Serving the producers of the Northwest
FARMER North Battleford, Saskatchewan
RancheR
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Saskatchewan putting $15 million into agtech, seeking to leverage private equity By Brian Zinchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Estevan Mercury
On Aug. 13, the Province of Saskatchewan announced $15 million in funding for development of agricultural technology, or agtech. Through Innovation Saskatchewan, funds will be invested in a privately-managed fund targeted exclusively at agtech companies that require venture capital to develop past the startup phase and scale up their business operations and manufacturing. This investment will accelerate the province’s economic recovery from COVID-19 and build upon a record year for venture capital investment in Saskatchewan, the government said in a release. Deals worth $114 million were made in 2019, more than the previous five years combined, and most of those investments were made in Saskatchewan’s tech sector. Innovation Saskatchewan was planning to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) in the coming weeks to begin exploring fund options with the private sector. “Saskatchewan is rising to the challenge of feeding a growing world population and innovation
in agriculture technology plays an important role in meeting that growing demand,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said in a release. “This investment will ensure producers have made-in-Saskatchewan technology that supports their efforts to grow high-quality, sustainable food.” Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Tina Beaudry-Mellor said the intention is to combine the province’s investment with private equity to drive more agricultural investment. The idea is to provide something private equity fund managers can leverage into further investment. “The litmus test will be areas where we’ll have obviously high growth potential,” she said by phone on Aug. 13. “Mostly, I think it would be new concepts, but I think there’s also the opportunity to have that investment go in areas where there’s different models with new innovations attached to it that might be considered as well.” She said some of the major trends are precision seeding and spraying, including the use of various forms of drone technology. And when it comes to drones, think beyond ones that fly. Autonomous machinery is another possi-
The Province of Saskatchewan has announced $15 million in funding for development of agricultural technology.
bility – tractors and other equipment that drive themselves. “It’s an exploding area,” she said. Sensor technology, on machines and in-ground are other areas. Genomic research for climate-change resistant is another. Beaudry-Mellor pointed out that a few weeks earlier, the Province announced $1 million for the Agtech Growth Fund, meant as seed funding for developing ideas and coming up with prototypes and field testing. She said, “This fund is really for the companies like that to take their proof of concept, and to grow it and to scale it and, hopefully, get to the
point to be their merger and acquisition or an IPO and so this is the other side of that. “I think one of the things that we’ve learned through COVID is really the importance of the food supply chain, and also how really fragmented the whole agtech space is right now, which I think creates a really important opportunity for Saskatchewan, not just in terms of recovering our economy from COVID, but also number of our growth plan targets,” she said. NDP reaction NDP Agriculture Critic Yens Pedersen said in an emailed statement, “The NDP believes in the impor-
tance of research and innovation in the ag sector, and improving and building
on opportunities for value adding is important for our provincial economy. We also believe in prudent financial management of government finances. “Today’s announcement is fairly general, but it appears that this will benefit a limited number of people and companies. In contrast, the government has admitted that it would only cost the province $20 million to remove the reference margin limits from AgriStability, as many groups have called for. Removing the reference margin limits from AgriStability would have a broad impact and greatly improve the program at a time when producers are struggling after being hit with several adverse events over the past two years.”
Local Journalism Initiative reports from across Canada The federal government’s Local Journalism Initiative supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada. Funding has been made available to eligible Canadian media organizations to hire journalists or pay freelance journalists to produce civic journalism for underserved communities. The content produced is made available to media organizations through a Creative Commons license so that Canadians can be better informed. In this issue of Farmer Rancher, a sample of agricultural/COVID-19 stories from across Canada is offered up. See inside for more of these stories.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT TIMED ONLINE ONLY AUCTION
LAKE FRONT LOT TIMED ONLINE ONLY AUCTION
Excel Excavating Inc. Saskatoon, Sask
Ron & Pat Olson Barrier Ford on Barrier Lake
OPENS: Tuesday August 18th 2020
OPENS: Tuesday September 1st 2020
CLOSES: Tuesday August 25th 2020
CLOSES: Tuesday September 8th 2020
Ph: 306-873-5488
Box 2199, Tisdale, SK S0E 1T0 Email: bruce@sasktel.net • www.schapansky.com PL #314037
Page 10 - The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
Like Saskatchewan’s Hutterites, faith-based communities in Ontario impacted by COVID-19 By Max Martin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter London Free Press
A surge of COVID-19 cases among Southwestern Ontario’s Mennonite communities is prompting the region’s public health offices to work together to keep the virus from spreading in the enclaves of farm families who lead a faith-based lifestyle. From Huron-Perth to Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex, public health officials have reported a rise of positive cases among Low German-speaking Mennonite communities in recent weeks. Chatham-Kent’s top public health doctor said “almost all” of their cases are members of the Low German Mennonite community. “They are being severely impacted right now,” said Miriam Klassen, Huron Perth Public Health’s medical officer of health. “They are close-knit; we suspect that the cases are spreading person-to-person that way.” Many of the area’s health units are now collaborating, sharing resources and best practices
