Lentil plants in bloom. (BasieB/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Good start despite dry conditions

CNS Canada — Dry soil conditions persist across many areas of Western Canada but the outlook for pulse crops seems fairly promising in one specialist’s view. “For the pulses, seeding has been going fairly well,” said Daphne Cruise, crops extension specialist with Saskatchewan’s provincial Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Moose Jaw. “A lot of the pulses […] Read more



Kabuli chickpeas. (PulseCanada.com)

Chickpeas seen making Prairie comeback

CNS Canada — Chickpeas should see a resurgence in Western Canada this spring, as farmers who hadn’t seeded the crop for a number of years shift some acres back from other pulses. “We sold a sizeable amount of chickpea planting seed,” said Colin Young of Midwest Grain at Moose Jaw. After an excellent quality year […] Read more

Tuberculosis bacteria under an electron microscope. (Janice Haney Carr photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.))

Bovine TB probe officially closed

An investigation across three provinces following the appearance of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in six Prairie cattle in 2016 has officially closed with no further cases found. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday reported receiving the last of the lab culture test results on about 30,000 animals tested during its probe. “All of the results […] Read more



(Photo courtesy WCVM)

Vet college’s full accreditation survives funding cut

The looming exit of one of its major funding partners notwithstanding, the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has earned full accreditation through 2024. The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Council on Education, the accrediting body for veterinary colleges in North America, recently confirmed Saskatoon-based WCVM’s status as “Accredited (w/minor deficiency).” “Minor […] Read more



(K-plus-S.com)

K+S expects earnings gain from Saskatchewan mine

Frankfurt | Reuters — German potash miner K+S vowed to increase earnings significantly this year, as it ramps up production at its new Bethune, Sask. mine and after temporary restrictions on waste water at its main domestic mine were lifted. Revenues would be tangibly higher and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) would […] Read more


Scott Moe discusses plans to lift the PST off insurance premiums in a Canadian Taxpayers Federation video. (CTF video screengrab via YouTube)

Saskatchewan pulls sales tax off farm insurance

Saskatchewan’s provincial government has reinstated a provincial sales tax (PST) exemption for agriculture, health and life insurance premiums. Premier Scott Moe on Monday announced the exemption will take effect retroactive to Aug. 1 last year, when the PST was first applied to insurance. The province said the exemption will include PST on premiums paid for […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Saskatchewan, B.C. areas up for livestock tax deferrals

Livestock producers in several more parched municipalities in Saskatchewan and British Columbia will be able to defer income from sales of animals on their 2017 tax returns. The federal government on Tuesday announced its final list of designated regions for 2017, including 20 more municipalities in Saskatchewan and seven in British Columbia. The initial list, […] Read more