Before the federal government approves Swiss-based Glencore International’s takeover of Viterra, the provincial government wants the feds to ensure that Saskatchewan’s interests are protected.

Friday, Saskatchewan Agriculture released a review, commissioned by the province, on the proposed acquisition of Viterra.

“If the federal government approves this acquisition, we would want to see conditions put in place to hold Glencore to its commitments and to address the concerns raised in this report,” Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister, said.

The provincial government wants the federal government to ensure that Glencore’s bid to buy Viterra:

• establishes Regina as its North American headquarters;

• has no adverse effect on competition in farm inputs;

• maintains or enhances current levels of employment in field operations;

• invests $100 million over five years in western Canadian grain handling

• increases funding in research and development; and

• continues Viterra’s community-based philanthropic activities and investments.

Meanwhile, one hurdle in the way of Glencore International’s $6.1 billion bid for Viterra has been cleared.

Swiss-based Glencore announced May 4 it has received a “no action letter” from the Canadian Competition Bureau indicating that the commissioner of competition does not intend to oppose the takeover of Viterra, Glencore stated in a news release.

This decision removes one of two regulatory obstacles in the way of one of the biggest deals in Canada’s agricultural industry.

The transaction still needs approval from the federal government because it is a foreign takeover. Viterra shareholders, who will vote May 29 at a special meeting in Calgary, must also approve the sale.

If it proceeds, Glencore will buy Viterra’s grain-handling facilities, processing and farm-supply operations in Western Canada and Australia. The company will sell off parts of Viterra to Agrium Inc. and Richardson International Ltd.

Agrium will get most of Viterra’s retail agri-products business. Richardson will buy 23 per cent of Viterra’s grain-handling facilities including the elevator in Davidson.

DAVIDSON—Agnes Zeleny last week was recognized for nearly two decades of service on behalf of retired teachers.

She received an honorary life membership in the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan (STS) at the organization’s annual general meeting in Saskatoon from May 8 to 10.

Zeleny has served as president of the Midlakes STS Chapter for 19 years. She has represented the Midlakes Chapter at every annual general meeting and worked to maintain and grow the chapter’s membership.

“Agnes has worked tirelessly to further the chapter by organizing quarterly meetings without fail. For the past 11 years, she has organized a catered Christmas dinner for the members complete with spritely entertainment by local grades 1 to 4 students,” said Donna Spratt, in her nomination letter for the award.

Spratt, who is the in-coming president and treasurer for the Midlakes chapter, will take over for Zeleny.

“She’s done a wonderful job,” Spratt said. “She takes time to personally contact every one of the members and if she can’t get them by phone, she writes a note.”

These notes are not a hastily jotted line or two, but thoughtful invitations contained in a card.

The role of the STS is to provide services for retired teachers. They also lookout for the interests of retired teachers and provide support for active teachers.

The Midlakes chapter covers a large area around Davidson, Craik, Kenaston, Eyebrow and Elbow.

“Agnes is a person who exemplifies serving her community and her profession. The continued growth of STS membership over the years reflects the dedication and hard work of local chapter members like Agnes,” the nomination states.

Zeleny began teaching in 1946 at Vallar School near Gerald, Sask., retiring 33 years later. She met her husband Steve at a Teachers Conference while in Gerald. They married in 1950 and moved to Davidson. They spent many summers advancing their education taking summer school classes at the University of Saskatchewan and at the Regina Campus.

DAVIDSON—A partnership with Western Sales on its community lottery is paying big dividends for Davidson’s Kinsmen Club.

The local Kinsmen Club administered the lottery for Western Sales and as a result, more than $10,000 will come into the community in addition to funds raised by local community groups that sold lottery tickets, says Gerrid Gust, who chaired this project for the local Kinsmen.

He had a break down of the amount of money earned by the various organizations based on the number of tickets sold.

Davidson organizations raised $11,440 in support of the fire department, golf course, JAA, Kinsmen, Raider football and riding club.

Craik raised $4,110 in support of its rink, Hanley raised $470 for the arena, Kenaston raised $365 for parks and recreation and dinner theatre, Holdfast received $985 for the Little Tykes Playschool and the Liberty Service Club earned $1,280 through ticket sales.

At $7,160, ABC Daycare in Elrose raised the most money through lottery ticket sales.

A total of $58,545 was raised and 100 per cent of the funds raised go to these community groups. Western Sales assumed all the expenses of the lottery including donating $25,000 worth of prizes, printing the tickets and promotional costs.

Gust said the Kinsmen and Western Sales have fostered a good relationship over the years by working together on other projects.

This was both the Kinsmen’s and Western Sales first year holding the community lottery.

“It was a great project,” Gust said.

He hopes Western Sales partners with the Kinsmen next year.

Nearly four weeks ago, local veterinarian Dr. Carmen Millham made an unexpected discovery while on a call to do semen testing on a client’s bulls.

It was April 2 and he found himself pulling 10 ticks from one bull and eight ticks off another. It was the sort of encounter he usually sees in early May.

This year ticks are out earlier than usual, due to warmer temperatures.

Now picking ticks from pets has become a daily occurrence for some dog owners.

Millham says he’s not surprised ticks have appeared so early. He says as soon as temperatures are sustained above -5°Celsius ticks will emerge from their winter hiding spots.

Then they climb up a piece of long grass and dangle there until an unsuspecting mammal walks by.

Millham says ticks have been out since the end of March. Their early emergence has been keeping him and his staff at Outlook Veterinary Clinic busy as people seek insecticides to prevent ticks from making a meal of their pets.

He recommends using a product that may be applied monthly and topically on a dog. The product is absorbed and circulates in the skin to deter ticks from attaching. The chemical will kill ticks as well.

He says people should regularly inspect their pets for ticks, especially if they have been in areas where there are woods or tall grasses. If people find a tick, it should be removed immediately because the longer it is attached to its host, the greater the chance for disease.

People should wear gloves and use tweezers to carefully grasp the exposed section of the tick’s body near the pet’s skin. Gently pull until the tick let’s go. To dispose of the tick, wrap it in tissue and flush it down the toilet. People should not crush, burn or suffocate a tick as these actions could spread infectious bacteria that cause Lyme disease.