Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
You might notice extra-big smiles on the faces of jack o'lanterns around Saskatchewan this Halloween.
That’s because vegetable growers in the province report harvesting the best crop of pumpkins many have ever seen.
The 2006 growing season will go down as a banner year for Saskatchewan pumpkin growers. Joan Merrill from Robertson Valley Farms, south of Saskatoon, is just one of the growers with more than a peck of pumpkins in the patch.
“I’d say it surpasses any crop we’ve had in the past 20 years,” said Merrill.
Robertson Valley Farms, a mid-sized pumpkin producer, is growing pumpkins on about five acres of land. The pumpkins are marketed directly to consumers. Merrill doesn't weigh the crop, but she says the size of the pumpkin pile tells the story about this year’s harvest. It is huge.
However, she says it is not just the quantity that is good, but also the quality of the crop.
“This year what we have is really good sizing on our pumpkins, plus they turned orange well in advance of harvest. They are in very good condition with hard orange shells, which makes the storability very good for us. So it is excellent quality in addition to quantity and size,” said Merrill.
Storability is important for pumpkins, especially for those that are destined to adorn doorsteps on Halloween. Merrill says many people buy their jack o'lanterns early in the season, then store them in the basement until a day or two before Halloween. A hard shell means the pumpkin can be transported safely and last until their big night on October 31. In past seasons, rain in late summer has resulted in disease that caused the shells to break down. But not this year.
According to Merrill, quality plus quantity adds up to a better bottom line for the pumpkin grower.
“It makes for a good pricing on our pumpkins,” she noted. “We direct-sell to the public and we go by size, so the larger the pumpkin, the more it costs.”
Merrill says there were a number of factors that contributed to the good growing year.
“We had a number of things. We had a mild spring. We had a lot of rain in June, so we had excellent germination. Then it turned very hot in July, so there are a lot of heat units,” she stated.
“Pumpkins require a lot of heat, so those heat units in July and into August really helped contribute to a tremendous crop this year.”
There is, however, one downside to a bumper crop in the pumpkin patch at Robertson Valley Farms – some heavy lifting. Merrill says their operation does not use equipment to harvest. Each and every pumpkin is picked by hand and moved to a pile before being loaded onto to a trailer, and then unloaded onto a larger pile indoors.
That’s a lot of pumpkin piling – but Merrill says when the crop is as good as it is this year, they don’t mind.
For more information, contact:
Joan Merrill
Robertson Valley Farms
Phone: (306) 382-9544
Monday, October 16, 2006
New Markets Emerge for Saskatoon Berry
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Saskatchewan’s budding saskatoon berry industry took another step up the ladder this year with the delivery of fresh berries to the European market.
Sandy Purdy, founder of Prairie Berries near the central Saskatchewan community of Keeler, has pioneered new developments in Saskatchewan’s fruit industry for years. But 2006 will be remembered for the unprecedented step of packaging and shipping fresh berries to Germany.
“We had a contract to deliver fresh berries into Germany for six weeks,” Purdy stated. Her company packaged and shipped Saskatchewan-grown berries onto airplanes twice per week. Although some growing pains limited this year’s experiment to four weeks instead of six, she said the door is now open to a new market, as the German broker has indicated he wants to import saskatoon berries again next year.
Despite being the first year that any significant volumes of saskatoons have been shipped to Germany, Purdy says the market has already become somewhat diversified. For example, saskatoon tea proved to be a popular item with German consumers this year.
Although the introduction of Saskatchewan-grown fruit to Germany is a memorable event, the 2006 berry crop was certainly not a record breaker. At best, Purdy says this was an average year for berry production. For producers in some parts of the province, the wet spring – particularly in early June – resulted in some minor fungus outbreaks which reduced overall volumes.
“I wouldn’t say it was a great year, but it was a good year,” she noted.
Production volumes aside, however, the industry continues to grow, with new producers and expanded orchard acreages coming on stream. Purdy’s Prairie Berries operation, for example, enhanced its internal handling capacity and added a colour sorter, which made it possible for her processing plant to handle three times the volume it traditionally accepted.
By expanding the infrastructure within the industry and adding new markets, Purdy believes the industry is poised to continue on its rapid growth track.
“This is the start of where we need to go,” she said of the industry’s expansion across the Atlantic.
For more information, contact:
Sandy Purdy
Prairie Berries
Phone: (306) 788-2018
E-mail: prairieberries@sasktel.net
Saskatchewan’s budding saskatoon berry industry took another step up the ladder this year with the delivery of fresh berries to the European market.
Sandy Purdy, founder of Prairie Berries near the central Saskatchewan community of Keeler, has pioneered new developments in Saskatchewan’s fruit industry for years. But 2006 will be remembered for the unprecedented step of packaging and shipping fresh berries to Germany.
“We had a contract to deliver fresh berries into Germany for six weeks,” Purdy stated. Her company packaged and shipped Saskatchewan-grown berries onto airplanes twice per week. Although some growing pains limited this year’s experiment to four weeks instead of six, she said the door is now open to a new market, as the German broker has indicated he wants to import saskatoon berries again next year.
Despite being the first year that any significant volumes of saskatoons have been shipped to Germany, Purdy says the market has already become somewhat diversified. For example, saskatoon tea proved to be a popular item with German consumers this year.
Although the introduction of Saskatchewan-grown fruit to Germany is a memorable event, the 2006 berry crop was certainly not a record breaker. At best, Purdy says this was an average year for berry production. For producers in some parts of the province, the wet spring – particularly in early June – resulted in some minor fungus outbreaks which reduced overall volumes.
“I wouldn’t say it was a great year, but it was a good year,” she noted.
Production volumes aside, however, the industry continues to grow, with new producers and expanded orchard acreages coming on stream. Purdy’s Prairie Berries operation, for example, enhanced its internal handling capacity and added a colour sorter, which made it possible for her processing plant to handle three times the volume it traditionally accepted.
By expanding the infrastructure within the industry and adding new markets, Purdy believes the industry is poised to continue on its rapid growth track.
“This is the start of where we need to go,” she said of the industry’s expansion across the Atlantic.
For more information, contact:
Sandy Purdy
Prairie Berries
Phone: (306) 788-2018
E-mail: prairieberries@sasktel.net
U of S professor pioneering agricultural research
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Having seen many parts of the world in his academic life, Dr. Peiqiang Yu chose the University of Saskatchewan as the place to build his distinguished career in animal feed research and development.
Today, the professor in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal and Poultry Science is a highly respected researcher, with over 100 scientific publications to his name and dozens of speaking engagements at national and international conferences.
“I first came here in 2000 doing my federal NSERC (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council) postdoctoral fellowship in the field of animal metabolism and physiology,” said Dr. Yu.
He quickly built a reputation for his work, and not long after was named the Chair for Feed Research and Development under the Strategic Research Program (SRP) administered by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF).
The SRP is a five-year, $16.5 million program that funds 17 research chairs in areas of strategic importance to the province. The goal of the program is to engage bright minds in agricultural research and development in Saskatchewan, adding value to the province’s farm and food industry, improving its competitive position and furthering commercialization opportunities.
Given the importance of the livestock sector to Saskatchewan’s overall agricultural economy, Dr. Yu’s kind of expertise was a perfect match.
He now leads a research team of seven, studying areas such as feed science, processing and chemistry, ruminant nutrition and nutritional biochemistry. “My research includes two types of research – basic research and applied research,” he said.
Basic research is part of Dr. Yu’s mandate as an academic, building the body of knowledge in his field of study. For this part of his work, an invaluable tool at his disposal at the University of Saskatchewan is the Canadian Light Source synchrotron.
“We use the synchrotron for feed nutrition research,” he stated. “We can use it to check things like protein change or structural change at the molecular level. Without the synchrotron, we can’t do this kind of work.”
The device has enabled Dr. Yu and his group to pioneer research in the field of animal feed and nutrition. “We are the only group in Canada to do this work, so it is quite unique. Each time I do a project, I try to find literature from other people who have done similar studies. For many of the types of work I’m doing, I can’t find papers. When I get a result, I want to compare it with other people, but there are no published results out there.”
Applied research includes the scientific work that is often requested and funded by the agricultural industry or producer groups. “We now have six feed companies that have asked us to help them develop new products or assist them to evaluate the products they have previously developed. These products are then marketed provincially, nationally and internationally. So we help them to investigate and capitalize upon commercialization opportunities,” said Dr. Yu.
He offered an example of how his research as an SAF Chair can benefit the average Saskatchewan producer. “We do research to increase the protein availability in feed. Protein digests very fast in ruminants. When we use a certain treatment in the feed, we can reduce the protein degradation in ruminants. So we can do calculations on how various treatments change our results, and we can formulate the ruminants’ diet accordingly,” he said.
“The result is that we can produce a higher grade of feed, meaning less feed will be required for the same nutritional value, and the producer’s feed costs will be reduced.”
Dr. Yu’s work is a prime example of how industry, government and universities can partner together to advance the entire agricultural sector.
“The government builds a position, then research funding comes from the industry, comes from the provincial funding agency, comes from the federal funding agency,” said Dr. Yu. “Without the SAF chair position, I can’t do this kind of job. So I think it’s a very important and very useful investment for the whole province.”
For more information, contact:
Dr. Peiqiang Yu, Research Professor and SAF Chair for Feed Research and Development
College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-4132
e-mail: peiqiang.yu@usask.ca
Having seen many parts of the world in his academic life, Dr. Peiqiang Yu chose the University of Saskatchewan as the place to build his distinguished career in animal feed research and development.
Today, the professor in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal and Poultry Science is a highly respected researcher, with over 100 scientific publications to his name and dozens of speaking engagements at national and international conferences.
“I first came here in 2000 doing my federal NSERC (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council) postdoctoral fellowship in the field of animal metabolism and physiology,” said Dr. Yu.
He quickly built a reputation for his work, and not long after was named the Chair for Feed Research and Development under the Strategic Research Program (SRP) administered by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF).
The SRP is a five-year, $16.5 million program that funds 17 research chairs in areas of strategic importance to the province. The goal of the program is to engage bright minds in agricultural research and development in Saskatchewan, adding value to the province’s farm and food industry, improving its competitive position and furthering commercialization opportunities.
Given the importance of the livestock sector to Saskatchewan’s overall agricultural economy, Dr. Yu’s kind of expertise was a perfect match.
He now leads a research team of seven, studying areas such as feed science, processing and chemistry, ruminant nutrition and nutritional biochemistry. “My research includes two types of research – basic research and applied research,” he said.
Basic research is part of Dr. Yu’s mandate as an academic, building the body of knowledge in his field of study. For this part of his work, an invaluable tool at his disposal at the University of Saskatchewan is the Canadian Light Source synchrotron.
“We use the synchrotron for feed nutrition research,” he stated. “We can use it to check things like protein change or structural change at the molecular level. Without the synchrotron, we can’t do this kind of work.”
The device has enabled Dr. Yu and his group to pioneer research in the field of animal feed and nutrition. “We are the only group in Canada to do this work, so it is quite unique. Each time I do a project, I try to find literature from other people who have done similar studies. For many of the types of work I’m doing, I can’t find papers. When I get a result, I want to compare it with other people, but there are no published results out there.”
Applied research includes the scientific work that is often requested and funded by the agricultural industry or producer groups. “We now have six feed companies that have asked us to help them develop new products or assist them to evaluate the products they have previously developed. These products are then marketed provincially, nationally and internationally. So we help them to investigate and capitalize upon commercialization opportunities,” said Dr. Yu.
He offered an example of how his research as an SAF Chair can benefit the average Saskatchewan producer. “We do research to increase the protein availability in feed. Protein digests very fast in ruminants. When we use a certain treatment in the feed, we can reduce the protein degradation in ruminants. So we can do calculations on how various treatments change our results, and we can formulate the ruminants’ diet accordingly,” he said.
“The result is that we can produce a higher grade of feed, meaning less feed will be required for the same nutritional value, and the producer’s feed costs will be reduced.”
Dr. Yu’s work is a prime example of how industry, government and universities can partner together to advance the entire agricultural sector.
“The government builds a position, then research funding comes from the industry, comes from the provincial funding agency, comes from the federal funding agency,” said Dr. Yu. “Without the SAF chair position, I can’t do this kind of job. So I think it’s a very important and very useful investment for the whole province.”
For more information, contact:
Dr. Peiqiang Yu, Research Professor and SAF Chair for Feed Research and Development
College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-4132
e-mail: peiqiang.yu@usask.ca
Interprovincial deal on agricultural trade good news for producers
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
A new agreement to improve the trade of agricultural goods among six provinces and territories will be good news for Saskatchewan producers, processors and manufacturers.
Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon all signed on to the pact to liberalize interprovincial agricultural trade.
Although national consensus couldn’t be reached among all provinces and territories, the six jurisdictions that formally agreed have shown some leadership in the process that may pave the way for future expansion of the deal to involve other provinces, notably larger jurisdictions like Ontario and Quebec.
Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman signed the agreement on behalf of Saskatchewan. “It is important that, as we continue to work towards harmonization and improved trading relationships internationally, we do what we can to remove barriers in our own market,” he said.