for working with the population. “Health units in Ontario are very accustomed to working together in this kind of situation,” Klassen said. Klassen said Low German Mennonites tend to have larger families, which can make self-isolating and physical distancing within the household difficult. Larger families may also find the financial burden of loss of work even greater, she added. The language barrier has also proved challenging, with the health unit working with translators and community leaders to aid in public health messaging and contact tracing. “This is an insular community that is difficult to sometimes get compliance,” said David Colby, medical officer of health for Chatham-Kent. The health unit is working with community and church leaders, and a local Low German radio station, to spread public health messages, Colby said. It also has developed specific materials for the community, encouraged testing and ordered isolation among close contacts. “It is a real challenge,”
Colby said. But there are many misconceptions about the way of life for Low German Mennonites. Southwestern Ontario is home to many diverse Mennonite communities – ranging from the horseand-buggy Old Colony to conservative to alternative – with varying degrees of theological conservatism and avoidance of modern technology. Low German-speaking Mennonites in Ontario, whether members of Old Order or Evangelical churches, do not use horses and buggies or live in village-like colonies. Often, they may wear traditional dress, but live in single-family homes and use cars and cellphones. There is no generalized resistance to health care among Low German Mennonites. Historically, Low German Mennonites migrated from Russia to Canada in the 1870s, before travelling to Mexico and Latin America in the 1920s. Since the 1950s, about 50,000 Mennonites born in Latin America but holding Canadian citizenship have returned to Canada, with the community concentrat-
Have a Safe and Successfull Harvest!
“The tendency . . . might be to search for a cultural or religious explanation, but I think that would be misguided” ing in areas such as Leamington and Aylmer. Ben Nobbs-Thiessen, a professor of Mennonite studies at the University of Winnipeg, said the main COVID-19 risk factors for Low German Mennonites relate to their primary occupations, such as agriculture and transportation. There have been multiple coronavirus outbreaks in Southwestern Ontario’s farm belt and greenhouses, where many Mennonites are employed, he said. Many also work in trucking, which would likely mean they’re crossing the Detroit-Windsor border for work, bringing them to another high-risk area. Though church services are an important part of their lifestyle, Mennonites wouldn’t be at any greater risk of spreading the virus there than other religious communities, he added. “The tendency . . . might be to search for a cultural or religious explanation,
but I think that would be misguided,” Nobbs-Thiessen said. “In my opinion, the rise in COVID cases in this community is much more indicative of the nature of agricultural labour in the region.” Outside Huron-Perth and Chatham-Kent, which have released more details about COVID-19 cases among Low German Mennonites in their areas, there’s a mixed bag of information from other area health units about novel coronavirus spread in Mennonite communities. Windsor-Essex County Health Unit officials declined an interview request Wednesday, saying they wouldn’t release the exact number of COVID-19 cases in the local Mennonite community out of respect for their privacy. Recently, however, the area’s medical health officer, Wajid Ahmed, confirmed to Postmedia that adults, small children and
older members of the Mennonite population had tested positive for the virus, with most cases in Leamington and others in Kingsville and Essex County. Southwestern Public Health, which covers Oxford and Elgin counties, would not divulge whether there were COVID-19 cases among area Mennonites. Abe Harms, executive director of Mennonite Community Services of Southern Ontario, said he is aware of Low German Mennonites in his area – including Aylmer and Malahide – who have COVID-19. In Aylmer, the De Brigj radio station broadcasts public health information in Low German with the help of the health unit. Harms said the Mennonite community’s response to the pandemic has been just like what you’d find elsewhere in the province. “I find it’s very similar to what you have in the community at large,” Harms said. “Some people are tired of it, some are complying because they are the rules, some comply because they see the risk, there are conspiracy theories; we have it all.” With files from Jane Sims, The London Free Press
Elliott Insurance Services Ltd • Commercial • Farm • Home • Auto • Hail • Recreational • Travel Covering Saskatchewan & Alberta
Call Corina for Pricing 306-445-4300 www.dgglobal.ca
We specialize in
Agro and
Oilfield Coverage
PIERCELAND RECREATION ASSOCIATION RAFFLE $50/Ticket
50 - Free standing 24ft panels Retail value $16,737.00 Draw to be made October 5th, 2020
Contact one of our brokers
Kelly, Katelyn or Pauline
Contact:
Wayne Rewega For Tickets
306-839-7886
E-Trans fer Availab le
PO Box 300, 112 Main Street Maidstone SK S0M 1M0 306-893-2461 Fax: 306-893-4222 eis@elliottinsurance.ca
OTHER SERVICES
• SGI MVD Issuer • Marriage Licenses • Notory Public • Commissioner
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020 - Page 11
• Soil Sampling Program Micheal Beausoleil is a Professional Agronomy Consultant in the North Battleford area. michaelbeausoleil@westernag.ca 306-441-6421
Optimizing yields and profits starts with a balanced fertility program. Western Ag gives you an accurate measure of what’s in your soil using Plant root Simulator (PRS) technology. Please contact us to learn more about how to book your fall soil sampling.
