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: Nov. 21, 1940
Delegates to Saskatchewan Wheat Pool’s annual meeting reviewed policy recommendations made by the company’s board to directors aimed at increasing agricultural efficiency and aiding the war effort. They included changes to how the processing tax was levied, continuing the Canadian Wheat Board’s marketing powers and urging the wheat board to find new markets for Canadian wheat to replace those lost in Europe because of the war.
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E.E. Perley, a Conservative MP from Saskatchewan, slammed federal agriculture minister James Gardiner for a recent trade mission to London. “If it only cost the government $1 it was $1 too much,” he thundered.
50 years ago: Nov. 18, 1965
J.H. Wesson, who helped found Sask Pool and served as its president from 1937-60, died Nov. 13 at the age of 78. He was elected as a pool delegate in 1924 and to the board of directors later that same year. He was also the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s first president from 1936-40.
Federated Co-operatives Ltd. reported a good year, including estimated earnings of $4.5 million. All of its divisions increased their sales except for the farm sales department, and this was blamed on limited supplies of fertilizer to sell.
“I hope by next year I can report a brighter future for this department now that we have our own fertilizer manufacturing plant,” said president L.L. Lloyd.
25 years ago: Nov. 22, 1990
Canada’s agriculture ministers failed to reach an agreement during a tense two-day meeting in Winnipeg about how to deliver a proposed income support program for farmers. The continuing deadlock over cost sharing made it increasingly unlikely that such a program could be delivered in time for the next crop year.
The Alberta government hinted that it might get rid of a program that lent money to farmers at a subsidized interest rate of nine percent. Premier Don Getty was trying to balance the province’s budget, and agriculture minister Shirley McClellan wasn’t optimistic that the subsidized interest rate program would survive the process. “It’s a tough, tough decision,” she said.
10 years ago: Nov. 17, 2005
The Western Producer reported that federal finance minister Ralph Goodale “never once mentioned the ‘a’ word” as he announced the government’s latest budget. Farm groups lamented the lack of help for agriculture in the budget.
“I think it’s appalling,” said CFA president Bob Friesen.
Goodale and his fellow Liberals were two months away from losing power. And now he’s back.
For the first time in 45 years, Canada exported more flour than the United States.
However, both countries re-mained far behind European Union exporters, who took advantage of export subsidies to dominate the world’s flour trade.