The pact stems from the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) that aims to remove obstacles to interprovincial trade, promote non-discrimination on goods that travel across provincial boundaries and enhance the right of entry and exit of goods between jurisdictions in Canada.
In 2005, a federal/provincial/territorial committee on agricultural trade policy established a working group to review the Agricultural Chapter of the AIT. A report presented by that group to Canada’s Agriculture Ministers in March 2006 led to the agreement in place today.
“When we were unable to reach a full national consensus on the recommendations of the working group in March, we felt it better to move ahead with an interim agreement,” Wartman said.
“We will formalize our domestic relationships through the (AIT) over the long term, but in the short term, this agreement allows us to begin that process without needing the full agreement of every province and territory in Confederation,” he added.
“The six supporting provinces and territories will now apply the spirit of the AIT to our agriculture and food goods as we continue to work toward a formal, national agreement on interprovincial trade in agriculture.”
For more information, contact:
Scott Brown, Director, Communications Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-4031
A new agreement to improve the trade of agricultural goods among six provinces and territories will be good news for Saskatchewan producers, processors and manufacturers.
Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon all signed on to the pact to liberalize interprovincial agricultural trade.
Although national consensus couldn’t be reached among all provinces and territories, the six jurisdictions that formally agreed have shown some leadership in the process that may pave the way for future expansion of the deal to involve other provinces, notably larger jurisdictions like Ontario and Quebec.
Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman signed the agreement on behalf of Saskatchewan. “It is important that, as we continue to work towards harmonization and improved trading relationships internationally, we do what we can to remove barriers in our own market,” he said.
The pact stems from the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) that aims to remove obstacles to interprovincial trade, promote non-discrimination on goods that travel across provincial boundaries and enhance the right of entry and exit of goods between jurisdictions in Canada.
In 2005, a federal/provincial/territorial committee on agricultural trade policy established a working group to review the Agricultural Chapter of the AIT. A report presented by that group to Canada’s Agriculture Ministers in March 2006 led to the agreement in place today.
“When we were unable to reach a full national consensus on the recommendations of the working group in March, we felt it better to move ahead with an interim agreement,” Wartman said.
“We will formalize our domestic relationships through the (AIT) over the long term, but in the short term, this agreement allows us to begin that process without needing the full agreement of every province and territory in Confederation,” he added.
“The six supporting provinces and territories will now apply the spirit of the AIT to our agriculture and food goods as we continue to work toward a formal, national agreement on interprovincial trade in agriculture.”
For more information, contact:
Scott Brown, Director, Communications Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-4031
Proposed organic product regulation open to public comment
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is calling for comments from interested parties on proposed regulations to govern the use of a federal organic logo and accreditation/certification requirements for organic agricultural products.
According to the CFIA, the purpose of the regulations is to establish a system by which the agency can regulate the use of the “Canada Organic” agricultural product label. The proposed regulations were developed after a process of consultation with stakeholders between 2004 and 2005.
The new regulatory framework would use standards as developed by the Canadian General Standards Board called “Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards.” The intent is to create a single Canadian standard for organic products, which would be offered for international recognition in an effort to ensure continued access to export markets, and to provide consistent labeling for the protection of consumers.
Under the new program, existing certification and accreditation bodies would have the opportunity to continue to deliver services by meeting the CFIA’s prescribed criteria. In effect, the food inspection agency will accredit the accreditation agencies, which will accredit the certifiers, who, in turn, will ensure that the national standard has been followed.
The proposed new regulations have now been published in the Canada Gazette, which began a 75-day period for comment. That period ends November 16, 2006.
Detailed information, including the actual language of the regulations and a “Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement,” are available online through the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca (under “Recent Amendments”), or on the Canada Gazette website at www.canadagazette.gc.ca.
According to the latest statistics available from the Canadian Organic Growers, there are 1,245 certified organic producers in Saskatchewan (representing around 34 per cent of total organic producers in Canada) farming an estimated 720,000 acres of land. There are some 99 certified organic processors and 13 certified handlers and traders of organic products in the province, as well.
Blaine Recksiedler is the Cereal and Organic Crop Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. He noted that, in terms of the development of regulations for their product, “the organic sector has always felt it is important for their members to be part of the process. Participating in the comment period is an opportunity to continue in that role.”
He noted that all comments on the proposed organic products regulations must be submitted in writing to:
Dr. Bashir Manji
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 0Y9
tel: 613-221-7154
fax: 613-221-7294
E-mail: bashirm@inspection.gc.ca
Comments must be received by November 16, 2006.
Recksiedler stressed that, although the new regulations are a federal—not provincial—government process, he would welcome calls from industry stakeholders wishing to discuss the national program.
For more information, contact:
Media Relations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Phone: (613) 228-6682
Blaine Recksiedler, Cereal and Organic Crop Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-4664
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is calling for comments from interested parties on proposed regulations to govern the use of a federal organic logo and accreditation/certification requirements for organic agricultural products.
According to the CFIA, the purpose of the regulations is to establish a system by which the agency can regulate the use of the “Canada Organic” agricultural product label. The proposed regulations were developed after a process of consultation with stakeholders between 2004 and 2005.
The new regulatory framework would use standards as developed by the Canadian General Standards Board called “Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards.” The intent is to create a single Canadian standard for organic products, which would be offered for international recognition in an effort to ensure continued access to export markets, and to provide consistent labeling for the protection of consumers.
Under the new program, existing certification and accreditation bodies would have the opportunity to continue to deliver services by meeting the CFIA’s prescribed criteria. In effect, the food inspection agency will accredit the accreditation agencies, which will accredit the certifiers, who, in turn, will ensure that the national standard has been followed.
The proposed new regulations have now been published in the Canada Gazette, which began a 75-day period for comment. That period ends November 16, 2006.
Detailed information, including the actual language of the regulations and a “Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement,” are available online through the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca (under “Recent Amendments”), or on the Canada Gazette website at www.canadagazette.gc.ca.
According to the latest statistics available from the Canadian Organic Growers, there are 1,245 certified organic producers in Saskatchewan (representing around 34 per cent of total organic producers in Canada) farming an estimated 720,000 acres of land. There are some 99 certified organic processors and 13 certified handlers and traders of organic products in the province, as well.
Blaine Recksiedler is the Cereal and Organic Crop Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. He noted that, in terms of the development of regulations for their product, “the organic sector has always felt it is important for their members to be part of the process. Participating in the comment period is an opportunity to continue in that role.”
He noted that all comments on the proposed organic products regulations must be submitted in writing to:
Dr. Bashir Manji
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 0Y9
tel: 613-221-7154
fax: 613-221-7294
E-mail: bashirm@inspection.gc.ca
Comments must be received by November 16, 2006.
Recksiedler stressed that, although the new regulations are a federal—not provincial—government process, he would welcome calls from industry stakeholders wishing to discuss the national program.
For more information, contact:
Media Relations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Phone: (613) 228-6682
Blaine Recksiedler, Cereal and Organic Crop Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-4664
Sunday, October 15, 2006
New biofuels program to help farmers take ownership
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Producer groups in Saskatchewan have the opportunity to diversify Saskatchewan’s economy while contributing to Canada’s supply of renewable fuel alternatives by applying for funding through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI).
BOPI will be administered in Saskatchewan by the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD) Inc. Saskatchewan’s share of the program will be $591,180, of which a group can apply for as much as $300,000 per project.
“The BOPI program will allow producers the opportunity to be closely involved in the production of biofuels, giving them more ownership of the process and increasing their share of the benefits from renewable fuels production beyond delivering feedstock,” said SCCD Biofuels Advisory Group Chair Murray Purcell.
The Government of Canada is committed to requiring, nationally, an average of five per cent renewable fuel content in transport fuel by 2010. Environment Canada is leading the development of the overall strategy to implement the goal, with support from Natural Resources Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
AAFC wants to ensure that the five-per-cent target is implemented in ways that result in the greatest possible benefit to the agriculture sector, including significant ownership of biofuels production facilities by agricultural producers.
In order to provide as much benefit as possible, the objective of the initiative is to help agricultural producers in the development of sound, well-documented business plans for projects that have significant producer ownership (greater than one-third), as well as aiding to undertake feasibility or other studies to support the creation and expansion of the biofuel production capacity.
Application forms for the BOPI program are available through the SCCD website at www.sccd.sk.ca/bopi. The application deadline is Friday, October 13, 2006, with the SCCD Board of Directors to adjudicate project applications on November 22, 2006. Projects are not eligible if started before November 22, 2006.
The Biofuels Advisory Group of SCCD will include the following members:
* Murray Purcell, Board of Directors, SCCD (Chair of Biofuels Advisory Group)
* Dr. Ashley O’Sullivan, Board of Directors, SCCD
* Dr. W.M. (Mike) Ingledew, Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science, University of Saskatchewan
* Grant McVicar, Director of the Office of Energy Conservation, Saskatchewan Research Council
* Mark Stumborg, Section Head, Applied Science and Technology Transfer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
* Judie Dyck, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association
* Dwayne Moore (Producer Representative), Rosetown
The BOPI program is administered under the existing terms and conditions of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program.
For further information, contact:
Dallas Carpenter, Communications Officer
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development
Phone: (306) 975-6856
E-mail: info@sccd.sk.ca
Website: www.sccd.sk.ca/bopi
Producer groups in Saskatchewan have the opportunity to diversify Saskatchewan’s economy while contributing to Canada’s supply of renewable fuel alternatives by applying for funding through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI).
BOPI will be administered in Saskatchewan by the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD) Inc. Saskatchewan’s share of the program will be $591,180, of which a group can apply for as much as $300,000 per project.
“The BOPI program will allow producers the opportunity to be closely involved in the production of biofuels, giving them more ownership of the process and increasing their share of the benefits from renewable fuels production beyond delivering feedstock,” said SCCD Biofuels Advisory Group Chair Murray Purcell.
The Government of Canada is committed to requiring, nationally, an average of five per cent renewable fuel content in transport fuel by 2010. Environment Canada is leading the development of the overall strategy to implement the goal, with support from Natural Resources Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
AAFC wants to ensure that the five-per-cent target is implemented in ways that result in the greatest possible benefit to the agriculture sector, including significant ownership of biofuels production facilities by agricultural producers.
In order to provide as much benefit as possible, the objective of the initiative is to help agricultural producers in the development of sound, well-documented business plans for projects that have significant producer ownership (greater than one-third), as well as aiding to undertake feasibility or other studies to support the creation and expansion of the biofuel production capacity.
Application forms for the BOPI program are available through the SCCD website at www.sccd.sk.ca/bopi. The application deadline is Friday, October 13, 2006, with the SCCD Board of Directors to adjudicate project applications on November 22, 2006. Projects are not eligible if started before November 22, 2006.
The Biofuels Advisory Group of SCCD will include the following members:
* Murray Purcell, Board of Directors, SCCD (Chair of Biofuels Advisory Group)
* Dr. Ashley O’Sullivan, Board of Directors, SCCD
* Dr. W.M. (Mike) Ingledew, Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science, University of Saskatchewan
* Grant McVicar, Director of the Office of Energy Conservation, Saskatchewan Research Council
* Mark Stumborg, Section Head, Applied Science and Technology Transfer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
* Judie Dyck, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association
* Dwayne Moore (Producer Representative), Rosetown
The BOPI program is administered under the existing terms and conditions of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program.
For further information, contact:
Dallas Carpenter, Communications Officer
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development
Phone: (306) 975-6856
E-mail: info@sccd.sk.ca
Website: www.sccd.sk.ca/bopi
New test centre a boost for biofuels industry
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
A new test centre established by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) will benefit biofuel producers in the province and throughout North America.
The SRC’s Biofuels Test Centre was officially opened on September 21. The Regina facility will provide the biofuel industry with more timely access to independent testing, a key component for producers who are required to meet international standards.
Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel represent a huge opportunity in Saskatchewan, where feedstock, including grain and canola, is readily available. There are a growing number of biofuel producers in the province.
Weyburn and Lanigan are home to established ethanol facilities, and a new plant has just opened in Lloydminster. Milligan Biotech Inc. (MBTI), one of three commercial biodiesel producers in Canada, currently operates a plant in Foam Lake. Demand for biofuel is increasing in Europe and the United States. There are 50 biodiesel plants currently under construction in the U.S. alone.
These producers require testing of their product, so the potential demand for the lab’s services will be North American-wide. The lab will use a special container that will make shipping biofuel samples from anywhere on the continent quick and simple.
Milligan Biotech Executive Manager Zenneth Faye says the test centre is a state-of-the-art facility. “Having SRC’s Biofuels Test Centre located in the province will greatly improve turnaround times and our accessibility to their independent, third-party testing verification, which MBTI requires to meet customers’ needs,” said Faye.
The SRC lab is the newest biofuel test centre in North America, and builds on the SRC’s 20-plus years of experience providing testing services for the petroleum industry.
The facility is a member of the Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories, and is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada for specific tests registered with the council.
For further information, contact:
Carol Reynolds, Corporate Relations Specialist
Saskatchewan Research Council
Phone: (306) 933-7089
E-mail: reynolds@src.sk.ca
A new test centre established by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) will benefit biofuel producers in the province and throughout North America.
