armer ancher Serving the producers of Northwest Saskatchewan
Thursday, March 17, 2016
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Spring brings invasive pests to mind
Weed management on the agenda for Whitehead By Jayne Foster Staff Reporter
It’s spring for the manager of the North West Co-operative Weed Management Area. That means Dave Whitehead is out drumming up interest in the goals of the organization and visiting municipalities in a bid for them to renew their membership. The former government agrologist recently made his yearly presentation to Battleford Town Council, a municipality that has struggled with one of four main weeds the WMA has been working to control – leafy spurge. The four municipalities that have been associated with the CWMA are the RM of North Battleford, City of North Battleford, RM of Battle River and the Town of Battleford. They have been involved since the
CWMA’s inception in 2009. In Battleford, said Whitehead, the parks and recreation staff should continue with the important work it has been doing to control leafy spurge. In addition to benefiting the town, he said, those efforts also help to control the spread of the weed to the RM of Battle River. He reported, “I believe that, if the Town had not continued to spray, the Flats, for instance, could eventually be solid leafy spurge.” As CWMA manager, Whitehead does field work including the delivery of education and strategy on controlling invasive weeds with land developers, municipal employees, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, CN and private land owners. In addition, the CWMA has made use of GPS technology for site analysis and
retaining seasonal records. The weed management area was initiated as a demonstration project in 2008 by the District No. 34 Agricultural Development and Diversification (ADD) Board using a Native Plant Society grant of $15,000. Municipal memberships have helped keep the group going. Whitehead said additional funds have been made available by Trans Gas, which has become an advocate for the CWMA. They have provided $7,000 in funding over three years. A DVD on leafy spurge was one of the several projects that funding has made possible. SaskPower has also contributed, he said. A $3,500 contribution is being used for education projects, such as trade show banners and brochures on invasive plants.
Top left, Battleford town councillor Ames Leslie receives a bouquet from weed man Dave Whitehead who has hidden a noxious surprise among the blooms – leafy spurge. It can show up in a flower garden and spread unless residents know how to recognize the plant. Below, Whitehead makes a presentation at Battleford Town Hall. Photos by Jayne Foster
Leafy spurge An Evening Out for Farmers & Friends Saturday, April 2, 2016 - Agrivilla Building Exhibition Park
ADVANCED TICKETS ONLY!
$
3000
A great evening with a catered meal, entertainment and dancing, fabulous door prizes and silent auction as well. Entertainment by Comedian Hypnotist JayDee and dancing to follow by Cherokee Rose
Contact Battlefords Ag Society 306.445.2024 | Visit www.agsociety.com
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The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016 - Page 2
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National Farm Safety Week is March 14 – 20
Ensuring the safety of children on the farm Submitted
Canada Safety Council
Farming is a rewarding, important and invaluable industry in Canada. But for all of its benefits, it is also one of the most dangerous industries, and the reality of the profession is children are often around the workplace. This means exposure to hazards including toxic chemicals, unpredictable livestock and potentially dangerous machinery. This exposure makes it absolutely crucial children be taught about the potential dangers around them and how to avoid putting themselves at risk. March 14 – 20 is National Farm Safety Week and this year, the Canada Safety Council is reminding Canadian families to take precau-
tions while on the farm, ensuring the safety of children by understanding the concerns and paying attention to detail. According to a study by Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting, 272 Canadians under the age of 14 died between 1992 and 2012 in agricultural-related fatalities, with approximately 45 per cent of those being four years of age or younger. The most common causes of death among children are machine runovers (41.9 per cent) followed by drownings (15.2 per cent,) machine rollovers (11.1 per cent,) animalrelated injuries (6.5 per cent) and being crushed by or under an object (5.1 per cent). Often, bystander runovers occur when children are playing on the farm or near a worksite. The farm
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Advertising schedule and rates available upon request.
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vehicle is usually in reverse, and the adult is not expecting the child to be there. This fact alone makes it crucially important to set aside an area reserved for playing in the yard. A fenced-in area with self-locking gate closures will ensure the child’s exposure to runover-related danger is greatly reduced. It’s important to remember that what may seem to be an obvious safety measure isn’t always so obvious, especially with younger children. Teach them which areas are off-limits or dangerous. As they get older and start helping out around the farm, take the time to teach them the proper way of doing things, explaining and enforcing safety as the primary goal. Keep in mind their limited experience and strength when assigning tasks, giving them age- and size-appropriate responsibilities. That being said, it’s not enough to tell children how to do things safely. Especially when it comes to work-related tasks, children are driven to follow examples set by their parents and other adults. Farmers and workers have to make sure that they’re following safety protocols and being careful, or the message will ring hollow to children and they will not see it as important.
Bins should be strictly off limits to children. It takes only a few seconds for a person to become helplessly trapped under flowing grain. Photo by Louise Lundberg
Take the following precautions to ensure your farm is safe for children: • Inspect your farm with your children for any areas that contain hazards. Make sure to not only identify the hazards, but also to explain why they’re dangerous to the children and, if possible, take steps to mitigate the danger. • Before setting children to work on age-appropriate tasks, check local laws to ensure they are of legal age to operate farm machinery. • Train older children before setting them to work on anything. Ensure they understand the proper operation of machinery they’re being asked to use, and that they know what to do at all times. • Never allow extra riders on any equipment. Extra rider runovers are a common cause of injury.
