(Dave Bedard photo)

Sask. opens farmland ownership review

Saskatchewan has kicked off public consultations for a review of its rules on investment in the province’s farmland. The consultation period, which runs until Aug. 10, is meant to help the province “understand who should, or should not be, allowed to own farmland in Saskatchewan,” Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said in a release Wednesday. At […] Read more

wire rolling machine

Rolling up old fence wire simplified

Made in Sask. fence-wire roller makes tidy work of a laborious chore

Fencing is probably not a favourite chore for most livestock producers, and cleaning up snarled barbed wire even less so. But one Saskatchewan entrepreneur hopes to ease ranchers’ fencing pains with an automatic wire roller. Brad Mohr, owner of BAM Enterprises, says his brother came up with the initial level-wind wire roller design and started […] Read more





pea plants in stubble

Aphanomyces hurting pea yield for Sask. producer

After repeated aphanomyces problems, Bernie McLean 
is taking a break from growing peas

Bernie McClean usually has a positive outlook on everything. But after three years of dealing with aphanomyces, he’s taking a break from peas. “It’s just too risky. I can’t afford the risk,” says McClean over a cup of coffee at his farm, which sits between Glaslyn and Medstead in northwestern Saskatchewan. Up until two weeks […] Read more




Private wells added to Sask. flood protection program

A provincial program covering Saskatchewan residents’ costs to put up emergency, permanent flood protection has been expanded to include projects to protect private wells. The province’s Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program (EFDRP) is offered to communities, rural municipalities, businesses, non-profit organizations, individual farm and country residences and cottages facing “imminent flooding.” The 2015 program, launched […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Sask. environmental farm planning options sweetened

A list of beneficial management practices (BMPs) for which Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers can get funding through the federal/provincial Farm Stewardship Program has been expanded. The provincial and federal governments on Wednesday announced five new BMPs and “enhancements” to seven already-eligible BMPs available through the program. Among the new BMPs, for example, are rollers for […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Mosaic bracing for royalty hit from Sask. potash policy

U.S. fertilizer firm Mosaic Co. expects Saskatchewan’s new changes to its potash royalty structure to cost the company up to an extra US$100 million in 2015. Minnesota-based Mosaic said Monday its “expected impact” from Saskatchewan’s retroactive move in its 2015 budget will increase the company’s 2015 pre-tax payments by $80 million to $100 million (all […] Read more