www.growmoreprofit.com 306-381-9242
• Crop Scouting Program Our Crop Scouting services provide clients with detailed data throughout the growing season (typically May-September) to assist with decision making. Our services include, but are not limited to: plant counts, flush weed assessments, chemical recommendations, efficacy assessments, timing for fungicide application, insect checks, frost and hail assessments disease incidence, timing for swath and harvest We have a team of 10 + Agronomists based out of Saskatoon, Unity & Prince Albert. Please contact us to learn more about our scouting packages.
www.northlandagronomy.com 306-381-9242
Page 12 - The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
Flooring SALE BATTLEFORDS
CENTRE
DOG DAY'S OF SUMMER SALE! $ 69 2 STONE COMPOSITE VINYL PLANK FLOORING KANGA BACK CARPET
2
$
as low as
29
SQ. FT.
OUTDOOR CARPET 6 colours to choose from
1
$ 29 SQ. FT.
start ing at
SHEET VINYL FLOORING as low as
99
¢
SQ. FT.
OUTDOOR TURF 3 colours to choose from
99
¢
SQ. FT.
SQ. FT.
LAMINATE FLOORING as low as
1.
$
69
SQ. FT.
DROP & GO VINYL PLANK 5 ML
2
$
79
SQ. FT.
DON’T PAY FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS or 0% INTEREST FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS Sale ends 5:00 p.m. August 31, 2020
We are your Insurance Specialists. We are ready to serve you on all your Insurance needs.
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Monday - Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
battlefordsflooring@sasktel.net Battlefords flooring centre www.battlefordsflooringcentre.ca
Page 2 - The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
Crown land sale above average, five rigs drilling and oil production rebounds slightly By Brian Zinchuk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Estevan Mercury
Despite extremely sluggish drilling activity in Saskatchewan’s oilpatch, the Aug. 11 Crown land sale for petroleum and natural gas rights brought in $2.4 million. And Saskatchewan’s oil production has seen a slight rebound after a sharp dip due to the destruction of oil demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $2.4 million sale falls within the range of the six sales conducted over the last year, which varied from $3.4 million in December 2019 to $442,000 in the previous sale, June 2020. Indeed, the $2.4 million is higher than the average of $2 million per sale over the last year. Land sales are posted several months in advance. Oil companies, typically through their land agents, will ask the Ministry of Energy and Resources to put a certain parcel up for bid (e.g. post it), and then bid competitively on that parcel. In the case of the Aug. 11 sale, the closing date for postings was April 14, a month into the COVID-19 crisis, and less than a week before West Texas Intermediate oil prices tumbled for one day into negative pricing territory. While oil companies will often use land agen-
cies to mask who is actually buying the parcels, some chose not to. In this sale, Villanova Energy Inc. was the most active with six parcels. Vermillion Energy Inc. picked up three. Buffalo Hill Resources bought two, as did Midale Petroleums Ltd. Aldon Oils Ltd. got one, as did Vital Energy Inc. and ROK Resources Inc. The bonus bid per hectare ranged from a high of $3,449.50, paid by Vital Energy, to $24.71, paid by Aldon Oils. On Aug. 13, Minister of Energy and Resources Bronwyn Eyre said of the land sale, “It’s a reasonably strong result. And I think it shows that the sector sees opportunity here. And then, itis a sign of some economic recovery.” She added, “In light of everything that we have faced, It’s also positive in that Saskatchewan has performed well compared to our neighboring jurisdiction.” Eyre said Saskatchewan had done better than Alberta so far this fiscal year. Saskatchewan still has attractive geology and a stable royalty regime, she said. “It’s a cautiously good sign, and we’ll take it,” she said. Five drilling rigs working Over the previous five years, Saskatchewan would typically have 30 to 50 drilling rigs working
in mid-August. That’s substantially less than 2010 to 2014, when there would be closer to 100 rigs. In August 2011, a record of 122 active rigs was set. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on oil demand has had a dramatic effect on drilling. Until mid-July, there was only one rig working in Saskatchewan, and it was drilling for helium, not oil. (Only two natural gas wells have been drilled in Saskatchewan in the last five years) Eyre noted, “Since then, over the last few weeks, there has been a bit of an increase. There have been 18 wells drilled since mid-July, so again, a little bit of cautious, slow improvement,” she said. On Aug. 12, there five drilling rigs working in Saskatchewan. One was drilling for helium south of Eastend for North American Helium. Of the four rigs drilling for oil, two were drilling in west central Saskatchewan, at Dodsland and Plato, for Teine Energy Ltd. Prairie Thunder Resources Ltd. had one rig drilling on the outskirts of Macklin. The last rig was drilling near Carievale, for Fire Sky Energy Inc. Asked if there is anything the province can or should do to incentive drilling, she said, “We are looking at things. So, we are engaging with sector stakeholders. We’re look-
Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan envisions crushing more canola and processing more meat and pulse crops at home, increasing crop production as we grow Saskatchewan’s agri-food exports to $20 billion by 2030.
