Vol. 103 No. 34
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2012
Biggar, Saskatchewan
www.biggarindependent.ca
20 pages
$
1.25 tax included
August land sale generates $23 million The August sale of Crown petroleum and natural gas rights has brought in almost $23.3 million in revenue for the province. With these latest results, total land sale revenues for the 2012 calendar year now stand at $78.9 million. Minister responsible for Energy and Resources Tim McMillan said, last week, that August’s sale not only provided a healthy return for the province, but also reflected the strong, ongoing interest by the industry in Saskatchewan’s oil patch. “Saskatchewan offers a competitive, attractive environment for exploration and development and companies are placing a
premium on our oil and gas resources,” McMillan said. “That’s reflected in the average dollars per hectare received in these sales, and so far in 2012 our average dollars per hectare price is tracking well ahead of that of the country’s other major oil producer, Alberta.” August’s sale included 237 lease parcels that brought in $22.9 million in bonus bids and two petroleum and natural gas exploration licences that sold for $366,109. The Weyburn-Estevan area received the most bids with sales of $10 million. The Swift Current area was next at $6 million, followed by the Lloydminster area at $5.5 million and
the Kindersley-Kerrobert area at $1.7 million. The highest price for a single parcel was $2.4 million. Standard Land Company Inc. acquired this 1,036-hectare lease southeast of Gull Lake. The highest price on a per-hectare basis was $11,151. Ranger Land Services Ltd. bid $180,533 for a 16-hectare lease parcel northeast of Turtleford. A special exploratory permit block on offer southwest of Assiniboia received a work commitment bid of $492,166 from Standard Land Company Inc. The next sale of Crown petroleum and natural gas dispositions will be held on October 1, 2012.
Horsin’ around, of course . . . Owen Weekes, right, and his four-legged friend, Dakota, greet kids at the Biggar Daycare last Thursday morning. A horse, of course, is a creature of grace and beauty, with an inquisitive nature - sort of like the kids who were, quite naturally, thrilled to make a new friend. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Through Monet’s eyes . . . The water at Springwater Lake takes on an impressionist feel, reminiscent of Claude Monet. A portent of things to come, the yellowing leaves probably have more to do with waterlogged soil - fall is still a month away! Still plenty of time to take the time to dip your toes! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Harvest underway for some areas of province Harvest is underway according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report for the period of August 7 to 13. Four per cent of the 2012 crop is combined while seven per cent is swathed or ready to straight combine. The five year (2007-2011) provincial average for this time of year is three per cent combined and six per
cent swathed or ready to straight combine. Fifty-two per cent of the winter wheat, 47 per cent of the fall rye, two per cent of the barley, seven per cent of the mustard, 13 per cent of the lentils and 22 per cent of the field peas have been combined. Eleven per cent of the canola, 13 per cent of the mustard, six per cent of
the lentils, four per cent of the winter wheat and 18 per cent of the fall rye have been swathed. Livestock producers in many areas of the province finished haying this past week, although rainfall delayed progress in some areas. The average provincial hay yields on dry land are 1.5 tons per acre for alfalfa, 1.6 tons per acre
for alfalfa/brome, 1.3 tons per acre for other tame hay and wild hay and 1.9 tons per acre for greenfeed. On irrigated land, the average provincial hay yields are 2.1 tons per acre for alfalfa, 2.4 tons per acre for alfalfa/brome, 3.1 tons per acre for other tame hay and 2.5 tons per acre for greenfeed. Many areas of the prov-
ince received rainfall this past week which has delayed harvest operations. The majority of crop damage is due to insects, disease, wind and hail. Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as nine per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and two
per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short and four per cent very short. Farmers are busy swathing, combining and hauling hay.