Conservative MP says Liberal gun ban not based on any evidence

There's a lot of discussion around the Federal Governments move to introduce amendments to Bill C-21 that would also result in banning several types of hunting rifles. 

Conservatives MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands Jeremy Patzer says it's not based on any evidence.

"The claim from the government is that they're only trying to ban semi-automatic firearms that can receive a cartridge that can hold more than five rounds. But what we're seeing is there's a lot of single-shot firearms in there. There's a lot of your regular hunting rifles that are part of this ban."

Highlight's from Saskatchewan's weekly cattle report

The number of cattle moving through Saskatchewan auction marts has slowed down.

Canfax reported 18,567 head of feeder cattle were sold last week, down from 20,488 head the previous week.

The average prices for Saskatchewan feeder steers were mixed and ranged from $314.00 cwt for the 300-400 pound animals to $227.88 cwt for the 800-900 pound category. 

Feeder heifers ranged from $237.88 cwt for the 300-400 pound animals to $201.50 for the 800+ category. 

D2 slaughter cows averaged $82.08 cwt while D3 cows averaged $70.33.

Jim Carr remembered as a "dedicated parliamentarian"

Jim Carr, a Liberal Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre passed away at his home on Monday.

Carr was first elected to Parliament in 2015.

He served as Minister of Natural Resources from 2015 to 2018, in that role he emphasized the importance of environmental and regulatory systems.

In 2018 he was appointed Minister of International Trade Diversification and was involved in the development of the Canada and European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

Consultations for Sustainable Agriculture Strategy launched

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has launched consultations focused on developing a Sustainable Agriculture Strategy that will support the livelihood fo farmers while growing a sustainable sector.

She says the Strategy will focus on five key areas - soil health, climate adaptation and resilience, water, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity. 

Conserving grassland ecosystems in Saskatchewan has global impact

The UN Biodiversity Conference "COP-15" continues in Montreal this week. 

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) focus centers around protecting nature and halting biodiversity loss around the world.

Cameron Wood, a Director with the Nature Conservancy of Canada says conserving grassland ecosystems in Saskatchewan has global impact.

Rancher and conservationist says conserving Alberta's grassland ecosystems has global impact

The UN Biodiversity Conference "COP-15" continues in Montreal this week. 

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) focus centers around protecting nature and halting biodiversity loss around the world.

Tom Lynch-Staunton, Alberta VP of Nature Conservancy of Canada says conserving grassland ecosystems in Alberta has global impact.

Mercantile Consulting Venture "Producer Contract Review " suggests recommendations

2021 is a year many in the ag sector would like to forget, the widespread drought resulted in a loss in production that left many farmers having to pay significant penalties on unfulfilled grain contracts.

Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture has released a report looking at the issue around grain contracts.

Boersch was one of the presenters last week during the APAS AGM.

She says the current contracts are heavily tilted in favor of the buyer.

Bill C-294 addresses issues for shortline manufacturing

A Private Members Bill C-294 - An Act to amend the Copyright Act - focusing on interoperability has passed second reading in the House of Commons.

The Bill put forward by the Conservative MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands, Jeremy Patzer was supported by all parties.

Patzer says some of the major agricultural manufacturers (like John Deere) are using technological protection measures (TPM) to lock out shortline equipment manufacturers like Honey Bee, Macdon, and Degelman.

Major soybean crush plant planned for North Dakota

Plans for a new $400 million dollar soybean crush plant at Grand Forks, North Dakota have been released.

Epitome Energy LLC says the new facility should process upwards of 42 million bushels of soybeans per year and is projected to strengthen the basis for soybeans by 20-25 cents per bushel. 

The plant is expected to produce more than 940,000 tons of soybean meal per year, 60 million gallons of crude degummed soybean oil and 84,000 tons of soybean hulls.

APAS delegates meet in Saskatoon


The Agricultural Producers of Saskatchewan are wrapping up their AGM in Saskatoon.

The two-day meeting covered a variety of topics from the fertilizer emissions reduction target, to the vet shortage, grain transportation and contracts.

On Thursday, the President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture held a fireside chat with delegates. 

Mary Robinson will be stepping aside at the CFA annual general meeting in March after four years in the role.  

In reviewing her term she says there were a number of key issues to deal with.