Learn more at saskgrowthplan.ca.
Photo by Brian Zinchuk
ing at potential new initiatives, things we might be able to do to help accelerate new investments and employment as we move into this economic recovery. But that’s work that, in some cases anyways, was being done prior to the perfect storm, because we were looking at some potential areas where we could do something. We’re continuing that now, obviously.” Eyre spoke of trying to maximize secondary recovery, a process known as waterflooding, within the province. Oil production Eyre said Saskatchewan’s oil production had increased to 395,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June. That’s up from 361,000 in May, an increase of 34,000 bpd. In March, Saskatchewan was producing 502,700 bpd, so the May numbers represented a fall of 28.2 per cent. June’s numbers were 21.4 per cent lower than March’s. “Oil production levels are expected to climb in
July and into the fall, as more shut-in and turned down production is brought back and new drilling occurs. So, I think the trend is seen as positive,” Eyre said. Saskatchewan also has a higher number of drilled but uncompleted wells, which Eyre sees that as a positive. When oil companied do decide to eventually complete and bring those wells online, it will help production. She also noted that gasoline demand is improving in North America, another positive sign. NDP reaction NDP economy critic Trent Wotherspoon said, “The fact of the matter is that the sale’s up a little bit at this time. But it’s a tiny fraction of the land sales that we were experiencing back just a number of years ago, and it reflects that. “This important industry to Saskatchewan is in a challenging situation. Hopefully, the modest increase shows that there’s some daylight for this industry. Because the fact of
the matter is that thousands of workers in the energy sector have lost jobs in the last number of years. And that’s created real hardship for those workers that have lost jobs and it’s created real hardship for Saskatchewan, with the loss of investment and the loss of royalties that flow in from this important sector. Wotherspoon went on, “So it’s an indication that this sector is in a challenging situation, and it should be also be a reminder and a wake up call to the government to do all it can to secure an economic recovery that works for people and creates jobs that folks can count on. And certainly that includes things like market access, but acting to eliminate the PST on construction labor to help fire up the economy, acting on renewable power like rooftop solar, as well, and utilizing a Sask-first procurement approach when we’re building the infrastructure that Saskatchewan needs.” As for drilling, Wotherspoon said, “The drilling activity, or lack thereof, is devastating for the workers who count on those jobs, and it reflects this industry that’s in a really challenging spot. And so, it’s a reminder why we need to do all we can now to secure an economic recovery that creates jobs for thousands of people across Saskatchewan.”
Hugh Nerlien
MLA- Kelvington-Wadena (306) 278-2200 nerlien.mla@sasktel.net
Todd Goudy
MLA - Melfort Constituency (306) 752-9500 goudymla@gmail.com
Fred Bradshaw
MLA - Carrot River Valley (306) 768-3977 fbradshaw.mla@sasktel.net
Delbert Kirsch MLA – Batoche
Larry Doke, MLA
(306) 256-3930 batochemla@sasktel.net
Cut Knife - Turtleford Constituency (306) 893-2619 larrydoke@sasktel.net
FARMER
Serving the producers of the Northwest
RancheR
A community newspaper published Monthly . Owned & Operated by Prairie Newspaper Group LP a division of GVIC Communications Corp. 892 - 104th Street, North Battleford, Saskatchewan S9A 1M9 Telephone: 306-445-7261 • Fax: 306-445-3223 E-mail: newsoptimist.news@sasktel.net We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.
Gordon Brewerton Senior Group Publisher
Administration
Joyce Wappel Office Manager, Noah Cooke, Aliya Cooke DTI/Receptionist
Editorial
Jayne Foster Editor John Cairns Reporters
Advertising Sales
Candace Mack-Horton - Sales Manager, Maureen Charpentier, Tobie Hainstock
Composition
Claude Paradis Prepress Manager,
Circulation
Karen Boser Bindery Manager, Grace Merritt - Melissa Pitkeathley, Inserters
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020 - Page 3
Has Grain Handling and Storage Equipment
Grain Bins From 3,000 to 14,000 Bushels in Size Models 1505 1805 2106 2406 2706 (5 of them)
Batco Conveyers
Wheatheart Post Pounders Loading Augers 8, 10 & 12 inch Augers
Westeel Bins 1805 2106 2406 Models (5000-7500 Bushels)
Aeration
3,5,7&10 HP Fans & Fittings
Swing Augers 10 12 & the New 14 inch
MKX Augers 10,13 inch &13 inch MKX with X-Tend
NEW
Loading Augers
8 & 10 inch Augers
Ne E P O NOW aidston
A
M ve n i e r t A n on Little gro Ce s
r 215 Pea
3
2 2 2 1 3 06-89
Contact the Agro Department 306-845-2222 Turtleford, Sask.