The SRC’s Biofuels Test Centre was officially opened on September 21. The Regina facility will provide the biofuel industry with more timely access to independent testing, a key component for producers who are required to meet international standards.
Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel represent a huge opportunity in Saskatchewan, where feedstock, including grain and canola, is readily available. There are a growing number of biofuel producers in the province.
Weyburn and Lanigan are home to established ethanol facilities, and a new plant has just opened in Lloydminster. Milligan Biotech Inc. (MBTI), one of three commercial biodiesel producers in Canada, currently operates a plant in Foam Lake. Demand for biofuel is increasing in Europe and the United States. There are 50 biodiesel plants currently under construction in the U.S. alone.
These producers require testing of their product, so the potential demand for the lab’s services will be North American-wide. The lab will use a special container that will make shipping biofuel samples from anywhere on the continent quick and simple.
Milligan Biotech Executive Manager Zenneth Faye says the test centre is a state-of-the-art facility. “Having SRC’s Biofuels Test Centre located in the province will greatly improve turnaround times and our accessibility to their independent, third-party testing verification, which MBTI requires to meet customers’ needs,” said Faye.
The SRC lab is the newest biofuel test centre in North America, and builds on the SRC’s 20-plus years of experience providing testing services for the petroleum industry.
The facility is a member of the Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories, and is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada for specific tests registered with the council.
For further information, contact:
Carol Reynolds, Corporate Relations Specialist
Saskatchewan Research Council
Phone: (306) 933-7089
E-mail: reynolds@src.sk.ca
Food label seminar a must for small business
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Those little labels on food packages that tell you how many calories are in that chocolate bar or bag of peanuts may be tiny, but they hold a lot of important information.
As many food processors and manufacturers are aware, nutritional labelling is about to be mandatory in Canada for everyone from the smallest processor to the largest factory.
That’s why the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. is holding a Health Claims and Nutritional Labelling seminar in Saskatoon on October 17.
Shika Agblor, Senior Food Scientist with the Market Development and Food Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, says smaller food industry businesses may also be in the label game already if they supply large retail stores.
“The large retail deadline for these labels has already passed, so if you supply a large chain store, you have to be compliant already,” she said.
What if you just sell your snacks at the local “Mom and Pop” operation? Mandatory nutrition labelling will come into effect in December 2007 for all food providers, but Agblor says it will be much easier on your business to find out how to use those labels now.
“Some manufacturers may view this as just a technical responsibility, but it’s important to remember that the manufacturer is responsible for the product,” she said. “If the retailer receives a complaint or concern about the nutritional information not being correct, the manufacturer is liable.”
The Food Centre seminar will deal with a number of topics about labelling that affect people and businesses across the food industry, including association members, academics, food researchers, retailers, manufacturers and even those who design the labels for products. Agblor says the seminar has very wide appeal as a result.
“This seminar is also of interest to dieticians, nutritionists, health and food service workers – pretty much anyone who deals with the food supply chain,” she noted.
The basic how-to and technical information will be covered in detail for those who need to find out how to label their products. Seminar speaker Jyoti Sahasrabudhe formerly worked with Health Canada on reviewing the Canadian Nutrient Database (CND). The CND is the national system that records the nutritional values of all foods. Sahasrabudhe will explain how that database is used with chemical analysis of a food sample to determine the values we read on the label.
Other seminar speakers may help producers and manufacturers add value while they go through the labelling process. A University of Saskatchewan Food Science Specialist will explain how to properly have a sample of your product analyzed for labelling, and there will also be representatives on hand from federal and provincial programs to help producers determine if there is any industry assistance available to help companies make the label transition.
The Health Claims and Nutrition Labelling seminar runs October 17, 2006 at the Travelodge Hotel in Saskatoon. Pre-registration (prior to October 17) is $106 per person (GST included) to attend, and on-site registration is $130 per person. Interested parties can register by calling the Food Centre at (306) 933-7555, or e-mailing info@foodcentre.sk.ca.
For further information, contact:
Shika Agblor, Ph.D., Senior Food Scientist, Market Development and Food Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 933-5769
E-mail: sagblor@agr.gov.sk.ca
Website: www.foodcentre.sk.ca
Those little labels on food packages that tell you how many calories are in that chocolate bar or bag of peanuts may be tiny, but they hold a lot of important information.
As many food processors and manufacturers are aware, nutritional labelling is about to be mandatory in Canada for everyone from the smallest processor to the largest factory.
That’s why the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. is holding a Health Claims and Nutritional Labelling seminar in Saskatoon on October 17.
Shika Agblor, Senior Food Scientist with the Market Development and Food Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, says smaller food industry businesses may also be in the label game already if they supply large retail stores.
“The large retail deadline for these labels has already passed, so if you supply a large chain store, you have to be compliant already,” she said.
What if you just sell your snacks at the local “Mom and Pop” operation? Mandatory nutrition labelling will come into effect in December 2007 for all food providers, but Agblor says it will be much easier on your business to find out how to use those labels now.
“Some manufacturers may view this as just a technical responsibility, but it’s important to remember that the manufacturer is responsible for the product,” she said. “If the retailer receives a complaint or concern about the nutritional information not being correct, the manufacturer is liable.”
The Food Centre seminar will deal with a number of topics about labelling that affect people and businesses across the food industry, including association members, academics, food researchers, retailers, manufacturers and even those who design the labels for products. Agblor says the seminar has very wide appeal as a result.
“This seminar is also of interest to dieticians, nutritionists, health and food service workers – pretty much anyone who deals with the food supply chain,” she noted.
The basic how-to and technical information will be covered in detail for those who need to find out how to label their products. Seminar speaker Jyoti Sahasrabudhe formerly worked with Health Canada on reviewing the Canadian Nutrient Database (CND). The CND is the national system that records the nutritional values of all foods. Sahasrabudhe will explain how that database is used with chemical analysis of a food sample to determine the values we read on the label.
Other seminar speakers may help producers and manufacturers add value while they go through the labelling process. A University of Saskatchewan Food Science Specialist will explain how to properly have a sample of your product analyzed for labelling, and there will also be representatives on hand from federal and provincial programs to help producers determine if there is any industry assistance available to help companies make the label transition.
The Health Claims and Nutrition Labelling seminar runs October 17, 2006 at the Travelodge Hotel in Saskatoon. Pre-registration (prior to October 17) is $106 per person (GST included) to attend, and on-site registration is $130 per person. Interested parties can register by calling the Food Centre at (306) 933-7555, or e-mailing info@foodcentre.sk.ca.
For further information, contact:
Shika Agblor, Ph.D., Senior Food Scientist, Market Development and Food Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 933-5769
E-mail: sagblor@agr.gov.sk.ca
Website: www.foodcentre.sk.ca
CN and U of S team up to reduce agricultural injuries
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
During the past 10 years, 1,200 adults and children have died in farm-related accidents in Canada, and almost 15,000 have suffered disabling injuries.
The Canadian National Railway Company, better known as CN, decided it wants to do something about these bleak statistics – and it is putting its money where its mouth is.
The corporation has announced a $500,000 donation to the University of Saskatchewan to establish the Agricultural Injury Control Program (AICP). The program will be managed by the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA) on the university campus.
The objective of the AICP is to help reduce agricultural injuries and fatalities by bridging the gap between research and education. It will provide essential information to farm families and agricultural workers about air, food and water contamination, as well as adverse working conditions.
Dr. Jim Dosman, Program Leader and Director of the CCHSA, said, “Through this partnership with CN, we hope to see a 20-per-cent reduction in agriculture deaths in Saskatchewan and Canada over the next five years. I applaud CN for leading the way in this world-class Canadian-based health and safety initiative.”
CN has been working with the University of Saskatchewan to promote health and safety in agriculture since the early 1990s, when it helped to establish the university’s Centre for Agricultural Medicine, the forerunner of the CCHSA.
“CN has strong ties to the province of Saskatchewan and agricultural communities across Canada,” said E. Hunter Harrison, CN’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re happy to announce a significant donation to this farm safety partnership with the University of Saskatchewan.”
CN has a wide-ranging rail safety program, and also supports several national and provincial community safety associations. The CCHSA’s overall research and development program is supported by the University of Saskatchewan, the Government of Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada, the private sector and Saskatchewan rural municipalities.
For further information, contact:
Jim Feeney, Senior Manager, Public and Government Affairs
Canadian National Railway Company
Phone: (780) 910-0098
Dr. James Dosman, Director, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-8286
During the past 10 years, 1,200 adults and children have died in farm-related accidents in Canada, and almost 15,000 have suffered disabling injuries.
The Canadian National Railway Company, better known as CN, decided it wants to do something about these bleak statistics – and it is putting its money where its mouth is.
The corporation has announced a $500,000 donation to the University of Saskatchewan to establish the Agricultural Injury Control Program (AICP). The program will be managed by the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA) on the university campus.
The objective of the AICP is to help reduce agricultural injuries and fatalities by bridging the gap between research and education. It will provide essential information to farm families and agricultural workers about air, food and water contamination, as well as adverse working conditions.
Dr. Jim Dosman, Program Leader and Director of the CCHSA, said, “Through this partnership with CN, we hope to see a 20-per-cent reduction in agriculture deaths in Saskatchewan and Canada over the next five years. I applaud CN for leading the way in this world-class Canadian-based health and safety initiative.”
CN has been working with the University of Saskatchewan to promote health and safety in agriculture since the early 1990s, when it helped to establish the university’s Centre for Agricultural Medicine, the forerunner of the CCHSA.
“CN has strong ties to the province of Saskatchewan and agricultural communities across Canada,” said E. Hunter Harrison, CN’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re happy to announce a significant donation to this farm safety partnership with the University of Saskatchewan.”
CN has a wide-ranging rail safety program, and also supports several national and provincial community safety associations. The CCHSA’s overall research and development program is supported by the University of Saskatchewan, the Government of Saskatchewan, the Government of Canada, the private sector and Saskatchewan rural municipalities.
For further information, contact:
Jim Feeney, Senior Manager, Public and Government Affairs
Canadian National Railway Company
Phone: (780) 910-0098
Dr. James Dosman, Director, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-8286
Improving ag sales skills the subject of training seminar
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
For the first time ever, the University of Saskatchewan Centre for Continuing and Distance Education (CCDE) is offering an intensive training seminar in sales skills specific to the agriculture industry.
The program, entitled “Skills for Sales Success for Agriculture Professionals,” will be held October 24, 25, and 26 at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
According to Kari Nicolas, the Program Co-ordinator for Agriculture Programs at the CCDE, “Anyone with a sales component to their job [can benefit from the course]. It deals with core sales competencies that are applicable to almost any position that involves even partial responsibility for sales.”
The Skills for Sales Success program will involve approximately 25 hours of classroom work over a three-day period. It is an intensive version of a 13-week program that has previously been offered by the centre.
“We designed the program to fit over a weekend because we’ve found that people simply can’t afford to be away from their desks for more than a couple of days,” said Nicolas.
The facilitator of the course is Fred Matiko, a Certified Sales Professional who has facilitated the longer version of the program for the department for nine years, and has taught an agricultural economics class offered at the university.
Nicolas said she also encourages agricultural producers to take the training course. “With diversification and the pursuit of new markets, producers are becoming their own sales people,” she noted. “The skills being taught through the program are applicable to all aspects of business.”
The course includes training in a number of important competencies, including consultative selling, relationship building, communications, strategic planning, time management and personal development.
The course curriculum has been approved by the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists as a professional development opportunity for agrologists and agricultural technologists. The registration fee is $424, which includes all course materials, lunches and refreshments.
Since this is the first time the three-day version has been offered, Nicolas said she is anxious to see how participants evaluate the program. “We will be checking with them throughout the course to make sure that we are providing what is needed, and they will be asked to provide a written evaluation to help guide us in the future.”
She suggested that the course may become an annual offering if the demand is present.
Information and registration forms for the Skills for Sales Success for Agriculture Professionals course are available online at www.extension.usask.ca/go/ag, or by calling (306) 966-5539.
For further information, contact:
Kari Nicolas, P.Ag., Program Co-ordinator for Agricultural Programs
University of Saskatchewan Centre for Continuing and Distance Education
Phone: (306) 966-5592
For the first time ever, the University of Saskatchewan Centre for Continuing and Distance Education (CCDE) is offering an intensive training seminar in sales skills specific to the agriculture industry.
The program, entitled “Skills for Sales Success for Agriculture Professionals,” will be held October 24, 25, and 26 at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
According to Kari Nicolas, the Program Co-ordinator for Agriculture Programs at the CCDE, “Anyone with a sales component to their job [can benefit from the course]. It deals with core sales competencies that are applicable to almost any position that involves even partial responsibility for sales.”
The Skills for Sales Success program will involve approximately 25 hours of classroom work over a three-day period. It is an intensive version of a 13-week program that has previously been offered by the centre.
“We designed the program to fit over a weekend because we’ve found that people simply can’t afford to be away from their desks for more than a couple of days,” said Nicolas.
The facilitator of the course is Fred Matiko, a Certified Sales Professional who has facilitated the longer version of the program for the department for nine years, and has taught an agricultural economics class offered at the university.
