The Western Producer takes a weekly look at some of the stories that made headlines in issues of the paper from 75, 50, 25 and 10 years ago.
75 years ago: Aug. 8, 1940
Federal trade minister James MacKinnon announced a 100 million bushel wheat sale to Britain “at a price considerably above the market.”
Western Canadian farmers who built dugouts under the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act’s water storage provision but never re-ceived promised federal payment were probably relieved to hear agriculture minister James Gardiner say that money would soon be available from appropriations being voted on in the House of Commons.
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50 years ago: Aug. 5, 1965
The labour war at the Vancouver port blew up after Saskatchewan Wheat Pool grain terminal workers refused to handle grain arriving from Alberta.
The Sask Pool workers were acting in solidarity with striking workers at Alberta Wheat Pool’s terminal, which had prompted some suspensions.
The dispute escalated when Sask Pool closed its terminal and suspended the remaining 30 employees.
Manitoba Farmers Union president H. Andresen planned to lead a farmers’ tour to mainland China.
The National Union of Agricultural Workers in Britain proposed that the government take ownership of all land and farmers work as state tenants as a way to meet “the need for a better living to be given to fewer and more efficient farmers and farm workers.”
The United Church Observer predicted in an editorial that the Anglican and United churches would merge in less than 10 years.
25 years ago: Aug. 9, 1990
A poll conducted for the federal government found farmers were uncertain and depressed, didn’t want their children to follow them in the business and felt they were worse off than other Canadians.
Prairie Pools Inc. worried that the Progressive Conservative government was increasingly treating the Canadian Wheat Board as an in-strument of government policy rather than as an organization working for farmers.
10 years ago: Aug. 4, 2005
Bert Vandenberg of the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre said adding fababeans to feed peas could greatly increase the protein content in livestock feed.
Vern Racz of the U of S’s Prairie Feed Resource Centre said new techniques for screening protein in feed peas could save money, help select varieties and guide breeding programs.