Page 4 - The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
Feds give $50 million to feed Canadians surplus food. Some hope it’s just a start By Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Canada’s National Observer
Ron Lemaire is a “produce guy,” but COVID-19 educated him in milk and meat. That’s because since March, the president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association has joined forces with eight other non-profits. Together, they laid the groundwork to move millions of kilograms of surplus food from producers to hungry Canadians. Their plans will soon go live thanks to the $50-million federal Surplus Food Rescue Program, details of which were announced Thursday, Aug. 13, by Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau. “The benefit of getting the $50 million from the federal government is one thing,” Lemaire said. “The challenge will be to move food into the communities that need it.” Statistics Canada reported in June that one in seven Canadians (14.5 per cent) didn’t have enough food during the previous month — a four per cent increase from data collected in 2018. About 19 per cent of Canadian households with children reported lacking food in May. And Canadians absent from work due to the pandemic were about three times as likely to be food insecure compared to those who kept working. The funding will support distribution networks
established by national food charities and organizations, including Food Banks Canada, Second Harvest, and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, to better reach those in need. These three organizations will receive more than $11 million each to move food from producers to local food banks and food charities across the country. It’s an unprecedented boost for efforts the organizations have been working on for years. “It’s significant, the waste that we see, the amount of food that never gets eaten,” said Lemaire. The pandemic has made the waste problem worse — most hotels and restaurants were forced to close in March, stranding about 5.8 million kilograms of food — but Canada’s food system was already wasteful. A 2019 report by Second Harvest found that about 35.5 billion kilograms of food is wasted in Canada annually. Of that loss, 32 per cent — worth $49.5 billion — is edible and could be avoided. “This problem is not just a pandemic problem,” said Tammara Soma, a professor of resource and environmental management at Simon Fraser University and an expert in food waste. “We have a system where we are constantly overproducing, even before the pandemic.” That means, while the Surplus Food Rescue Program is important to deal
An emergency $50 million federal program will connect food banks and charities with surplus food. Photo by US Mission Canada/Wikimedia Commons
with an immediate problem for farmers and people without enough food, it only makes sense as part of a long-term strategy to invest in infrastructure that will help reduce food waste, increase communities’ resilience, and get food to hungry Canadians for years to come. Some of this infrastructure used to exist in Canada, but has vanished in the past several decades. For instance, B.C. lost most of its processing facilities in the 1990s after NAFTA made it easier for Canadian produce, meat, and fish to be exported for processing at plants in the United States, where labour is cheaper. Not only did this make the province’s supply chains longer, it encour-
aged farmers to grow one or two crops in large quantities for distribution across Canada and beyond — or to be wasted if market conditions changed and their crops were stranded. Almost two-thirds of food in Canada is wasted before it reaches store shelves, noted Second Harvest’s 2019 report. Meanwhile, Soma explained, British Columbians started to rely on imported foods that are more vulnerable to disruptions like COVID-19 or climate change. Investing in local processing capacity, increasing supports for farmers, so they can grow more diverse crops that are better adapted to local needs, and helping food banks and charities increase their
USED EQUIPMENT ON HAND MORRIS 8370 XL AIR TANK.............................................. $37,500 60’ MORRIS CONTOUR DRILL ......................................... $69,000 50’ MORRIS MAXIM AIR DRILL ........................................ $12,000 7300 MORRIS 300 BO AIR TANK ...................................... $15,000 #26 HURICANE DITCHER ................................................... $6,900 MERIDIAN 12X79 GRAIN AUGER C/W HYD WINCH & MOVER...................................................... $18,500
See Us For All Your Farming Needs Hyd Hose, Belts, Bearings, Batteries, Etc. We Have A Wide Array of Meridian Augers! Your AGCO - Morris Dealer
Now a Dealer for Elmer’s Equipment!
