(Eclipse_images/E+/Getty Images)

Report highlights optimism, resignation in agriculture sector

Belief industry and government can remedy policy, extreme weather, and trade issues varies considerably

A troublesome policy and regulatory environment, extreme weather, and trade barriers are the issues keeping Canadian agriculture professionals awake at night. That’s according to a joint report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) and the University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Food Security on risk in Canada’s agrifood system.



Les Henry. (University of Saskatchewan video screengrab)

Prairie soil scientist and author Les Henry, 83

Henry's outreach to farmers spanned more than half a century

Glacier FarmMedia — Saskatchewan soil scientist Les Henry, well known for his work on improving Prairie farmland and his outreach to Prairie farmers in the pages of Grainews, has died. Ending a long fight with congestive heart failure, Henry died Friday in Saskatoon at age 83, having continued to write until very shortly before his

Kashika Sethi (l) and Rhea Thomas Thommana (r) were at Ag in Motion to represent food scientists Drs. Martin Reaney and Michael Nickerson and their 3D printer projects, including their work on printable protein-based materials, such as the pea-based “chicken leg” seen in the machine. (Becky Zimmer photo)

At Ag in Motion: 3D printer takes aim at food ingredients

Making foods both plant-based and printable the goal

With the development of 3D printing, the age of Star Trek replicators has arrived. For master’s student Rhea Thomas Thommana and PhD student Kashika Sethi, food replication is on the horizon as well. Thomas Thommana and Sethi were at Ag in Motion this week with a 3D printer designed to incorporate plant-based ingredients into food,

Nyssa Guilbert is a student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Guy Hobman Award winner.

The draw of rural vet practice

Faces of Ag: Nyssa Guilbert is the first Manitoban student to receive the Guy Hobman Award

With her love of rural life and penchant for the problem solving needed to treat many types and sizes of animals, Manitoba-born veterinary student Nyssa Guilbert says she hopes to work in a country practice once she graduates. “It’s just kind of like what I’ve always known and what I’ve always loved,” said the Anola-area


Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal speaks at Manitoba Ag Days 2020.

Province funds new vet student seats

Spots in program will target lack of commercial vets in rural areas

Veterinary hopefuls from Manitoba will get a few more seats at the table, the province announced Sept. 29. Manitoba will increase its funding at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan, which is the primary school for vet training in Western Canada. Why it matters: Vet shortages have been particularly acute in

(Onfokus/E+/Getty Images)

Automated ag skills program developed for Saskatchewan workforce

Protein supercluster, U of S supporting non-profit agency's program

Corrected, May 24 — A national skills-building organization focused on connecting employers with “untapped” labour markets sets its webcams this summer on the automated and digital ag sectors. Not-for-profit organization Palette Skills has launched a new eight-week online program for Saskatchewan residents focused on automation and digitization in agricultural production and processing. The enrolment deadline

(Mustafagull/iStock/Getty Images)

B.C. doubling seat count at Saskatchewan vet college

Saskatoon veterinary school to take 40 B.C. students

The interprovincial cost-sharing agreement supporting the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will now allow for twice as many students from British Columbia. The B.C. government and the U of S on Monday announced the province will now put up almost $10.7 million to double the number of provincially subsidized students to


Ajay Dalai says a process to pelletize canola meal is now ready for commercialization.

Heating homes with canola meal

This byproduct of crushing could soon be replacing coal and natural gas

A project to turn canola meal into home heat through pelletization is ready for its next step. Ajay Dalai, a Canada Research Chair at the University of Saskatchewan, says they’re now ready to scale up pellet production and enter commercialization. He says the product could find a market as an eco-friendly replacement for coal and

(Saskatchewan Polytechnic video screengrab via YouTube)

Saskatchewan to incentivize rural vet techs

Remote learning, loan forgiveness on offer

Saskatchewan plans to clear a few new paths for veterinary technologists and veterinarians in training to take up work in underserved rural areas. The province on Tuesday announced the two-year registered veterinary technologist program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic will offer a distance delivery option, starting this fall, for vet techs to train in rural and remote