Nicolas said she also encourages agricultural producers to take the training course. “With diversification and the pursuit of new markets, producers are becoming their own sales people,” she noted. “The skills being taught through the program are applicable to all aspects of business.”
The course includes training in a number of important competencies, including consultative selling, relationship building, communications, strategic planning, time management and personal development.
The course curriculum has been approved by the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists as a professional development opportunity for agrologists and agricultural technologists. The registration fee is $424, which includes all course materials, lunches and refreshments.
Since this is the first time the three-day version has been offered, Nicolas said she is anxious to see how participants evaluate the program. “We will be checking with them throughout the course to make sure that we are providing what is needed, and they will be asked to provide a written evaluation to help guide us in the future.”
She suggested that the course may become an annual offering if the demand is present.
Information and registration forms for the Skills for Sales Success for Agriculture Professionals course are available online at www.extension.usask.ca/go/ag, or by calling (306) 966-5539.
For further information, contact:
Kari Nicolas, P.Ag., Program Co-ordinator for Agricultural Programs
University of Saskatchewan Centre for Continuing and Distance Education
Phone: (306) 966-5592
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Canola crushing plants the tip of the iceberg
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
The past-president of the Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association says the recent announcement of two canola crushing plants being constructed in Saskatchewan is a boon to both the canola industry and the future of biodiesel in Canada.
Brad Hanmer greeted the news that James Richardson International (JRI) and Louis Dreyfus plan to build crushing plants in Yorkton with something just short of jubilation.
“I am just absolutely delighted that this is happening,” he said. “To see this kind of investment in our industry and in Saskatchewan and, more importantly, in a crop that I believe is the future for us here on the farm – I’m just ecstatic.”
The two plants combined will have the ability to crush over 1.5 million tonnes of canola per year; something Hanmer says will help boost canola prices.
“We grow around seven million metric tonnes of canola a year. These plants are going to take a huge chunk out of that. Right now, we crush half and export half of the canola we grow. Having this kind of crush capacity on line will change that,” said Hanmer.
“Once you put bricks and mortar in the ground, you have to keep these plants full. So we are going to see some appreciation of prices at a local level just on that front alone.”
Hanmer says market factors beyond Saskatchewan’s borders are driving demand, as American and European demand for biodiesel adds to existing demand for canola oil within the food industry.
“The world is absolutely hungry for vegetable oil,” he stated. “Biodiesel is playing a huge role in that, but also the healthy aspects of canola oil are really starting to take hold.”
Biodiesel is where Hanmer’s infectious enthusiasm for the future of canola really starts to kick in.
“We in Canada have a window of opportunity that is narrowing, and that’s for us to have a biodiesel industry here. We need to catch up to the rest of the world to put a renewable fuel strategy in place, like the Americans, like Europe,” he said.
“Every other major agricultural jurisdiction in the world has got a plan in place to integrate biodiesel and ethanol into the fuel system. We don’t here in Canada yet.”
Hanmer is encouraged by the new possibilities the increased crushing capacity will bring to the province, and more specifically to canola producers.
“We’ve got a bright, bright future here to be the world’s leader in canola processing technology, as well as the hub of the canola industry for the world,” he stated. “This announcement in Yorkton is absolutely fantastic, but it is the tip of the iceberg for reinventing our vision for agriculture. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be a part of that right now.”
Winnipeg-based JRI says construction of its plant will be completed by mid-2008. Construction on the Louis Dreyfus plant will begin this month, and it is also expected to be operational in 2008.
For more information, contact
Brad Hanmer, Past-President
Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association
Phone: (306) 668-2380
Website: www.canola-council.org
The past-president of the Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association says the recent announcement of two canola crushing plants being constructed in Saskatchewan is a boon to both the canola industry and the future of biodiesel in Canada.
Brad Hanmer greeted the news that James Richardson International (JRI) and Louis Dreyfus plan to build crushing plants in Yorkton with something just short of jubilation.
“I am just absolutely delighted that this is happening,” he said. “To see this kind of investment in our industry and in Saskatchewan and, more importantly, in a crop that I believe is the future for us here on the farm – I’m just ecstatic.”
The two plants combined will have the ability to crush over 1.5 million tonnes of canola per year; something Hanmer says will help boost canola prices.
“We grow around seven million metric tonnes of canola a year. These plants are going to take a huge chunk out of that. Right now, we crush half and export half of the canola we grow. Having this kind of crush capacity on line will change that,” said Hanmer.
“Once you put bricks and mortar in the ground, you have to keep these plants full. So we are going to see some appreciation of prices at a local level just on that front alone.”
Hanmer says market factors beyond Saskatchewan’s borders are driving demand, as American and European demand for biodiesel adds to existing demand for canola oil within the food industry.
“The world is absolutely hungry for vegetable oil,” he stated. “Biodiesel is playing a huge role in that, but also the healthy aspects of canola oil are really starting to take hold.”
Biodiesel is where Hanmer’s infectious enthusiasm for the future of canola really starts to kick in.
“We in Canada have a window of opportunity that is narrowing, and that’s for us to have a biodiesel industry here. We need to catch up to the rest of the world to put a renewable fuel strategy in place, like the Americans, like Europe,” he said.
“Every other major agricultural jurisdiction in the world has got a plan in place to integrate biodiesel and ethanol into the fuel system. We don’t here in Canada yet.”
Hanmer is encouraged by the new possibilities the increased crushing capacity will bring to the province, and more specifically to canola producers.
“We’ve got a bright, bright future here to be the world’s leader in canola processing technology, as well as the hub of the canola industry for the world,” he stated. “This announcement in Yorkton is absolutely fantastic, but it is the tip of the iceberg for reinventing our vision for agriculture. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be a part of that right now.”
Winnipeg-based JRI says construction of its plant will be completed by mid-2008. Construction on the Louis Dreyfus plant will begin this month, and it is also expected to be operational in 2008.
For more information, contact
Brad Hanmer, Past-President
Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association
Phone: (306) 668-2380
Website: www.canola-council.org
Banner year for beekeepers
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
It’s shaping up to be a sweet year for Saskatchewan’s beekeepers.
The harvest is now wrapping up on what has been a good year for both honey production and price.
Tim Wendell, the President of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association, said most producers are pleased with the honey crop this year.
“I think the year went pretty well,” Wendell said. “We had an early spring for a change. We had pollen coming in early April and the bees went full speed ahead pretty much since then. It’s been a pretty good year all in all.”
Wendell indicated that Saskatchewan has over 130 commercial beekeepers (beekeepers with more than 300 colonies) and another 1,000 beekeepers who are “hobbyists.”
That adds up to a lot of honey.
While Wendell did not have figures for Saskatchewan, he said that Canadian beekeepers produce between 70 to 75 million pounds of the sweet stuff annually. Of that total, 50 to 55 million pounds are consumed domestically, and the balance is exported.
Increased production is just one aspect of a banner year for beekeepers. Price is the other component, and Wendell said things are looking good there, too.
“It’s inching up a little bit. Producers are fairly optimistic there are a number of things that are pointing to an increase in price, including a shortage of crop in some of the places in the U.S. and some of the other things happening around the globe,” explained Wendell.
For example, yields are down in Argentina and China, the latter being a key competitor.
Wendell said honey from China has cut into Canada’s domestic market in the past, sometimes by being blended with more expensive, higher quality Canadian honey.
“It’s a bit of disservice to the industry when a packer has built a reputation on Canadian honey, and then starts substituting cheaper foreign honey and selling it on the reputation that he’s built with Canadian honey,” he stated. “It’s a disservice to producers, and I think it’s really a disservice to the consumer.”
However, Wendell is optimistic that an even better year is on the way.
“I think most beekeepers in Saskatchewan are happy with the way the year has gone,” he said. “I hope we go into the winter with our colonies strong and disease-free, and next year gives us another good year, and the price continues to move in a positive direction.”
You can learn more about the beekeeping industry in Saskatchewan at www.saskatchewanbeekeepers.ca.
For more information, contact:
Tim Wendell, President
Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association
Phone: (306) 742-4363
e-mail: tim@wendell.ca
Website: www.saskatchewanbeekeepers.ca
It’s shaping up to be a sweet year for Saskatchewan’s beekeepers.
The harvest is now wrapping up on what has been a good year for both honey production and price.
Tim Wendell, the President of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association, said most producers are pleased with the honey crop this year.
“I think the year went pretty well,” Wendell said. “We had an early spring for a change. We had pollen coming in early April and the bees went full speed ahead pretty much since then. It’s been a pretty good year all in all.”
Wendell indicated that Saskatchewan has over 130 commercial beekeepers (beekeepers with more than 300 colonies) and another 1,000 beekeepers who are “hobbyists.”
That adds up to a lot of honey.
While Wendell did not have figures for Saskatchewan, he said that Canadian beekeepers produce between 70 to 75 million pounds of the sweet stuff annually. Of that total, 50 to 55 million pounds are consumed domestically, and the balance is exported.
Increased production is just one aspect of a banner year for beekeepers. Price is the other component, and Wendell said things are looking good there, too.
“It’s inching up a little bit. Producers are fairly optimistic there are a number of things that are pointing to an increase in price, including a shortage of crop in some of the places in the U.S. and some of the other things happening around the globe,” explained Wendell.
For example, yields are down in Argentina and China, the latter being a key competitor.
Wendell said honey from China has cut into Canada’s domestic market in the past, sometimes by being blended with more expensive, higher quality Canadian honey.
“It’s a bit of disservice to the industry when a packer has built a reputation on Canadian honey, and then starts substituting cheaper foreign honey and selling it on the reputation that he’s built with Canadian honey,” he stated. “It’s a disservice to producers, and I think it’s really a disservice to the consumer.”
However, Wendell is optimistic that an even better year is on the way.
“I think most beekeepers in Saskatchewan are happy with the way the year has gone,” he said. “I hope we go into the winter with our colonies strong and disease-free, and next year gives us another good year, and the price continues to move in a positive direction.”
You can learn more about the beekeeping industry in Saskatchewan at www.saskatchewanbeekeepers.ca.
For more information, contact:
Tim Wendell, President
Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association
Phone: (306) 742-4363
e-mail: tim@wendell.ca
Website: www.saskatchewanbeekeepers.ca
Agriculture knowledge centre prepares for busy season
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
As producers wrap up harvest and get ready to ease up the pace, the province’s Agriculture Knowledge Centre (AKC) is actually preparing for the pace to pick up.
The AKC, located in Moose Jaw, is often the first point of contact with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food for farmers with technical or general inquiries.
The centre is staffed with resource agents and specialists knowledgeable about the farm industry and able to provide information and technical assistance on a broad range of agricultural topics. There are specialists in beef cattle management, ruminant nutrition, grazing and forage management, soil and nutrient management, crop and pest management and production economics.
Rick Bjorge, the AKC manager, says call volume is actually likely to increase after harvest.
“Normally during the harvest season, the call volumes are lower, and then when freeze-up and snow comes, we get more and more questions about the year ahead,” he said.
“We get more questions about decisions that producers have to make about the year ahead – the profitability of certain enterprises and certain things they would consider doing differently in the year ahead – so that kind of all kicks in once winter starts. Livestock feeding and nutrition calls also increase as winter approaches.”
The AKC handles about 17,000 calls a year, although Bjorge predicts that number will continue to rise.
“Based on our feedback, we know that we are getting first-time callers all the time who weren’t previously aware of the services that we have to offer,” he noted. “We think that we have a good service to offer. We have talented and knowledgeable people, and the more we can get that message out—that this is a good place to call for agriculture information—the more our numbers will continue to grow.”
The AKC was established when the province’s network of 31 Rural Service Centres was consolidated into nine regional offices in 2004. As with any change, there were those who were concerned about the impact of that transition. However, the experience of the past two years has changed more than a few minds.
Adair Ramsell runs a cow/calf operation near Paradise Hill in the northwest part of the province. He admits he was initially a skeptic, but says he’s now a believer.
“My experiences have been good,” said Ramsell. “I’ve used [the Rural Service Centres] for years and years, and I was pretty much against it when they started [the Agriculture Knowledge Centre]. I thought I was going to lose contact with the experts I need. That proved not to be the case.”
Ramsell says it’s the quality and speed of the advice that makes him appreciate the service.
“They are always there and I always get to speak to the people who have that information right on the tip of their tongue,” he said.
“This morning I called them because I needed a water test on my well, and I was under the impression that there was a place in Lloydminster that I could ship the sample to rather than sending it all the way to Regina. Sure enough, there was, and they were able to get me the address right away.”
Back at the AKC, Bjorge says this past year saw the number of calls vary considerably, with a peak number of inquiries in July.
“Depending on what issues there are, the calls can be higher or lower on any given day,” he explained. “For this summer, the top number of calls was around 130 a day. I think that was right around the time of the Bertha armyworm outbreak, and in amongst that time there were also anthrax concerns, as well.”
Bjorge says some people may not know that the AKC is open over the noon hour, or that the service is also available via e-mail.
“That could be quite convenient for people in off-hours when we are closed. Send us an e-mail and we’ll get back to you the next day,” he noted.
The e-mail address for the AKC is aginfo@agr.gov.sk.ca. The toll-free number for the centre is 1-866-457-2377.
