LIBERAL MPs last week accused the Conservatives of one of the greatest sins in the Canadian farm debate – putting supply management at risk. At issue were terms of reference for free trade talks between Canada and the European Union launched earlier this month. When Canadian and European officials did a “scoping” exercise to lay […] Read more
Opinion
Silly season regarding supply management support – Opinion
Where the deer play, and eat too – Opinion
Beingessner is an agriculture columnist who farms near Truax, Sask. Hay was pretty scarce in my part of southern Saskatchewan last fall. Then came a cold winter that went on forever. Hay supplies were stretched to the limit, and many farmers fed extra grain and purchased hay. This spring looks better, with lots of rain, […] Read more
Nature’s magicand metaphor – Editorial Notebook
Above you will find a photo of a marvel and a metaphor. A poplar tree, in its eagerness and compulsion to grow, has completely engulfed a pair of horseshoes, and its hidden treasure was recently discovered. The photo came to us from Sela Balzer of Langham, Sask. It seems that Allan Balzer had been offered […] Read more
Letters to the editor
Fertilizer truths; Lotto payouts; True colours; Lentil prices; Only the big; Uranium worry; Wild boars; Failing strategy Fertilizer truths Potash Corp. president and chief executive officer Bill Doyle’s statements in your publication, (WP, April 30), “Possible fertilizer reduction worrisome” are the farthest from the truth as you could get. The drop in fertilizer usage is […] Read more
Does your estate plan need a checkup? – Taking care of business
Planning for death may not be the most uplifting activity, but it is important, especially for farmers who own assets such as land with extremely high value. In estate planning, it is important to consider the following factors: If you do not have a will, provincial law determines how your assets are distributed. A will […] Read more
I’m so woanwey
Ever since seeing the documentary Team America: World Police I’ve had trouble taking North Korea’s dictator seriously. Even after seeing him manipulate all those Hollywood actors to do his evil bidding. Those goofy glasses and his bravura performance singing “I’m so lonely” in an Elmer Fuddish style cracked me up. I never have understood why […] Read more
Bucking buck
Friday, while I was sorting through notes from a cattle industry briefing, trying to learn a new expense recording system and pondering the collapse of the Roman republic into civil war, anarchy and dictatorship, the Canadian loonie surged a full cent. Or, rather, the American greenback slumped about a penny. (Ever notice our pennies look […] Read more
Naked, exposed, wet
A few days ago, halfway down a 12 kilometre patch of muddy bog humorously represented as a road on the map, I felt rather naked and exposed to disaster. My two-wheel drive vehicle was almost sinking up to the axles and spinning tires in each 50 metre long section of mud that appeared in the […] Read more
May 18, 2009
“Fresh cut flowers for U-pick”. We often drive by this sign and the carefully laid out flower beds behind it. Every time I wonder if people really do put the money into the cash box, and how the whole business works. Anni and Gerhard Bollinger were working in the flower beds today as we drove […] Read more
Market power held by fertilizer firms – WP editorial
FERTILIZER prices have been a sore point for farmers for more than a year. They soared through 2007 and the first half of 2008 along with grain prices, but when grain crashed in August, fertilizer remained high through the fall, when many farmers traditionally stock up. Only in winter did nutrient values fall, although even […] Read more
