Vol. 103 No. 38
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012
Biggar, Saskatchewan
www.biggarindependent.ca
20 pages
$
1.25 tax included
SigniÀcant progress made on harvest operations Fifty-six per cent of the 2012 crop has been harvested, well above the provincial fiveyear (2007-2011) average of 40 per cent, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report for the period September 4 to 10. Twenty-eight per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight combine. Significant harvest progress was made across the province. The southwest has 85 per cent combined; the southeast 76 per cent, the east-central region 50 per cent, the west-central region 40 per cent, the northeast 31 per cent and the northwest 27 per cent. Forty-four per cent of spring wheat, 68 per cent of durum, 52 per cent of barley and canola, 76 per cent of mustard, 83 per cent of lentils and 94 per cent of field peas have been combined. P r o v i n c i a l l y, t o p s o i l moisture on cropland is rated as four per cent s u r p l u s, 5 8 p e r c e n t adequate, 30 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 14 per cent
Home opener disappointment . . . Biggar Central School Blazer, Jake Lehnert, right, goes for the tackle against a Spiritwood Sabre ball-carrier, September 7. The home opener for the Blazers didn’t quite very short. Rainfall this week ranged from trace amounts in the
majority of the province to 26 millimetres in some areas of the northwest. Strong winds
go to plan, with the Green and Gold falling 48-22. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
have damaged some canola crops. The west-central and northwestern areas also
received hailstorms that have caused some damage. Fa r m e r s a r e b u s y
harvesting, seeding winter cereals, hauling bales and controlling weeds.
More than 20,000 new jobs in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan leads the country in job growth as employment hits an all-time high
Employment in Saskatchewan rose by 20,100 between August 2011 and August 2012 according to
percentage increase in employment among the provinces and almost four times the national rate of 1.0 per cent. In August 2012, there were 549,100 people employed in the province - an all-time high for employment in Saskatchewan, beating the previous record set this past June. “Strong job numbers show the solid performance of our economy and reflect the job opportunities available in Saskatchewan today,” EconDreaming in Chrome . . . Another successful Integra Tire Show ‘n’ Shine was held at the Third omy Minister Avenue Park, September 8. Rolling pieces of artwork came to Biggar from various points of the Bill Boyd said. province to show off their handiwork, get a few people drooling, talk about the junker they’re “Today’s record numbers are rebuilding, and generally just talk everything cars. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam) new figures released by Statistics Canada. That’s an increase of 3.8 per cent - the highest
exceptional and reinforce the confidence that investors, businesses and working people have in our economy. “Most importantly, this means there are plenty of career opportunities for Saskatchewan people and those who want to move to Saskatchewan.” Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate fell by 0.6 per cent in August to 4.4 per cent - tied with Alberta for the lowest unemployment rate in the nation and well below the national average of 7.3 per cent. Other highlights include: • Full-time employment increased by 14,100 (3.1 per cent) and part-time increased by 6,100 (8.2 per cent). • Regina’s employment was up by 1,300 (1.0 per cent) for 28 months of yearover-year increases, and
Saskatoon’s employment was up by 9,000 (6.1 per cent) for 10 months of yearover-year increases. • In August, Regina’s unemployment rate was 4.2 per cent, and Saskatoon’s unemployment rate was 5.3 per cent. Saskatoon’s unemployment rate was the seventh lowest and Regina’s unemployment rate was the second lowest among all cities. • The sector with the largest employment growth was construction, up 7,100 in the past year. “Job growth just doesn’t happen, it is a product of increased activity in key areas of our economy,” Boyd said. “Our challenge and our opportunity will be to make sure that growth will continue into the long term and we will do that through good management and a new growth plan you will hear about in the coming months.”