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Wednesday, March 13, 2019 | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Yorkton This Week
HOMELESSNESS
CFL
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with a partner because of the precarious nature of being homeless. That is when I fear the safety of women the most. Rural Saskatchewan has higher rates of domestic homicide than in big urban centres. The isolation around violence, the isolation often poverty, often lends itself to being in more dangerous situations or having to stay in more dangerous situations for yourself or your children,” said CoomberBendsten. In speaking to the crowd in Yorkton, Coomber-Bendsten’s goal is to raise awareness, and she believes that it’s awareness that is going to allow people to find solutions. “With awareness comes a charge to do something. I think that the solution around homelessness is around building community. If the community doesn’t understand that it exists, or acknowledge that it exists, it is pretty hard to be engaged in supporting folks or removing some of the barriers that exist.” Some barriers are things that not everyone would think about. “It’s international women’s day, there have been lots of conversa-
Melissa Coomber-Bendsten, CEO of YWCA tions around the cost of menstrual hygiene products. So looking at how difficult is it for a woman, deciding between buying menstrual hygiene products for herself or food for her children. As a society, as a community, we can start making changes and making it easier for women to navigate and bring them out of poverty.” Coomber-Bendsten is impressed with Yorkton, 19033KK0 19033KK2
the strong community organizations in the city and how they work together on issues. She believes that the community can support people who encounter barriers, whether it’s dealing with the cost of housing, or helping people get new ID if they have lost everything, something that can be a challenge. “It takes an entire community to do that kind of work.”
awards, attended the BC Lions, (of the CFL), training camp, and then committed to the Regina Rams. I had a strong university career winning linebacker of the year this past year and now I’m being asked to attend the CFL combine.” Hull said the players get invitations to a combine based on interest from the teams in the CFL. The combine will have players going through a series of drills to measure things such as speed and strength. “I will be tested on 225 bench press, vertical and broad jump, short shuttle, ‘L’ drill, one-on-ones, and special team drills,” said Hull. Hull said he has certainly been focused on preparing for the opportunity the combine will provide. “I’ve been training for the last three-months, lifting three-four days a week and combine training two-three days a week,” he said. Down the road Hull said he wants to be on a CFL field playing football as a career. “Yes I see there being a future in the CFL even if it’s not for a couple
Layne Hull
Submitted Photo
years,” he said. Hull said he was told by coaches Monday that he was on the right track. “Coaches were very
impressed. They said to ‘keep doing what you’re doing’. They liked what they saw, so that is a good thing,” he said.
four, five years. A second piece of advice is that producers need to build a team, said Gottselig. Having expertise to draw upon by having access to an agronomist, or marketing coach, takes the pressure off the producer to make every decision solo.
And finally, Gottselig said having the security of insurance helps. “Farms that are really successful do have a good insurance policy for the farm,” he said, adding it can cover the core costs and allow producers to be viable when things go wrong.
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That effort is more important today because “risks are going up in farming,” said Gottselig. As an example, “expenses are up 85 per cent in the last decade,” he said, adding that is across a range of inputs including seed, fertilizer, chemicals, land and machinery. Returns have not exactly kept pace though. The net return after all expenses “is pretty well flat,” said Gottselig, pegging it at about $25/ acre. It’s costing more, but better yields and quality are maintaining the net return. Small things can impact that net return. For example for every penny the Canadian dollar gets closer to par decreases the net return shrinks $5/acre, said Gottselig, adding if the dollar increase five cents, the net return disappears. 19033NP0 19033NP1
“Are you prepared for that? What does that mean for your farm?” he asked. Gottselig said the answer is “to understand your costs.” The numbers are critical, and need to be well understood. “What is the cost allin to grow that bushel of canola?” asked Gottselig, adding if you “know that cost” you can “market more efficiently.” Gottselig said farmers who have confidence in knowing their numbers are better able to seek out prices to cover the actual investment in the crop. Knowing the numbers also allows farmers to focus on achieving efficiencies within their costs. That does not mean reducing crop inputs just to save money, said Gottselig. “Generally the more inputs the better the gross margins,” he said. Producers also need a business plan, said Gottselig, suggesting that is the first thing for producers to undertake, sitting down and writing out a vision for their farm. He added it should not be a one-year plan, but should look out three,
Mark Gottselig, Regional Sales Manager of South Saskatchewan and Manitoba with Global Ag Risk Solutions. 19033TS1 19033TS2