After Hours: Jim: Cell 306-768-7756 House 306-768-2740 Kevin: Cell 306-768-7065 House 306-768-2455
CARROT RIVER IMPLEMENTS INC. Carrot River, SK. Ph: 306-768-2715 Fax: 306-768-2255 Email: crimp@sasktel.net
• Ag Tuning • Turbo Chargers • Pumps & Injectors
DRIVE-IN BAY SERVICE
764-2622
306
padiesel.ca
storage capacity should all be considered as Canada looks to reduce food waste and hunger, she said. “We need to be very strategic with this because moving perishable food around without a proper long-term strategy is not going to solve the waste issue and is not going to solve the food security issue.” It’s also relies heavily on fossil fuels, she noted. Ensuring the gains made through the program aren’t lost is also top of mind for Lemire. In fact, it is one of the best parts of the federal initiative, he said. “This enables us to create a legacy plan where, even if there are no federal monies, the connections that are being created between food and charities is fundamental. They existed in the past, but now they’re much more structured and uniform,” Lemire said. That means future surpluses, COVID-19 related or not, will be distributed more efficiently across the country. Still, that might not be enough to really eliminate
food insecurity, according to Graham Riches, a professor emeritus of social work at UBC whose research focused on hunger. He noted that the first food banks and food charities appeared in Canada during a recession in the 1980s, and modelled an American approach to reducing hunger. That approach focused on food corporations redirecting surplus food to, and funding, food banks and charities — not increasing people’s incomes enough that they could afford to buy their own food. Focusing on redistribution instead of income doesn’t really solve the problem, Riches said. Hungry people remain without the means to feed themselves, while food donations have a relatively minimal impact on reducing food waste — in Canada, only about 0.1 per cent of food wasted after harvest and processing is recovered in Canada, he noted. Lori Nikkel, the CEO of Second Harvest, agreed. “Food security has nothing to do with food,” she said. “Food security is about income. Only when you can buy your own food will you be food secure.” Fixing the systemic failures underpinning hunger in Canada and B.C. is more complex than a $50-million program can allow, she said. They’re challenges that existed before the pandemic. She hopes they won’t be as prevalent in the new normal that follows COVID-19 — a hope she’s seen grow since the government’s increased interest in the problem during the pandemic. Still, she’s delighted by the funding. “This isn’t going to solve food insecurity, but it’s going to help support people with food right now.”
REDUCED
LANIGAN - KACHUR ACREAGE, RM OF WOLVERINE #340 MLS# SK799328 - $315,000 $299,000 8.26 ACRES, 1,714 SQ.FT. 1 1/2 STOREY HOME, 40’6”X28’6” HEATED & INSULATED SHOP, 10’X16’ SHED, DETACHED GARAGE, WELL SHELTERED YARD WITH NUMEROUS EVERGREENS, POPLAR, ASH & SHRUBS
HUMBOLDT & AREA’S AGRICULTURAL REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST Services Available for Farmland Properties Proud to serve Saskatchewan farm families for 16 years!
• MLS® system Listings • In-House Exclusive Listings • Confidential Listings • For sale by Tender • Buyer's Brokerage Services • Letter of Opinion of Value (estate purposes or bank financing)
JAMES SCHINKEL, B.Sc.(Ag.)
BROKER/OWNER (306) 231-7077 • JSchinkel@Sasktel.net 1704 4th Avenue (Horizon Fertilizers Building) PO Box 2469, Humboldt, SK S0K 2A0 • www.JamesSchinkel.ca
Regional News-Optimist
The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020 - Page 5
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
RENN Jiffy
RENN Grain Bagger
Add grain storage when and where you need it. Unload trucks and grain carts at the same time Integrated folding infeed auger for transport (RGB 1016T) Integrated folding transport (RGB 1220)
RENN Jiffy
RENN Jiffy
RENN Bag Unloader Durable, high-capacity grain bag unloaders with onboard bag roller. Hydraulic ratcheting bag collection drive Large Collapsible Hydraulic Plastic Collection System – Recycle ready Unload 9’x 10’ or 12’ grains bags
Jiffy Bale Processor
RENN Hammer Mills
Unique rocking cradle design handles
all types and shapes of bales Process 1 large square bale or 2 round bales at once (model 978) Available in Left or Right hand discharge models (927, 928)
RENN Jiffy
3400 bu/hr Capacity (High Moisture Corn) 22” Full Circle Design Hammer Mill Quick Change Screen Carriage Conveyor & Auxiliary PTO Discharge
RENN Mill Center Inc. has a corporate policy of continuous improvement and development; therefore models and specifications are subject to change without any advance notice.
RENN Mill Center Inc., RR#4 Lacombe, AB T4L 2N4 RENN Mill Center manufactures RENN Mill and Jiffy Products and is the exclusive Western Canadian distributor of H&S agricultural equipment and Ideal Post Pounders.
TEL:
Call the factory to find your local dealer.