For more information, contact:
Rick Bjorge, Manager
Agriculture Knowledge Centre
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 694-3813
E-mail: rbjorge@agr.gov.sk.ca
As producers wrap up harvest and get ready to ease up the pace, the province’s Agriculture Knowledge Centre (AKC) is actually preparing for the pace to pick up.
The AKC, located in Moose Jaw, is often the first point of contact with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food for farmers with technical or general inquiries.
The centre is staffed with resource agents and specialists knowledgeable about the farm industry and able to provide information and technical assistance on a broad range of agricultural topics. There are specialists in beef cattle management, ruminant nutrition, grazing and forage management, soil and nutrient management, crop and pest management and production economics.
Rick Bjorge, the AKC manager, says call volume is actually likely to increase after harvest.
“Normally during the harvest season, the call volumes are lower, and then when freeze-up and snow comes, we get more and more questions about the year ahead,” he said.
“We get more questions about decisions that producers have to make about the year ahead – the profitability of certain enterprises and certain things they would consider doing differently in the year ahead – so that kind of all kicks in once winter starts. Livestock feeding and nutrition calls also increase as winter approaches.”
The AKC handles about 17,000 calls a year, although Bjorge predicts that number will continue to rise.
“Based on our feedback, we know that we are getting first-time callers all the time who weren’t previously aware of the services that we have to offer,” he noted. “We think that we have a good service to offer. We have talented and knowledgeable people, and the more we can get that message out—that this is a good place to call for agriculture information—the more our numbers will continue to grow.”
The AKC was established when the province’s network of 31 Rural Service Centres was consolidated into nine regional offices in 2004. As with any change, there were those who were concerned about the impact of that transition. However, the experience of the past two years has changed more than a few minds.
Adair Ramsell runs a cow/calf operation near Paradise Hill in the northwest part of the province. He admits he was initially a skeptic, but says he’s now a believer.
“My experiences have been good,” said Ramsell. “I’ve used [the Rural Service Centres] for years and years, and I was pretty much against it when they started [the Agriculture Knowledge Centre]. I thought I was going to lose contact with the experts I need. That proved not to be the case.”
Ramsell says it’s the quality and speed of the advice that makes him appreciate the service.
“They are always there and I always get to speak to the people who have that information right on the tip of their tongue,” he said.
“This morning I called them because I needed a water test on my well, and I was under the impression that there was a place in Lloydminster that I could ship the sample to rather than sending it all the way to Regina. Sure enough, there was, and they were able to get me the address right away.”
Back at the AKC, Bjorge says this past year saw the number of calls vary considerably, with a peak number of inquiries in July.
“Depending on what issues there are, the calls can be higher or lower on any given day,” he explained. “For this summer, the top number of calls was around 130 a day. I think that was right around the time of the Bertha armyworm outbreak, and in amongst that time there were also anthrax concerns, as well.”
Bjorge says some people may not know that the AKC is open over the noon hour, or that the service is also available via e-mail.
“That could be quite convenient for people in off-hours when we are closed. Send us an e-mail and we’ll get back to you the next day,” he noted.
The e-mail address for the AKC is aginfo@agr.gov.sk.ca. The toll-free number for the centre is 1-866-457-2377.
For more information, contact:
Rick Bjorge, Manager
Agriculture Knowledge Centre
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 694-3813
E-mail: rbjorge@agr.gov.sk.ca
Turning waste into power
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) may be offering us a glimpse into our energy future.
An anaerobic biodigester system researched and developed at PAMI’s facilities in Humboldt has the potential to turn common waste into heat and electricity, with loads of potential for application here in Saskatchewan and around the globe.
The system is essentially a set of tanks, boilers and specialized equipment that creates a controlled environment to enhance a natural phenomenon: the decomposition of organic material by bacteria, which produces biogas in the process.
According to Patricia Lung, PAMI’s Project Leader for Energy and Processing, this biogas contains a mixture of about 70 per cent methane and 30 per cent carbon dioxide, with trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide. The methane is capable of being burned in generators to produce electricity.
The versatility of the biodigester may be one of its strongest assets. Feedstock for the device can essentially be any organic material, including manure, plant matter, seeds, grain, fat or a combination thereof.
“The objective of our pilot system has been to test different feedstock recipes and different operating conditions, such as temperature and retention times,” Lung said.
“In essence, we have been able to go to a client and take what they would like to feed into a biodigester, test it for them and give them an idea on how much gas that they can get off of it.”
Lung noted that a biodigester demonstration project is in operation in Cudworth, as a partnership between SaskPower, Clear-Green Environmental Inc. and the Cudworth Pork Investors Group.
The project converts hog manure into biogas to run four 30-kilowatt microturbines that are plugged right into the provincial distribution grid, generating enough electricity to power 30 to 40 homes. The waste heat produced by the microturbines is captured and used to heat the biodigester. The remaining solids from the biodigestion process are spread on surrounding fields as a compost-type organic fertilizer.
Lung said this ability of the biodigester to interconnect well with other components in a broader operation has people thinking about some very promising opportunities.
“Discussions at the moment within both Alberta and Saskatchewan are with respect to eco-clusters. That’s a cluster of your ethanol facility, your biogas facility and your biodigester facility, and they more or less feed off each other,” she stated.
Looking into the future, the biodigestion process offers other intriguing potential that could some day be applied here in Canada.
“The biogas can be cleaned up and used as natural gas. It can be run through a hydrogen sulfide stripper and a carbon dioxide stripper, and put right into a natural gas grid. They’re doing it in Europe,” Lung said.
“The natural gas used in North America is generally 86 to 95 per cent methane, so we use it to heat homes, do our cooking and stuff like that. Biogas has that capability, as well. It’s just not as concentrated, but it can be cleaned up to be that concentrated.”
Experimentation with different feedstock has also opened the door to another possibility: energy from common household waste.
“PAMI’s system is a liquid system. We can handle up to 12 per cent solids,” Lung stated. “But there are designs which are being used in Europe to process everyday organic garbage to generate power. That’s another opportunity for recycling potential. It’s just a matter of it being economical to do it.”
She added, “There’s a lot of potential right now regarding any aspect of bio-energy: biodiesel, ethanol and biomass. The biodigester project focuses on biogas, and it is right along this same line of thinking. We’ve got a lot of exciting promise here.”
For further information, contact:
Patricia Lung, Project Leader, Energy and Processing
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute
Phone: 1-800-567-7264, ext.228
e-mail: plung@pami.ca
Website: www.pami.ca
The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) may be offering us a glimpse into our energy future.
An anaerobic biodigester system researched and developed at PAMI’s facilities in Humboldt has the potential to turn common waste into heat and electricity, with loads of potential for application here in Saskatchewan and around the globe.
The system is essentially a set of tanks, boilers and specialized equipment that creates a controlled environment to enhance a natural phenomenon: the decomposition of organic material by bacteria, which produces biogas in the process.
According to Patricia Lung, PAMI’s Project Leader for Energy and Processing, this biogas contains a mixture of about 70 per cent methane and 30 per cent carbon dioxide, with trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide. The methane is capable of being burned in generators to produce electricity.
The versatility of the biodigester may be one of its strongest assets. Feedstock for the device can essentially be any organic material, including manure, plant matter, seeds, grain, fat or a combination thereof.
“The objective of our pilot system has been to test different feedstock recipes and different operating conditions, such as temperature and retention times,” Lung said.
“In essence, we have been able to go to a client and take what they would like to feed into a biodigester, test it for them and give them an idea on how much gas that they can get off of it.”
Lung noted that a biodigester demonstration project is in operation in Cudworth, as a partnership between SaskPower, Clear-Green Environmental Inc. and the Cudworth Pork Investors Group.
The project converts hog manure into biogas to run four 30-kilowatt microturbines that are plugged right into the provincial distribution grid, generating enough electricity to power 30 to 40 homes. The waste heat produced by the microturbines is captured and used to heat the biodigester. The remaining solids from the biodigestion process are spread on surrounding fields as a compost-type organic fertilizer.
Lung said this ability of the biodigester to interconnect well with other components in a broader operation has people thinking about some very promising opportunities.
“Discussions at the moment within both Alberta and Saskatchewan are with respect to eco-clusters. That’s a cluster of your ethanol facility, your biogas facility and your biodigester facility, and they more or less feed off each other,” she stated.
Looking into the future, the biodigestion process offers other intriguing potential that could some day be applied here in Canada.
“The biogas can be cleaned up and used as natural gas. It can be run through a hydrogen sulfide stripper and a carbon dioxide stripper, and put right into a natural gas grid. They’re doing it in Europe,” Lung said.
“The natural gas used in North America is generally 86 to 95 per cent methane, so we use it to heat homes, do our cooking and stuff like that. Biogas has that capability, as well. It’s just not as concentrated, but it can be cleaned up to be that concentrated.”
Experimentation with different feedstock has also opened the door to another possibility: energy from common household waste.
“PAMI’s system is a liquid system. We can handle up to 12 per cent solids,” Lung stated. “But there are designs which are being used in Europe to process everyday organic garbage to generate power. That’s another opportunity for recycling potential. It’s just a matter of it being economical to do it.”
She added, “There’s a lot of potential right now regarding any aspect of bio-energy: biodiesel, ethanol and biomass. The biodigester project focuses on biogas, and it is right along this same line of thinking. We’ve got a lot of exciting promise here.”
For further information, contact:
Patricia Lung, Project Leader, Energy and Processing
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute
Phone: 1-800-567-7264, ext.228
e-mail: plung@pami.ca
Website: www.pami.ca
Bright future of bio-economy to be focus of conference
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Delegates from throughout North America and around the world will converge on Saskatoon on October 16 and 17 to discuss emerging technologies, commercial success stories, issues and opportunities in the bio-based economy.
The conference, entitled “Bio-Logical Futures III,” is being organized by Ag-West Bio Inc., the membership-based organization formed to lead and support the development of an economically viable life sciences cluster in Saskatchewan.
Registration has been strong, and well over 100 delegates from a wide variety of backgrounds are expected to attend, according to Ag-West Bio Communications Director Krista Dennis.
“We’ve held two Bio-Logical Futures conferences in the past, and when we didn’t hold one in 2005, we started getting calls about when the next one would be,” said Dennis.
“Now that we’ve built up the brand and image, people in the bio-economy are anticipating another great meeting.”
The conference will feature 28 national and international experts in areas such as bio-energy, bio-materials, bio-lubricants, bio-based chemicals and co-products.
“The current focus on biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, is a real highlight of this year’s presentations,” stated Dennis.
One of the most eagerly anticipated speakers on this front is Don O’Connor, the president of 2 Consultants Inc. and a mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in alternative energy development. He will share his unique experiences with the production of ethanol from biomass, as well his knowledge of the fuel industry at both the production and retail levels. O’Connor will take the podium with local speakers like Lionel LaBelle, president of the Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council.
While many of the conference participants are directly involved in researching or manufacturing bio-products, Dennis says the session is also an excellent opportunity for producers and potential investors in the bio-economy.
“Producers can learn a great deal about the opportunities and the new technologies that create new markets for their crops,” Dennis noted. “Venture capital companies have the chance to meet and talk with entrepreneurs who are still in the start-up phase of their new companies and who are looking for financing.”
The range of new applications for crops is astounding. The conference will hear from Dr. Satya Panigrahi from the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering. Panigrahi is the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Chair in Agricultural Material Utilization and Bioprocess Engineering. His remarks will focus on green technology for polymer industries, with specific focus on applications for flax fibre.
Another speaker in that vein is Andrew Guo of the Kansas Polymer Research Centre, who will showcase developments in the use of seed oil to replace petroleum as feedstock for high performance plastic materials.
Ag-West Bio serves over 90 members, including corporations, associations and individuals representing natural health products and functional foods, bio-products, bio-processes and agricultural biotechnology. Its mission, supported by funding from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, is to expedite the commercialization of value-added products by linking knowledge and investment with science and enterprise in the development of products that satisfy market needs.
Those interested in learning more about the Bio-Logical Futures III conference can obtain further information at www.biologicalfutures.ca, or by calling (306) 975-1939.
For further information, contact:
Krista Dennis, Communications Director
Ag-West Bio Inc.
Phone: (306) 975-1939
Delegates from throughout North America and around the world will converge on Saskatoon on October 16 and 17 to discuss emerging technologies, commercial success stories, issues and opportunities in the bio-based economy.
The conference, entitled “Bio-Logical Futures III,” is being organized by Ag-West Bio Inc., the membership-based organization formed to lead and support the development of an economically viable life sciences cluster in Saskatchewan.
Registration has been strong, and well over 100 delegates from a wide variety of backgrounds are expected to attend, according to Ag-West Bio Communications Director Krista Dennis.
“We’ve held two Bio-Logical Futures conferences in the past, and when we didn’t hold one in 2005, we started getting calls about when the next one would be,” said Dennis.
“Now that we’ve built up the brand and image, people in the bio-economy are anticipating another great meeting.”
The conference will feature 28 national and international experts in areas such as bio-energy, bio-materials, bio-lubricants, bio-based chemicals and co-products.
