Gosh! I’ve got it! Spring fever has hit again!
Optimism is in the air as the snow is melting and birds are in a chirping good mood glad to be awakened by the warming sun.
As I am looking through this edition of the Express, I am keenly aware that our community has fought through the pandemic and everything else life has thrown our way.
Last year was a remarkable year in terms of how organizations coped with pandemic restrictions and were able to develop new innovative ways to make thing happen. The 2020 Festival of Words shone as a beacon of light in the literary arena as they continued fuelling readers’ passions for books through their virtual event, making a world-wide impact with streamings from across the globe. And already, anticipation is brewing for this upcoming literary festival with a number of March events planned.
I sense optimism, as well, in the farming community. Farmers are finally getting somewhat of a financial reward for their efforts in the field with commodity prices increasing. According to Canadian markets, agriculture exports played a role in helping Canada achieve its first monthly trade surplus since July 2014. In the case of canola, the May contract increased by $70.20/metric ton in February, far outpacing the $40.20/mt increase achieved in the new-crop November contract, which was the highest November contract trade seen since October 2012.
As stubble-jumpers in Saskatchewan, we have a high regard for our farming community as they utilize the province’s more than 40 per cent of Canada's cultivated farmland to qualify the province as the “bread-basket of the world.”
March is designated Agriculture Literacy Month and continues to spread the word to the younger generation of the importance agriculture plays in food production.
Good news, as well, Moose Jaw & District Food Bank has found a new building that will accommodate future expansions as they continue to serve the community providing food for those in need.
Another article in this edition brings out the question, “Is everything better with butter?”
Apparently, many think that the components of butter have been altered because of the use of palm oil for cattle feed, questioning the ethicality of Canadians touting that our dairy products are among the best in the world.
On another vein of innovation, in the medical field new simulation technology can transfer theoretical knowledge into practical medicine. This technology offers doctors the opportunity to perfect their surgeries via simulation prior to using live patients as first offerings. I think it’s an incredible step. The use of simulation is widely used in training pilots, so this B.C. web-based simulation platform, CyberPatient, will also have the potential to revolutionize surgeries in medicine.
On the editorial side of things, we always welcome and appreciate letters to the editor and are more than happy to publish them but have to qualify size restrictions on the number of words per letter; as of March 15, a letter to the editor will need to fit in the criteria of no more than 800 words. Keep ‘em coming!
All this and more in this edition of the Moose Jaw Express!
