REGINA – A resolution at the 2003 Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention closely resembled one from 1964 calling for education tax reform. It is an issue that has followed the convention for four decades and is now about to go away, said SARM president Neal Har-dy, after listening to a presentation by a government […] Read more
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SARM optimistic of education tax reduction
E. coli vaccine could save industry millions
Vaccinations that drastically reduce E. coli 0157:H7 in cattle may be available as soon as next year. It costs North American producers and packers millions of dollars annually to preventing this strain of E. coli from entering the food chain or ground water. A federally funded group of Canadian researchers may have the solution. The […] Read more
How a marketing wrinkle shelved Rinkles – WP Special Report (story 3)
Perry Robinson had an epiphany late one night in 1992 while frying doughnuts in his Yorkton, Sask., bakery. Out of curiosity he started extruding bits of pasta from his pasta machine and frying them in canola oil. When they were done, he took the mini-lasagna noodles and sprinkled them with seasoning. A new durum-based snack […] Read more
SARM rejects resolution for more APAS funding
REGINA – There is a growing rift between Saskatchewan’s main farm lobby group and the association that spawned it. A resolution at the 2003 Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention called on the SARM board to convince “freeloader” rural municipalities to fund the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. It met with strong opposition. APAS derives […] Read more
Solid foundation bodes well for cattle industry
When talking about the future of Canada’s cattle industry, Keith Robertson holds to the adage that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. The industry suffered heavily this year due to BSE and the closure of the United States border. However, Robertson, executive director of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association, believes the experience has shown […] Read more
Little guy feels ignored – WP Special Report (story 4)
Despite the lip service governments pay to value-added agriculture, there is little support for small, on-farm grain processors, say farmers and academics. “We haven’t tapped into any government programs either financial or anything else,” said Tony Marshall, a producer-turned entrepreneur from Aldersyde, Alta. While programs, incentives and expertise are available for bigger value-added projects like […] Read more
Animal welfare bill dies in Senate
The latest attempt by the federal government to update 111-year-old cruelty-to-animal legislation ended last week when the Senate refused to bring the legislation to a vote. The bill is dead. With strong support from dissident Liberal senators and against the wishes of the government leader in a Senate dominated by Liberals, the majority voted to […] Read more
Speckle Park cattle seek breed status
LLOYDMINSTER – Speckle Park cattle could become a recognized breed in Canada within the year, says Battlefords, Sask., rancher Ed Smith. Smith, a member of the Canadian Speckle Park Association with his wife Kathy, has been involved with this evolving breed for 25 years. The association has 1,500 head registered and its members participate successfully […] Read more
Controversial WTO text will stay
A controversial agricultural text that emerged undebated and unapproved from the failed World Trade Organization meeting in Mexico in September will be the basis for future negotiations despite the view of some powerful Canadian farm groups that the text is dangerous and should be discarded, federal ministers said last week. The text calls for movement […] Read more
Transition funding by December
It will be a bit later than promised and much later than initially expected, but by early December, Canadian farmers will begin to see their initial share of Ottawa’s $600 million “transition” funding, says a senior Agriculture Canada official. Danny Foster, acting director general of program planning and performance, said in a Nov. 7 interview […] Read more
