At times Lynn Grocock feels more like a packing clerk in a grocery store or a computer technician than a librarian offering book advice. Grocock, a librarian at the Wainwright, Alta., Public Library, said staff spend a good part of each day packing books, unpacking books, hauling books to the courier or post office and […] Read more
News
Trouble among the stacks
Saskatchewan hopes for APF deal by Christmas
Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister hopes to reach agreement with Ottawa on the agricultural policy framework by the end of the month. And he’s prepared to work through the holidays to do that. “We have 27 more days and you should know elections and holidays and vacations haven’t interrupted the work of agricultural ministers,” Clay Serby told […] Read more
Rendering industry at a crossroad – WP Special Report (about)
When North American consumers reach into the meat counter, they are usually reaching for a product that comes from the most valuable parts – products like roasts, steaks, ribs, stewing meat and ground beef. But what happens to the millions of kilograms of material that don’t end up on the consumer’s plate? Each time an […] Read more
Farm lender doesn’t stint on beef sector
Farm Credit Canada continues to lend to beef producers even though those customers are further behind in their loan payments. Chief executive officer John Ryan said arrears totalled $5.7 million as of Oct. 31, compared to $3.5 million for the same time last year. That means 0.63 percent of the $1.7 billion in loans to […] Read more
Catering puts food on the table
BRODERICK, Sask. – For Chris Anholt-Seitz, Christmas means lefse. Lots and lots of lefse. Thirty-two dozen, to be exact. That’s what it takes to steer a catering and baking business through Christmas in this Norwegian community where Anholt-Seitz and her family live, farm and cook. It also takes mental preparation. “As soon as November comes […] Read more
Friesen joins Liberals
This week, Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Bob Friesen is announcing that he wants to run as a Liberal in the next federal election. After almost five years as leader of Canada’s largest farm lobby and a frequent critic of federal Liberal policies, Friesen said he wants to try to influence policy from the inside. […] Read more
Rendering industry at a crossroad – WP Special Report (main story)
On Sunday, May 18, 2003, Humphry Koch was called to the telephone to receive a call that would change his livelihood. The voice on the phone asked Koch, a top executive at one of Canada’s largest rendering companies, to participate in an urgent, “highly confidential” conference call sponsored by the federal government. The executive vice-president […] Read more
Sask. farmers want education tax relief
Saskatchewan farmers waiting for education tax relief say they want to see it in the spring budget. They let agriculture minister Clay Serby know that during a meeting last week. “We’re going to be on it,” said Phil Lewis, a director of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, during the organization’s annual meeting in Regina. […] Read more
Hog farm welcomes visitors
SEBRINGVILLE, Ont. – By next spring, Ontario hog farmer Frederik de Martines wants to have his showroom ready – a glassed-in viewing platform that will allow visitors to look into his hog barn where a future meal may be living. Earlier, they will be able to watch the de Martines’ wild boar herd in nearby […] Read more
Attitude change needed: APAS
Saskatchewan’s general farm organization plans a major push to change Canadian attitudes toward primary production. A strategy being developed by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan will go to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture table in February. Terry Hildebrandt, who was returned as APAS president at the group’s recent annual meeting, said farmers and the […] Read more