403-784-3518 | www.rennmill.com
Page 6 - The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
Former NAIT students named award finalists for indoor farming project By Sarah Williscraft
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Fort McMurray Today
A former Fort McMurray resident is hoping his automated indoor farming project will take root after it was named a finalist for a provincial engineering technology award. Noah Neiman, an engineering technology professional who was born and raised in Fort McMurray, and Sebastian Potoniec of Sherwood Park are finalists for the Capstone Project of the Year Award, which is given by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta. It recognizes engineering technology students who most effectively demonstrate a knowledge of their field and create something useful to people everywhere. “We want people to know that it’s not too difficult to design a system like this — either for a home operation or a large commercial operation,” said Neiman. “It’s very scalable and very achievable to grow plants indoors.”
The project is an indoor farming system designed to help people grow fresh fruit and vegetables inside their own homes. The prototype for the project is an automated farming system that contains flowing water and lighting. On a control panel, the user enters the specific growing conditions required for what they have planted, and the system does the rest. The build itself is a simple one costing less than $100 in materials. Almost everything needed was found in a hardware store. The project is a proofof-concept build, but demonstrates that the project supports a build at any size and is low maintenance. “Depending on how interested you are and how involved you want your system to be, it can range in complexity,” he said. “But a simple system is very achievable for even a beginner.” Neiman believes the project is more relevant with much of the country still in lockdown. The indoor farming system could
Former NAIT students Noah Neiman and Sebastian Potoniec were named finalists for the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta’s (ASET) 2020 Capstone Project of the Year Award. Photo submitted
alleviate stresses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and localize food production. “With it being grown locally and not having your fruits and vegetables imported, there is less handling from person-to-person,” said Neiman. “There is minimal involvement from the grower, so there is less chance of contamination of the product.”
Neiman hopes to apply his knowledge from this project and make an operating indoor farming system of his own. “With practice and experimentation, there’s certain things you learn,” he said. “You’ll make small changes, add new features and I think there is lots of room for small improvements that will help out in the whole process.”
Neiman and Potoneic make up one of the eight final projects being considered for the Capstone. “This project emphasizes the use of technical and practical engineering (technology) for a social good,” said CEO for ASET Barry Cavanaugh. “I love the thought that went into this from these guys.” Cavanaugh said getting to this point is considered a
big deal in the field of engineering technology. The students’ high quality of work makes for an intensely competitive process. “By the time you get down to being a finalist, you’re already a winner,” he said. “These projects represent the forward thinking and problem-solving attitude of technologists.” -with files from Lindsay Morey
FARMER RANCHER DISTRIBUTION MAP
(Highlighted in yellow) FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR SALES REP CANDACE (North Battleford and area) 306 445-7261 - TOBIE (Tisdale and area) 306-541-7689
• St. Walburg
FARMER RANCHER DISTRIBUTION MAP
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020 - Page 7
Wildwood & Vibe Past Year Model Clear Out Pricing Continues
SUN1437 NEW 2016 Vibe 311RLS
$29,980
SUN1724 NEW 2020 Axis 24.1
$126,980
SUN1623 NEW 2019 Compass 23TB
SUN1729 NEW 2021 Ace 27.2
$114,980
SUN1428 New 2019 Forest River Legacy 34A-340 Class A Diesel
$229,980
$134,980
SUN1431 New 2019 Dynamax Isata 36DSD
SUN1609 New 2019 Siesta 24SK
$239,980
$149,980
RENTALS AVAILABLE!!!
Travel in STYLE Check out our Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels and Motorhomes Book Now.
Here at Sunridge RV, we offer the best prices and the best selection of New & Used RVs for sale in Saskatchewan, highway 16 box 239 | radisson, sk s0k 3L0
877.827.4845 Text Us!
G+
www.sunridgervs.ca
Page 8 - The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
Growing your own food about more than food security
Gardens nourish body and soul during pandemic, say therapists By Rochelle Baker
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Canada’s National Observer
At first glance, lugging around heavy water containers in a wheelbarrow or pulling weeds under the hot mid-day sun may not seem a rewarding pastime during the pandemic. Surely weathering the COVID-19 crisis is tough enough? Why add to the burden? But for Heather Kent, the returns from her Quadra Island, B.C., community garden plot are ample — and measured by more than just what she harvests for the table. Growing your own fruit and vegetables obviously improves individual and communal food security during the pandemic, Kent said. But community gardens can nurture people’s mental health as well. “People are starved for social interaction,” said Kent, who is friendly and gregarious herself. The communal outdoor space makes it an ideal location to practice proper physical distancing, but still cultivate or maintain social connections, she said. “I’m very social,” Kent said, adding she could have opted to work her own garden this year and give up her space at the community garden. “But, I find there’s a real eclectic group of peo-
ple there. I enjoy being able to garden and talk across the plot to people.” Kent finds she also learns a lot by interacting with more experienced or knowledgeable gardeners. “I like that I can walk across the garden if I see somebody, and ask them a question. And you know 95 per cent of the people in the garden are totally happy to chat about that.” As the pandemic lingers, its impacts on people’s mental health — especially on vulnerable populations — is significant. More than half (52 per cent) of people reported their mental health declined as a result of physical distancing, a Statistics Canada survey found at the start of the pandemic. As well, 43 per cent of people suffering financial impacts due to the pandemic reported symptoms consistent with moderate or severe anxiety. During the pandemic, gardens — whether communal, private, or simply tomato plants on a balcony— can provide some respite from the stress of COVID-19, say a pair of Quadra Island mental health experts. Besides demonstrated therapeutic effects, such as lowering the stress hormone cortisol, there are literal and symbolic benefits to getting your hands dirty, Matthew Kelly and Owen Williams said.