“The current focus on biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, is a real highlight of this year’s presentations,” stated Dennis.
One of the most eagerly anticipated speakers on this front is Don O’Connor, the president of 2 Consultants Inc. and a mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience in alternative energy development. He will share his unique experiences with the production of ethanol from biomass, as well his knowledge of the fuel industry at both the production and retail levels. O’Connor will take the podium with local speakers like Lionel LaBelle, president of the Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council.
While many of the conference participants are directly involved in researching or manufacturing bio-products, Dennis says the session is also an excellent opportunity for producers and potential investors in the bio-economy.
“Producers can learn a great deal about the opportunities and the new technologies that create new markets for their crops,” Dennis noted. “Venture capital companies have the chance to meet and talk with entrepreneurs who are still in the start-up phase of their new companies and who are looking for financing.”
The range of new applications for crops is astounding. The conference will hear from Dr. Satya Panigrahi from the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering. Panigrahi is the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Chair in Agricultural Material Utilization and Bioprocess Engineering. His remarks will focus on green technology for polymer industries, with specific focus on applications for flax fibre.
Another speaker in that vein is Andrew Guo of the Kansas Polymer Research Centre, who will showcase developments in the use of seed oil to replace petroleum as feedstock for high performance plastic materials.
Ag-West Bio serves over 90 members, including corporations, associations and individuals representing natural health products and functional foods, bio-products, bio-processes and agricultural biotechnology. Its mission, supported by funding from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, is to expedite the commercialization of value-added products by linking knowledge and investment with science and enterprise in the development of products that satisfy market needs.
Those interested in learning more about the Bio-Logical Futures III conference can obtain further information at www.biologicalfutures.ca, or by calling (306) 975-1939.
For further information, contact:
Krista Dennis, Communications Director
Ag-West Bio Inc.
Phone: (306) 975-1939
Monday, October 02, 2006
New winter cereals commission provides a voice to farmers
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Saskatchewan’s new Winter Cereals Development Commission provides an instrument to develop new market opportunities, research, technologies and products for winter cereal grain producers. “This way, the producer has the power over how their money is spent,” said Rod Fedoruk, interim chairperson of the new commission. “We are investing in our own industry to catalyze more support and investment by governments and researchers in winter cereals.”
The Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission was announced by Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman on August 23. He described its work as “an effort to increase the profitability of producers through the development of improved agronomic practices, new varieties and new market opportunities.”
Funding for the commission will come from a mandatory but refundable producer check-off of 50 cents per net tonne of winter wheat, fall rye and winter triticale. The check-off, to begin on October 1, will be deducted by buyers at the first point of sale and is expected to generate approximately $131,000 per year in revenue. The 2006 fiscal year funding is expected to be less, as most stocks of winter cereals have already been sold.
There are approximately 2,200 winter cereals producers in Saskatchewan with an estimated acreage of 500,000 acres per year, the majority of which are planted to winter wheat. The crop is estimated to be generating about $75 million per year in revenue to Saskatchewan producers.
Fedoruk is a seed grower in the Kamsack area. He is also a board member of Winter Cereals Canada Inc., the company founded by producers across the West to promote winter cereal grain production and consumer uptake. The company’s CEO, Jake Davidson, said the Saskatchewan move to establish a commission is a big step forward for the industry.
“We also expect Manitoba to set up a winter cereals commission shortly. Then we will be able to co-ordinate their efforts through Winter Cereals Canada,” he stated. According to Davidson, the money collected from producers from the winter cereals check-off will mainly be used to invest in further research on new varieties.
Demand for winter wheat is actually outstripping supply in the world market. “The Canadian Wheat Board says they can sell every bit of winter wheat we can produce,” Fedoruk said.
Winter wheat is not only a high-yield crop, returning up to 70 bushels per acre, but an important form of soil conservation and also a habitat for wildfowl. Ducks Unlimited is an important player in working with producers to expand winter cereals production.
The upcoming season is expected to show the highest acreage ever seeded to winter wheat in Saskatchewan, due to the early harvest of spring grains providing more opportunity for fall seeding.
For more information, contact:
Rod Fedoruk, Interim Chairperson
Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Commission
Phone: (306) 542-4235
Jake Davidson, CEO
Winter Cereals Canada Inc.
Phone: (204) 874-2257
Saskatchewan’s new Winter Cereals Development Commission provides an instrument to develop new market opportunities, research, technologies and products for winter cereal grain producers. “This way, the producer has the power over how their money is spent,” said Rod Fedoruk, interim chairperson of the new commission. “We are investing in our own industry to catalyze more support and investment by governments and researchers in winter cereals.”
The Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission was announced by Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman on August 23. He described its work as “an effort to increase the profitability of producers through the development of improved agronomic practices, new varieties and new market opportunities.”
Funding for the commission will come from a mandatory but refundable producer check-off of 50 cents per net tonne of winter wheat, fall rye and winter triticale. The check-off, to begin on October 1, will be deducted by buyers at the first point of sale and is expected to generate approximately $131,000 per year in revenue. The 2006 fiscal year funding is expected to be less, as most stocks of winter cereals have already been sold.
There are approximately 2,200 winter cereals producers in Saskatchewan with an estimated acreage of 500,000 acres per year, the majority of which are planted to winter wheat. The crop is estimated to be generating about $75 million per year in revenue to Saskatchewan producers.
Fedoruk is a seed grower in the Kamsack area. He is also a board member of Winter Cereals Canada Inc., the company founded by producers across the West to promote winter cereal grain production and consumer uptake. The company’s CEO, Jake Davidson, said the Saskatchewan move to establish a commission is a big step forward for the industry.
“We also expect Manitoba to set up a winter cereals commission shortly. Then we will be able to co-ordinate their efforts through Winter Cereals Canada,” he stated. According to Davidson, the money collected from producers from the winter cereals check-off will mainly be used to invest in further research on new varieties.
Demand for winter wheat is actually outstripping supply in the world market. “The Canadian Wheat Board says they can sell every bit of winter wheat we can produce,” Fedoruk said.
Winter wheat is not only a high-yield crop, returning up to 70 bushels per acre, but an important form of soil conservation and also a habitat for wildfowl. Ducks Unlimited is an important player in working with producers to expand winter cereals production.
The upcoming season is expected to show the highest acreage ever seeded to winter wheat in Saskatchewan, due to the early harvest of spring grains providing more opportunity for fall seeding.
For more information, contact:
Rod Fedoruk, Interim Chairperson
Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Commission
Phone: (306) 542-4235
Jake Davidson, CEO
Winter Cereals Canada Inc.
Phone: (204) 874-2257
CWB looking to recognize "Master Growers"
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Everybody knows Canadian prairie farmers grow the best grain in the world. This year, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) will once again be recognizing the “best of the best” through its 2006-07 Master Grower awards program.
CWB agronomist Mike Grenier explained what the awards are all about. “The Master Grower program is our way of recognizing the achievements of Canada’s prairie grain farmers,” he said. “It rewards top producers and allows their knowledge to be shared with the rest of the Western Canadian grain industry.”
Here’s how the program works: farmers submit a grain sample from this year’s harvest to the CWB. Samples are inspected by both CWB and quality experts, and judged on visual quality, end-use market suitability and crop management practices. The producers whose entries achieve the highest overall scores in these three categories are designated as Master Growers. They receive a special leather and melton wool jacket, a recognition plaque and an invitation to attend a unique Canadian International Grains Institute course as part of their award.
But Grenier noted there’s more to the honour than that. “There’s a lot of pride in being named a Master Grower. You can see it on the faces of the award recipients each year,” he said.
“These producers are really part of an exclusive club of the most successful farmers. As a result, the CWB also attempts to share the crop management techniques and practices of these growers with other producers in the industry.”
For the 2006-07 crop year (beginning August 1, 2006 and ending July 31, 2007), Master Grower awards will be handed out for four classes of cereal grains: malting barley, select red winter wheat, hard white spring wheat and durum.
Farmers can obtain entry forms and envelopes to send in their samples from their local CWB farm business representative, from elevator companies or by phoning 1-800-275-4292. More information on the Master Grower program can also be found on the CWB website at www.cwb.ca, under the “Growing Grain” heading.
The 2006-07 CWB Master Growers will be announced at the GrainWorld outlook conference in Winnipeg in February 2007.
Grenier said Saskatchewan producers have traditionally done very well in these awards, noting that four of the 10 Master Growers named last year were from the province.
Controlled by Western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based company sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to prairie farmers.
For further information, contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry, Manager of Media Relations
Canadian Wheat Board
Phone: (204) 983-3101
Website: www.cwb.ca
Everybody knows Canadian prairie farmers grow the best grain in the world. This year, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) will once again be recognizing the “best of the best” through its 2006-07 Master Grower awards program.
CWB agronomist Mike Grenier explained what the awards are all about. “The Master Grower program is our way of recognizing the achievements of Canada’s prairie grain farmers,” he said. “It rewards top producers and allows their knowledge to be shared with the rest of the Western Canadian grain industry.”
Here’s how the program works: farmers submit a grain sample from this year’s harvest to the CWB. Samples are inspected by both CWB and quality experts, and judged on visual quality, end-use market suitability and crop management practices. The producers whose entries achieve the highest overall scores in these three categories are designated as Master Growers. They receive a special leather and melton wool jacket, a recognition plaque and an invitation to attend a unique Canadian International Grains Institute course as part of their award.
But Grenier noted there’s more to the honour than that. “There’s a lot of pride in being named a Master Grower. You can see it on the faces of the award recipients each year,” he said.
“These producers are really part of an exclusive club of the most successful farmers. As a result, the CWB also attempts to share the crop management techniques and practices of these growers with other producers in the industry.”
For the 2006-07 crop year (beginning August 1, 2006 and ending July 31, 2007), Master Grower awards will be handed out for four classes of cereal grains: malting barley, select red winter wheat, hard white spring wheat and durum.
Farmers can obtain entry forms and envelopes to send in their samples from their local CWB farm business representative, from elevator companies or by phoning 1-800-275-4292. More information on the Master Grower program can also be found on the CWB website at www.cwb.ca, under the “Growing Grain” heading.
The 2006-07 CWB Master Growers will be announced at the GrainWorld outlook conference in Winnipeg in February 2007.
Grenier said Saskatchewan producers have traditionally done very well in these awards, noting that four of the 10 Master Growers named last year were from the province.
Controlled by Western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada’s biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based company sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to prairie farmers.
For further information, contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry, Manager of Media Relations
Canadian Wheat Board
Phone: (204) 983-3101
Website: www.cwb.ca
Ethanol planning symposium for southwest
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
The first-ever Saskatchewan Ethanol Symposium is planned for October 12 in Shaunavon.
The symposium includes a tradeshow highlighting initiatives in the region, as well as the various stakeholders in the developing ethanol industry. It is a full-day event, with a barbeque lunch and a banquet supper.
The conference, entitled “Ethanol: A New Future for the Southwest Producer,” stemmed from a recent alliance between Cypress Agri-Energy Inc. (CAE) of Shaunavon and the Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition. CAE is a proposed 90 million litre per year ethanol plant. Action Southwest is a strategic economic alliance of business, government, education and community leaders focused on building a unified regional economy in southwestern Saskatchewan.
The two organizations hope to bring more awareness to producers and stakeholders in the area about the potential for ethanol in the southwest.
CAE has been working with the Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council (SEDC), the provincial government and other ethanol project developers to urge the federal government to provide financial support for ethanol in Saskatchewan. Lionel Labelle, president of the SEDC, will be the master of ceremonies for the event, as well as a keynote speaker. Clay Serby, Deputy Premier and Minister of Regional Economic and Co-operative Development, is also a featured speaker.
The symposium will bring in ethanol experts from across Canada and the United States. Presenters include Judie Dyck of the Biodiesel Development Task Force, Michael Allen of the Ethanol Producers and Consumers board, Larry Johnson, a renowned expert on the ethanol industry, Kory Teneycke of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, and Mike Bryan of BBI International.
“Our group sees the impact the ethanol industry has had in the U.S., with estimations as high as $150 million a year for certain regions,” says Sandra Blyth, Project Manager with Action Southwest.
“The economic impact of this plant could literally transform our economy by creating demand for local goods and services, stimulating additional local investment, generating tax revenues locally and provincially, invigorating local grain markets and adding value to our products and services.”
The symposium is open to anyone interested in learning about the economic impact of ethanol development. Tickets are limited, so book early to ensure your seat. Tickets can be arranged through Karri Sachkowski of Cypress Agri-Energy at (306) 297-3313.
For further information, contact:
Shawn Hermanson, P.Ag., Agri-business Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 778-8216
E-mail: shermanson@agr.gov.sk.ca
Cypress Agri-Energy Inc.
Website: www.cypressagrienergy.com
Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition
Website: www.actionsouthwest.com
The first-ever Saskatchewan Ethanol Symposium is planned for October 12 in Shaunavon.
The symposium includes a tradeshow highlighting initiatives in the region, as well as the various stakeholders in the developing ethanol industry. It is a full-day event, with a barbeque lunch and a banquet supper.
