Hearing U.S. government officials say there is 'no cause for alarm' in a case of mad cow disease found in California is not playing well for one Saskatchewan beef producer.

The story served as a chilling reminder of the crisis that nearly destroyed Kathy Quiring's way of life and for her, the efforts of U.S. officials to downplay this story seem like a double-standard.

"It really is hard to take when you consider what they did to us," she said.

Several farmers went to the legislature to say that the government needs to shut down illegal ditches.

Illegal drainage on farmland in Saskatchewan is pitting neighbour against neighbour.

Environment Minister Dustin Duncan says the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is trying to clear a backlog of complaints following heavy flooding last year.

Duncan says information will be sent to landowners outlining the ramifications of digging illegal ditches.

Edited by News Talk Radio staff with files from Canadian Press

Farmers in the south-central region aren't too worried about moisture this growing season.

Wet snow and rain caused elevated moisture levels in areas around the south east - meaning farmers there will have to wait to start seeding in May

Meanwhile, north of Regina, Karen Howard is expressing the positive attitude that comes with the season.

"Spring is the time of year when everybody is optimistic - so everybody's hopeful that it's going to be a good year," she said.

Howard is already seeing the extra water receding in the fields.

They were hoping for an early start but recent wet weather has put a damper on Saskatchewan farmers' plans.

Grant McLean with Saskatchewan Agriculture says slushy snow, rain and cooler weather has pushed back the start of seeding for those producers who were hoping to get a head start.

"With warmer weather earlier in March they thought they might get to the field a little bit earlier," he said.

Unfortunately, some producers in the east central and south east regions recorded between 20 and 40 mls since April 10.

The goal may be to come away with a new combine or sprayer, but many say a Richie Bros. auction is all about the atmosphere.
 
It was evident during the auctioneer's grand reopening just north of Saskatoon where the the company had moved to a larger facility to accommodate its customers.
 
"I just love the fast-paced environment that we're in. Of course there's a lot of equipment moving, I like the smell of the diesel fumes," said Jordan Clarke, regional sales manager for Richie Bros. Auctioneers on Wednesday.
 

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was in North Battleford Wednesday to unveil a grain sorting technology which will help capture a larger quantity of kernels

The sorter, which uses infrared light technology to analyze and sift grains based on protein, hardness and starch content, was installed at the Canadian Feed Research Centre, a world class feed processing research and teaching centre affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan.

The biggest employer in Indian Head is a victim of the latest federal budget.

This week, 30 people working on the shelterbelt tree program were handed tentative pink slips. The federal program provides western farmers with free trees to protect their crops. 

Dave Lang has been at the Agroforestry Development Centre since the 1980's. He’s its farm operations manager.

The centre has been told because of a dwindling need, funding will stop by the end of 2013. Lang was shocked by the decision.

Canada's Agriculture minister is defending the government's decision to put a pasture and a shelterbelt tree program on the chopping block, to save money.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says the programs to  were useful when they were created more than 100 years ago.

"Having said that, no one farms or produces the same as they did a century ago and it's time to take a long, hard look and refocus the energies and dollars of Agriculture Canada and the taxpayers of the country in what way best builds the future for producers," he said.

Canada's Agriculture minister is defending the government's decision to put a pasture and a shelterbelt tree program on the chopping block, to save money.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says the programs to  were useful when they were created more than 100 years ago.

"Having said that, no one farms or produces the same as they did a century ago and it's time to take a long, hard look and refocus the energies and dollars of Agriculture Canada and the taxpayers of the country in what way best builds the future for producers," he said.

Cutting one hundred Canadian Food Inspection Agency employees has some questioning how food safety in our country will be impacted.

But Sylvain Charlebois at the University of Guelph is suggesting a new question.

"As a consumer, I'm not sure I would be concerned about job cuts currently in Ottawa," said Charlebois, who specializes in studying food production.

"I'd be concerned about how the government is currently spending it's money on food safety overall."