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP and STILL LOCALLY OWNED!
Many people are suffering a great deal of loss, stress, grief and a sense they have no control during the pandemic, said Kelly, a Jungian psychotherapist. But digging in the dirt can get people out of their heads, provide a sense of accomplishment, and connect people to their subconscious, the couple noted. “I’ve been out in the garden since 5:30 a.m.,” said Owen, an executive and relationship coach, adding that like many people, he feels saturated by the constant negative reports around COVID-19. “It’s a reprieve from the outside world, I can be out here and completely lose track of time. But, it’s also a connectedness to the idea that life is ongoing.” A garden’s cycle — a circle of decay, death, rebirth and growth — can remind us the living world continues, and it and society will come out the other side of COVID-19, Williams said. “COVID is another cycle that invites us to experience life through,” he said. “We’re just so in it that we can’t see the end of it right now.” Seasonal fruits and veggies can also remind people to live in the now and enjoy the momentary pleasures offered to us, Williams said. “I cannot wait to experience a ripe tomato,” he said, laughing. Kelly also noted people under duress, whether is external or internal, often want to control outcomes or their emotions. But gardening is a good metaphor for recognizing that trying to exert control over the uncontrollable, or forcing results, can result in more suffering, he said. You can’t make things grow faster or prevent failures in a garden, Kelly said. And likewise, some-
Quadra Island resident Heather Kent believes her community garden cultivates space for safe but critical community interaction during the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Breccan Hare
times you just need to allow emotions to exist and unfold to make mental health gains, he said. “We’re always trying to control what happens in the psyche. We don’t want to just let things happen or trust that things will resolve themselves,” Kelly said. “If we’re feeling anxious, or depressed, it’s best sometimes to just let that be. Give room for letting things sit and grow, and not being too eager for results.” And paradoxically, growing something can also give people a greater sense influence over aspects of their lives during the pandemic, said Williams. “Part of the movement (for food security) is peo-
Twin City
TRANSMISSION
“Specializing in Automatic Transmissions”
9901 Thatcher Ave. Parsons Industrial Park North Battleford
306.480.8812
fax 306.937.3414 email twinriverconcrete2019@gmail.com
Located in Battleford www.twinriverconcrete.com
WE ALSO HANDLE • Standards • Clutches • Transfer Cases • Differentials • Coolers
For a Transmission Check Up Call
306-445-3445
“Know your vehicle’s scheduled maintenance recommendations.”
ple wanting to be more resilient and more in touch with their own agency,” he said. “We often worry about things we can’t control, but pay little attention to the things we have influence over.” Kent agreed, saying she appreciates the increased amount of fresh food her family has access to, something that seemed especially important in the early days of the pandemic, when the supply chain seemed so shaky. She was thrilled B.C. was one of the first provinces to recognize community gardens as an essential service. Importantly, the communal plots allowed folks who rent or don’t have land for gardens to improve their food security, she said. But the garden also probably provided some people with a sense of purpose and somewhere to go, Kent said. “Especially during the early days of COVID-19, there were a lot of people
not working. A lot of people alone,” she said. The garden keeps you busy, gives you something to do and a sense of accomplishment when you see it all coming together, she added. “You can be in the garden, safely far away from people, but still be able to yell across and have a little hello or something,” Kent said. “It’s been really nice.” Gardens tend to help people in any variety of ways, consciously and subconsciously, concluded Kelly. “I think some of the reasons a garden is restorative, is not just that it gives us food, but because it gives us meaning, and it helps us make sense of death and disease,” Kelly said. “There are critters and pests in a garden and there’s room for all of that. Just like there’s room in our life for depression, melancholy and how to metabolize trauma.” “All of that can be found in the garden.”
Specializing in • Maintenance • Motors • Controls
MasterCard
306-481-3878 / bdelectricltd@gmail.com Josh Kellam Red Seal Electrician
Regional News-Optimist
w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a
The Battlefords, Thursday, August 20, 2020 - Page 9
Oils & Lubricants
• Agriculture • Forestry • Automotive • Industrial • Construction • Marine • Exploration • Mining • On-Road Heavy Duty
or f h c t a W al i c e p S l Fal 1 3 t c O Sept 1
Dealer For
83 Railway Ave. North Battleford, Sk.
Phone: 306-445-3534