His mind is clearly on Cloud Nine – the […] Read more
APF money heads to provinces
Outgoing federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief made the compromises necessary last week to entice Ontario to sign the agricultural policy framework and to launch the new national five-year program. Farm leaders immediately called on new agriculture minister Bob Speller to meet farm critics of the program and to make it better. “Sitting down with industry […] Read more
Canad, China agree to wheat deal
The Canadian Wheat Board has agreed to sell China half a million tonnes of wheat in 2004 and a senior board official says more good news may be on the way. “I think there is a real potential for higher sales in the next few years,” said CWB marketing manager for the Asia-Pacific region Don […] Read more
Senior elves turn skills into smiles
ROSTHERN, Sask. – Two hundred children will find homemade Christmas joy under their trees this year through the efforts of seniors and staff at Santa’s Workshop in this central Saskatchewan community. Since June, residents of the Mennonite Nursing Home and community volunteers have gathered to paint, hammer and glue toys and compile Santa sacks full […] Read more
New ag minister promises to listen
Bob Speller stepped out of Government House Dec. 12 as Canada’s 29th agriculture minister with a message for Canada’s farmers. He’s from the government of Canada and he wants to listen. While he did not have any program ideas to unveil or policy shifts to announce, the new minister clearly wanted to change the farmer […] Read more
Sask. farmers launch complaint against CP
A group of farmers in northeastern Saskatchewan is ready to do battle with Canadian Pacific Railway. The 25 farmers want to load producer cars at a number of sidings on a branch line running through their area, as they did two years ago when 135 producer cars were shipped off the line. But CP is […] Read more