The conference, entitled “Ethanol: A New Future for the Southwest Producer,” stemmed from a recent alliance between Cypress Agri-Energy Inc. (CAE) of Shaunavon and the Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition. CAE is a proposed 90 million litre per year ethanol plant. Action Southwest is a strategic economic alliance of business, government, education and community leaders focused on building a unified regional economy in southwestern Saskatchewan.
The two organizations hope to bring more awareness to producers and stakeholders in the area about the potential for ethanol in the southwest.
CAE has been working with the Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council (SEDC), the provincial government and other ethanol project developers to urge the federal government to provide financial support for ethanol in Saskatchewan. Lionel Labelle, president of the SEDC, will be the master of ceremonies for the event, as well as a keynote speaker. Clay Serby, Deputy Premier and Minister of Regional Economic and Co-operative Development, is also a featured speaker.
The symposium will bring in ethanol experts from across Canada and the United States. Presenters include Judie Dyck of the Biodiesel Development Task Force, Michael Allen of the Ethanol Producers and Consumers board, Larry Johnson, a renowned expert on the ethanol industry, Kory Teneycke of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, and Mike Bryan of BBI International.
“Our group sees the impact the ethanol industry has had in the U.S., with estimations as high as $150 million a year for certain regions,” says Sandra Blyth, Project Manager with Action Southwest.
“The economic impact of this plant could literally transform our economy by creating demand for local goods and services, stimulating additional local investment, generating tax revenues locally and provincially, invigorating local grain markets and adding value to our products and services.”
The symposium is open to anyone interested in learning about the economic impact of ethanol development. Tickets are limited, so book early to ensure your seat. Tickets can be arranged through Karri Sachkowski of Cypress Agri-Energy at (306) 297-3313.
For further information, contact:
Shawn Hermanson, P.Ag., Agri-business Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 778-8216
E-mail: shermanson@agr.gov.sk.ca
Cypress Agri-Energy Inc.
Website: www.cypressagrienergy.com
Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition
Website: www.actionsouthwest.com
Pasture Management Key for Cattle Industry
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
With the total cattle herd in Saskatchewan somewhere in the range of 3.45 million animals, proper pasture management is always an important aspect of the province’s agricultural sector.
This year is no exception. With drier conditions in some parts of the province, community pasture managers are keeping a close eye on the state of their rangeland and putting their expertise to work.
Blake Kohls is the Southern Regional Manager for the Saskatchewan Pastures Program with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. He is responsible for over 400,000 acres of rangeland and the 36,000 head of cattle that use the community pastures in his area.
Kohls stated that lower moisture conditions can quickly limit plant growth and reduce forage yields. It can also limit root growth, making plants less capable of reaching what little moisture is in the ground. Kohls said native grasses are less susceptible to these problems, and the nutritional value will remain high right into the fall, but tame grass will see a drop-off in quality.
“The food value really starts to deteriorate in some of the tame grass later in the year, and especially in a dry season. So in those cases, you have to watch the condition of the cattle closely,” he noted.
Reduced forage yield can have a significant impact on cattle health, from reduced weight gain to more open cows and late conception.
As a result, proper pasture management is essential to the well-being of the industry.
Kohls indicated there are a number of rangeland management techniques that might be applied to pastures facing lower moisture levels, including reducing animal numbers to balance livestock needs with forage supply, and grazing management practices such as herding or fencing out stock water sources.
In some southwestern community pastures, for example, Kohls noted that they are looking at sending some cattle home 10 days to two weeks earlier than would normally be anticipated.
“It’s a matter of the range conditions,” he said. “The range conditions are going to be such that we’re going to want to have enough carryover for the 2007 season, and in doing so, we just don’t have the plant matter there this year to extend our grazing season well into the middle of October, as we might in other years.”
More information on the Saskatchewan Pastures Program can be found on the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca, under Crown Lands/Pasture.
For more information contact:
Blake Kohls, Regional Manager – Southern Region, Saskatchewan Pastures Program
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 778-8206
E-mail: bkohls@agr.gov.sk.ca
With the total cattle herd in Saskatchewan somewhere in the range of 3.45 million animals, proper pasture management is always an important aspect of the province’s agricultural sector.
This year is no exception. With drier conditions in some parts of the province, community pasture managers are keeping a close eye on the state of their rangeland and putting their expertise to work.
Blake Kohls is the Southern Regional Manager for the Saskatchewan Pastures Program with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. He is responsible for over 400,000 acres of rangeland and the 36,000 head of cattle that use the community pastures in his area.
Kohls stated that lower moisture conditions can quickly limit plant growth and reduce forage yields. It can also limit root growth, making plants less capable of reaching what little moisture is in the ground. Kohls said native grasses are less susceptible to these problems, and the nutritional value will remain high right into the fall, but tame grass will see a drop-off in quality.
“The food value really starts to deteriorate in some of the tame grass later in the year, and especially in a dry season. So in those cases, you have to watch the condition of the cattle closely,” he noted.
Reduced forage yield can have a significant impact on cattle health, from reduced weight gain to more open cows and late conception.
As a result, proper pasture management is essential to the well-being of the industry.
Kohls indicated there are a number of rangeland management techniques that might be applied to pastures facing lower moisture levels, including reducing animal numbers to balance livestock needs with forage supply, and grazing management practices such as herding or fencing out stock water sources.
In some southwestern community pastures, for example, Kohls noted that they are looking at sending some cattle home 10 days to two weeks earlier than would normally be anticipated.
“It’s a matter of the range conditions,” he said. “The range conditions are going to be such that we’re going to want to have enough carryover for the 2007 season, and in doing so, we just don’t have the plant matter there this year to extend our grazing season well into the middle of October, as we might in other years.”
More information on the Saskatchewan Pastures Program can be found on the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca, under Crown Lands/Pasture.
For more information contact:
Blake Kohls, Regional Manager – Southern Region, Saskatchewan Pastures Program
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 778-8206
E-mail: bkohls@agr.gov.sk.ca
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
University of Saskatchewan offers new agribusiness degree
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
For the first time in the fall 2006 semester, the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Agricultural Economics is offering students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness.
The course of study will allow students to develop the key business management, analytical and economics skills necessary to become the agri-food business managers of the future.
According to the department’s course calendar, the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness degree program is made up of a combination of science, economics, agricultural economics and business courses. Graduates will understand the structure and organization of the agri-food sector, and will learn business skills with particular application to the value chain.
Agricultural Economics department head Jill Hobbs said the impetus for the new degree program came from “a recognition that a lot of students are interested in these areas, but did not have sufficient access to the courses they needed.”
She used the example of students headed into the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Commerce, whose real ambition might be to work in the agri-food sector. “This program provides a blend of core economics along with marketing and research skills in the sector,” she said.
As is the case with most undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness requires students to take a blend of credits in humanities, fine arts, social sciences and natural sciences during the first two years of their program. In the third and fourth years, the curriculum emphasizes credits in agriculture studies, economics, mathematics, statistics and commerce.
Hobbs said that, to her knowledge, only the University of Guelph in Ontario offers a similar degree program. “We hope to see not only students from across Saskatchewan, but also Alberta, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario,” she stated.
Hobbs indicated that the course of study was partly developed on the basis of surveys of potential employers in the agribusiness sector in Western Canada. “That gave us a sense of what skills they were looking for,” she said. “Students with this degree will be equipped to work through the agricultural value chain at companies involved in feed, supply, chemicals and food processing.”
She also noted that there will be a strong focus on entrepreneurship in the student experience, to encourage graduates to create their own companies in the growing agribusiness field. It is for that reason that students will study areas such as on-farm business models, processing economics, transportation, credit management and marketing.
Hobbs said that everyone at the Department of Agricultural Economics is excited by this new initiative. Targeted enrolment for the first semester of the new Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness is 50 students, with the first graduates expected to receive their degrees at the university’s spring convocation in 2010.
For more information, contact:
Jill Hobbs, Department Head, Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2445
For the first time in the fall 2006 semester, the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Agricultural Economics is offering students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness.
The course of study will allow students to develop the key business management, analytical and economics skills necessary to become the agri-food business managers of the future.
According to the department’s course calendar, the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness degree program is made up of a combination of science, economics, agricultural economics and business courses. Graduates will understand the structure and organization of the agri-food sector, and will learn business skills with particular application to the value chain.
Agricultural Economics department head Jill Hobbs said the impetus for the new degree program came from “a recognition that a lot of students are interested in these areas, but did not have sufficient access to the courses they needed.”
She used the example of students headed into the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Commerce, whose real ambition might be to work in the agri-food sector. “This program provides a blend of core economics along with marketing and research skills in the sector,” she said.
As is the case with most undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness requires students to take a blend of credits in humanities, fine arts, social sciences and natural sciences during the first two years of their program. In the third and fourth years, the curriculum emphasizes credits in agriculture studies, economics, mathematics, statistics and commerce.
Hobbs said that, to her knowledge, only the University of Guelph in Ontario offers a similar degree program. “We hope to see not only students from across Saskatchewan, but also Alberta, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario,” she stated.
Hobbs indicated that the course of study was partly developed on the basis of surveys of potential employers in the agribusiness sector in Western Canada. “That gave us a sense of what skills they were looking for,” she said. “Students with this degree will be equipped to work through the agricultural value chain at companies involved in feed, supply, chemicals and food processing.”
She also noted that there will be a strong focus on entrepreneurship in the student experience, to encourage graduates to create their own companies in the growing agribusiness field. It is for that reason that students will study areas such as on-farm business models, processing economics, transportation, credit management and marketing.
Hobbs said that everyone at the Department of Agricultural Economics is excited by this new initiative. Targeted enrolment for the first semester of the new Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness is 50 students, with the first graduates expected to receive their degrees at the university’s spring convocation in 2010.
For more information, contact:
Jill Hobbs, Department Head, Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2445
Royal Red another crowning achievement
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
The 2006 edition of the Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show, otherwise known as the “Royal Red,” is now in the books. By all accounts, this year’s event, held August 21-26 in Regina, was another smashing success.
“We attracted approximately 1,000 of the finest horses in North America, along with several thousand exhibitors; and we had fantastic fan support, the best I’ve ever seen,” said Bill Hutchinson, Chair of the Royal Red Host Committee.
But with the 2006 show now successfully behind them, the event’s organizers will be busy preparing a bid to secure a new multi-year contract for the city to host the show into the future.
Hutchinson noted that the current contract with the Arabian Horse Association (AHA), the organization that oversees the competitions and shows, is coming to an end.
“The current contract is for five years, and (the AHA) had two option years. They have exercised that option to pick up those final two years. That will take us through 2007 and 2008,” he said.
“The next major milestone in our relationship with the AHA is to try to secure a new multi-year contract to retain the show in Regina. And we expect that we will likely have to prepare a bid and make our presentation over the course of the coming winter.”
Hutchinson feels the ongoing success of the Royal Red will help the city make a good impression on the decision-makers.
“One of the main advantages that Regina has is our central location on the continent. Another advantage we have is one of Canada’s largest agricultural facilities. And, something that the Arabian Horse Association appreciates very much, is the dedication and the professionalism of the staff at Ipsco Place,” he said.
“So we have a variety of pluses to offer them, in addition to the activities that are carried out by our great volunteer army and the Royal Red Host Committee.”
Hutchinson added that the friendliness and hospitality of Saskatchewan people is also a tremendous asset to event organizers.
“There are two kinds of support [participants] really appreciate. They really appreciate the fan support – the fact that people care enough about the show and love the horses enough to come and participate is very much appreciated and noticed by our competitors,” he said.
“The other kind of support that they really comment upon is the support in the public. Everybody in this community knows that the Royal Red is in town, everybody knows that there are people from all over North America coming to compete in this show, and they readily offer their support and hospitality. If people need assistance finding their way, figuring out where to eat or shop – all sorts of very kind, friendly, neighbourly advice is offered to our guests. They notice this very much, and it’s one of our strongest selling points as a host city.”
Hutchinson stated that an ambitious plan for the renewal of facilities at Ipsco Place will also be an important part of their pitch. “The AHA is always very conscious of the state of the facilities where it puts on its shows. When you’re bringing in animals of this quality and this value, it simply has to be a major factor in your decision-making.”
Hutchinson pointed out that the Royal Red is truly one of the continent’s premier equine events. “It is the largest show of its kind in Canada, and one of the top [horse] shows in North America,” he said.
“Because of its international prestige, the show attracts participants from all over Canada and the U.S. We’ve seen people from as far away as Alaska, California and Florida, and the maritime provinces.”
But according to Hutchinson, some of the best competitors come from right here in the province. “We always have fabulous competition from Saskatchewan horse owners. They’re right up there with the best.”
Hutchinson also noted the tremendous economic contribution the Royal Red makes to Regina and Saskatchewan each year, estimated to be around $10 million. In addition, spectators from all over the province get treated to an amazing, one-of-a-kind experience, he said.
“There are some really terrific benefits for Regina and all of Saskatchewan from hosting this event,” Hutchinson stated. “We should feel very honoured to host it, but also very proud of the tremendous show we put on year after year.”
For further information, contact:
Bill Hutchinson, Chair
Royal Red Host Committee
Phone: (306) 584-1739 or (306) 781-6400
The 2006 edition of the Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show, otherwise known as the “Royal Red,” is now in the books. By all accounts, this year’s event, held August 21-26 in Regina, was another smashing success.
“We attracted approximately 1,000 of the finest horses in North America, along with several thousand exhibitors; and we had fantastic fan support, the best I’ve ever seen,” said Bill Hutchinson, Chair of the Royal Red Host Committee.
But with the 2006 show now successfully behind them, the event’s organizers will be busy preparing a bid to secure a new multi-year contract for the city to host the show into the future.
Hutchinson noted that the current contract with the Arabian Horse Association (AHA), the organization that oversees the competitions and shows, is coming to an end.
“The current contract is for five years, and (the AHA) had two option years. They have exercised that option to pick up those final two years. That will take us through 2007 and 2008,” he said.
“The next major milestone in our relationship with the AHA is to try to secure a new multi-year contract to retain the show in Regina. And we expect that we will likely have to prepare a bid and make our presentation over the course of the coming winter.”
Hutchinson feels the ongoing success of the Royal Red will help the city make a good impression on the decision-makers.
“One of the main advantages that Regina has is our central location on the continent. Another advantage we have is one of Canada’s largest agricultural facilities. And, something that the Arabian Horse Association appreciates very much, is the dedication and the professionalism of the staff at Ipsco Place,” he said.
“So we have a variety of pluses to offer them, in addition to the activities that are carried out by our great volunteer army and the Royal Red Host Committee.”
Hutchinson added that the friendliness and hospitality of Saskatchewan people is also a tremendous asset to event organizers.
“There are two kinds of support [participants] really appreciate. They really appreciate the fan support – the fact that people care enough about the show and love the horses enough to come and participate is very much appreciated and noticed by our competitors,” he said.
“The other kind of support that they really comment upon is the support in the public. Everybody in this community knows that the Royal Red is in town, everybody knows that there are people from all over North America coming to compete in this show, and they readily offer their support and hospitality. If people need assistance finding their way, figuring out where to eat or shop – all sorts of very kind, friendly, neighbourly advice is offered to our guests. They notice this very much, and it’s one of our strongest selling points as a host city.”
Hutchinson stated that an ambitious plan for the renewal of facilities at Ipsco Place will also be an important part of their pitch. “The AHA is always very conscious of the state of the facilities where it puts on its shows. When you’re bringing in animals of this quality and this value, it simply has to be a major factor in your decision-making.”
Hutchinson pointed out that the Royal Red is truly one of the continent’s premier equine events. “It is the largest show of its kind in Canada, and one of the top [horse] shows in North America,” he said.
“Because of its international prestige, the show attracts participants from all over Canada and the U.S. We’ve seen people from as far away as Alaska, California and Florida, and the maritime provinces.”
But according to Hutchinson, some of the best competitors come from right here in the province. “We always have fabulous competition from Saskatchewan horse owners. They’re right up there with the best.”
Hutchinson also noted the tremendous economic contribution the Royal Red makes to Regina and Saskatchewan each year, estimated to be around $10 million. In addition, spectators from all over the province get treated to an amazing, one-of-a-kind experience, he said.
“There are some really terrific benefits for Regina and all of Saskatchewan from hosting this event,” Hutchinson stated. “We should feel very honoured to host it, but also very proud of the tremendous show we put on year after year.”
For further information, contact:
Bill Hutchinson, Chair
Royal Red Host Committee
Phone: (306) 584-1739 or (306) 781-6400
Silvopasture research revealing surprising benefits
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
We’ve all heard of a win-win situation, but an old practice that is new to Saskatchewan has the potential to be a win-win-win-win for the province.
Initial research data is expected soon from two silvopasture pilot projects at Foam Lake and Pleasantdale.
Simply put, silvopasture is the practice of growing trees in a pasture. It sounds straight-forward, but research is required to determine the practice’s potential in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Forest Centre is providing funding for the project, and has worked with the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) and the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) on the initiative.
The initial attraction to the practice of silvopasture was the ability to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere while producing forest products. The downside was presumed to be a reduction in the forage crop on a pasture due to the competition from the trees.
Phil Leduc, Senior Manager, Research and Development, with PAMI said the pilot projects are about determining the potential benefits of the silvopasture practice, which include carbon sequestration, wood production (for either pulp and paper or lumber) and improved grass and livestock production.
Leduc said there is still a vast amount of research that needs to be done to determine the advantages and the best practices, but the potential exists for four distinct benefits: to reduce greenhouse gases, to create a wood product, to improve forage quality and to improve livestock production as a result of the improved forage.
Initial results from the Pleasantdale and Foam Lake projects are expected this year. At present, the data being collected is more focused on the trees than the forage. The trees are still young, and it will take a number of years before they will affect the forage.
“At this point, we’re just getting started to look at the issue,” said Leduc. “I think there’s going to be research done for quite a number of years to really examine this, because it has never been looked at. We’ve never really looked at what trees might grow well and won’t be damaged by livestock, and we haven’t really looked at whether there is significant benefit to having trees in a pasture – until now.”
For more information, contact:
Phil Leduc, P. Eng., Senior Manager – Research and Development
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute
Phone: (306) 682-5033
Fax: (306) 682-5080
Website: www.pami.ca
We’ve all heard of a win-win situation, but an old practice that is new to Saskatchewan has the potential to be a win-win-win-win for the province.
Initial research data is expected soon from two silvopasture pilot projects at Foam Lake and Pleasantdale.
Simply put, silvopasture is the practice of growing trees in a pasture. It sounds straight-forward, but research is required to determine the practice’s potential in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Forest Centre is providing funding for the project, and has worked with the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) and the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) on the initiative.
The initial attraction to the practice of silvopasture was the ability to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere while producing forest products. The downside was presumed to be a reduction in the forage crop on a pasture due to the competition from the trees.
Phil Leduc, Senior Manager, Research and Development, with PAMI said the pilot projects are about determining the potential benefits of the silvopasture practice, which include carbon sequestration, wood production (for either pulp and paper or lumber) and improved grass and livestock production.
Leduc said there is still a vast amount of research that needs to be done to determine the advantages and the best practices, but the potential exists for four distinct benefits: to reduce greenhouse gases, to create a wood product, to improve forage quality and to improve livestock production as a result of the improved forage.
Initial results from the Pleasantdale and Foam Lake projects are expected this year. At present, the data being collected is more focused on the trees than the forage. The trees are still young, and it will take a number of years before they will affect the forage.
“At this point, we’re just getting started to look at the issue,” said Leduc. “I think there’s going to be research done for quite a number of years to really examine this, because it has never been looked at. We’ve never really looked at what trees might grow well and won’t be damaged by livestock, and we haven’t really looked at whether there is significant benefit to having trees in a pasture – until now.”
For more information, contact:
Phil Leduc, P. Eng., Senior Manager – Research and Development
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute
Phone: (306) 682-5033
Fax: (306) 682-5080
Website: www.pami.ca
Value chains a good way to diversify agriculture
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
It’s all about building partnerships to strengthen Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry.
That’s the concept behind value chains, which promote multiple stakeholders in a supply chain working together to diversify a specific area of the agricultural sector.
Value chains can include any mix of producers, processors, distributors, brokers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers collaborating to meet a specific market need. The groups generally agree to co-operate in order to help build competitive advantage, identify marketing opportunities and improve industry response to market demand.
Here’s an example of how the process might work: a group of lentil producers might work with a processor and a retailer to develop a new lentil soup for the marketplace.
The retailer could help the producers work with the processor on packaging, and provide information on retail pricing requirements.
The producers would secure a long-term contract with the marketer for a specific quality and grade, and the processor would be guaranteed a supply of ingredients for the length of the contract.
The retailer might provide feedback to the processor and producers regarding sales, inventory and consumer comments, which could then be used to improve the product.
According to Gary Coghill, the Value Chain Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF), encouraging this sort of teamwork has loads of potential to bolster the Saskatchewan value-added agricultural industry.
“The value chain concept could really apply to any food product idea, and even beyond, to things like manufacturing animal feed or using agricultural products for energy or biofuel development,” said Coghill. “The scope for co-operation is unlimited.”
The seemingly endless economic development and diversification opportunities prompted SAF to establish the Value Chain Program, which offers financial support and technical expertise to parties interested in forming value chains.
Funding is available on a 50-50 cost-sharing basis to approved applicants. It can be accessed in two phases. Up to $30,000 can be tapped to build awareness, develop the value chain concept and conduct training events, while an additional $70,000 can be accessed for the actual value chain implementation and related initiatives.
Coghill stated that the program has provided funding to around 10 value chain projects since it first began accepting applications in June of 2005. So far, most of the initiatives have centred around meat or grain and oilseed products, but “almost everything can potentially fit under this,” he noted.
Value chains can be started by groups in the supply chain simply wanting to get together to develop ideas, but more commonly seem to be spurred by an actual market demand that’s already out there waiting to be met, according to Coghill.
“It’s often driven by the consumer,” he noted. “The uniqueness of a product in demand drives the retailer to seek a supplier, who might then seek out a processor to provide the product, who might then approach a group of producers to supply the commodity to be processed.”
He added, “They end up working together to generate added value for everybody in the supply chain. All the partners see some benefit.”
Coghill stated that a series of workshops has been organized by SAF and the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD) for anyone interested in learning more about value chains.
The next ones are taking place in Saskatoon on October 24 and 25. They constitute modules four and five in the workshop series, discussing Marketing and Category Management related to value chain development.
However, Coghill stressed that anyone can attend these workshops, even if they have not attended the previous sessions. “Even if people didn’t attend the first three workshops in the spring, there will be an opportunity to pick them up again at a later date. The order is not as important as being able to obtain the overall information,” he said.
More details on the workshops can be found on the SCCD website at www.sccd.sk.ca. Additional information on value chains or the Value Chain Program specifically can be obtained by calling Gary Coghill at (306) 787-8537, or visiting the SAF website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca (under Processing).
For more information, contact:
Gary Coghill, Value Chain Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-8537
Website: www.agr.gov.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development -- Website: www.sccd.sk.ca
It’s all about building partnerships to strengthen Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry.
That’s the concept behind value chains, which promote multiple stakeholders in a supply chain working together to diversify a specific area of the agricultural sector.
Value chains can include any mix of producers, processors, distributors, brokers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers collaborating to meet a specific market need. The groups generally agree to co-operate in order to help build competitive advantage, identify marketing opportunities and improve industry response to market demand.
Here’s an example of how the process might work: a group of lentil producers might work with a processor and a retailer to develop a new lentil soup for the marketplace.
The retailer could help the producers work with the processor on packaging, and provide information on retail pricing requirements.
The producers would secure a long-term contract with the marketer for a specific quality and grade, and the processor would be guaranteed a supply of ingredients for the length of the contract.
The retailer might provide feedback to the processor and producers regarding sales, inventory and consumer comments, which could then be used to improve the product.
According to Gary Coghill, the Value Chain Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF), encouraging this sort of teamwork has loads of potential to bolster the Saskatchewan value-added agricultural industry.
“The value chain concept could really apply to any food product idea, and even beyond, to things like manufacturing animal feed or using agricultural products for energy or biofuel development,” said Coghill. “The scope for co-operation is unlimited.”
The seemingly endless economic development and diversification opportunities prompted SAF to establish the Value Chain Program, which offers financial support and technical expertise to parties interested in forming value chains.
Funding is available on a 50-50 cost-sharing basis to approved applicants. It can be accessed in two phases. Up to $30,000 can be tapped to build awareness, develop the value chain concept and conduct training events, while an additional $70,000 can be accessed for the actual value chain implementation and related initiatives.
Coghill stated that the program has provided funding to around 10 value chain projects since it first began accepting applications in June of 2005. So far, most of the initiatives have centred around meat or grain and oilseed products, but “almost everything can potentially fit under this,” he noted.
Value chains can be started by groups in the supply chain simply wanting to get together to develop ideas, but more commonly seem to be spurred by an actual market demand that’s already out there waiting to be met, according to Coghill.
“It’s often driven by the consumer,” he noted. “The uniqueness of a product in demand drives the retailer to seek a supplier, who might then seek out a processor to provide the product, who might then approach a group of producers to supply the commodity to be processed.”
He added, “They end up working together to generate added value for everybody in the supply chain. All the partners see some benefit.”
Coghill stated that a series of workshops has been organized by SAF and the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD) for anyone interested in learning more about value chains.
The next ones are taking place in Saskatoon on October 24 and 25. They constitute modules four and five in the workshop series, discussing Marketing and Category Management related to value chain development.
However, Coghill stressed that anyone can attend these workshops, even if they have not attended the previous sessions. “Even if people didn’t attend the first three workshops in the spring, there will be an opportunity to pick them up again at a later date. The order is not as important as being able to obtain the overall information,” he said.
More details on the workshops can be found on the SCCD website at www.sccd.sk.ca. Additional information on value chains or the Value Chain Program specifically can be obtained by calling Gary Coghill at (306) 787-8537, or visiting the SAF website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca (under Processing).
For more information, contact:
Gary Coghill, Value Chain Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-8537
Website: www.agr.gov.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development -- Website: www.sccd.sk.ca
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