• Drownings on the farm occur, especially among children six years old or less. Fence farm ponds, manure pits, and any other source of water that could pose a drowning risk. • Designate a specific fenced-off area that is solely for playing. Ensure it is kept far from animals, as even calm and normally docile animals can become dangerous if they feel that either they or their offspring are threatened. • Keep all farm chemicals out of the reach of children and locked away in a cabinet, room or building. • Keep grain bins off-limits for children — it takes only a few seconds for a person to become helplessly trapped under flowing grain, where they could suffocate.
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Page 3 - The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016
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$2 M in funding for weed research program
Cowboy Poetry
Staff
Saturday night, March 12, was the annual Cowboy Poetry event at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford. The attractions this year were Saskatchewan singer-songwriter Laura Hayes and country poet Bryce Burnett from the southwest of the province. Burnett is seen here telling his poems to the large audience in attendance at the WDM. Photos by John Cairns
OPEN HOUSE EVENT
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3 miles East of North Battleford on Hwy 40
Friday, April 1, 2016 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Contact Ryan or Dale FMI
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Come on down to check out the eDriveXC and eDriveXD plus Yield Monitoring Option in the MAX. Industry Reps on Hand. There will be specials to take advantage of as well!
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Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has announced more than $2 million in funding over five years for the continuation of the Weed Research Program “Enhancing Weed Science in Pulse Crops: Towards a robust strategy for longterm weed management” led by University of Saskatchewan researcher Dr. Chris Willenborg. Weed management is critical for successful production of pulses as most pulse crops are not very competitive, according to a SPG press release. “Working with researchers to develop integrated weed and crop management options for pulses is a key priority for SPG,” says board chair Tim Wiens. “Herbicide resistance is becoming a more significant issue for pulse growers, and we believe that through support of the Weed Program at the U of S, we will be successful in developing effective management options for growers.” SPG’ says the funding commitment builds on the organization’s previous five-year investment to the Weed Research Program. Program results from the first five-year term included assisting in reducing the
Sulfentrazone (Authority) re-cropping interval for canola to 12 months after application and lentils to 24 months, improving the tolerance of field peas to Odessey and assisting with the development of IMItolerant chickpeas. The program has also seen some success in managing cleavers in high organic matter soils by ‘herbicide layering’, which is combining pre-seed shortterm soil residual herbicides with post-emergence incrop treatments. Over the next five years the Weed Research Program aims to establish new minor use herbicide registrations for pulses, improve knowledge of competitive traits in pulses for incorporation into future varieties, provide new integrated weed management options for growers, and to understand the impact of soil residual her-
bicides on re-cropping restrictions for newly emerging pulse crops such as faba beans, explains SPG. Additionally, the program has designated funds to investigate the potential of novel technologies such as robotics. “The number of herbicide options for controlling weeds in pulses is limited and is focused on a few modes-of-action,” states Eric Johnson, a research assistant working with Willenborg’s weed program. “The risk of contributing to herbicide resistance is high in pulse crops. The work done in the Weed Program not only provides more herbicide options to growers, but also strives to develop integrated strategies that will enable growers to manage weeds economically and effectively, and also reduce the risk of evolved resistance.”
ANDERSON’S FOUR BAR X RANCH AND MARTENS CATTLE CO. Annual Angus & Charolais Bull Sale Monday, April 4th - 1:30 pm Spiritwood Stockyards, Spiritwood, SK
Selling 30 Black Angus bulls and 30 Charolais bulls. All bulls are semen evaluated. Wintering and delivery available. For a catalogue or more information contact Kevin 306-883-7335, Sylvan 306-883-7967 or T Bar C Cattle Co. 306-220-5006. View the catalogue online at www.buyagro.com (PL#116061)
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The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016 - Page 4
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PAWLUS Saskatchewan
MARCH 13 to 19, 2016
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As of the 2011 Canadian census, there were nearly 105,000 farm families in our country making a living from crops, livestock and market garde ning. That makes for a lot of parents and kids who live, work and play near potentially unsafe environments. And that is why this year, the Cana dian Agricultural Safety Association is launching a new threeyear theme for Canadian Agricultural Safety Week: Be An AgSafe Family. For 2016, the March 1319 campaign will focus on the tagline Keeping Kids Safe.
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According to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting, a national safety program, preschoolers living on family farms are twice as likely to die from an accident as regular children. These fatalities are most commonly the result of being run over, falling from equipment or drowning. Keeping an eye on the kids at all times is probably the greatest single thing farm parents can do to help keep their kids safe.
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TIPS FOR KEEPING TABS ON KIDS 1. Talk with your child and ask them to identify the dangers on your farm. Help them see hazards they might not be aware of. 2. Explain the rules for safe play and repeat them often. 3. Keep children out of the farm yard unless there is a parent with them. 4. Set aside a safe play area (such as a lawn) that is clearly defined. If you leave your children alone outdoors to play, consider enclosing the area with a fence and using a gate with a safety latch. 5. When assigning farm chores to kids, make sure the tasks are age appropriate, especially when it comes to using equipment and vehicles.
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Page 5 - The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016
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Battling the blight
Persistence pays off for the common bean Submitted
Crop Science Society of America
Common blight is a devastating bacterial disease. It greatly reduces the yield and quality of bean crops across the world. Conventional breeding techniques can be used to generate cultivars of common bean that are resistant to the common blight. But it remains challenging to breed cultivars of common bean that combine the desired high yield and quality with resistance to diseases. Bean blight’s reach expands to both tropical and temperate regions of the world. Shree Singh, a professor at the University of Idaho, has spent his career researching ways to generate cultivars of common bean resistant to diseases. According to Singh, “Common blight is by far the most severe and widely occurring bacterial disease that adversely affects common bean production worldwide.” Common blight is caused by two species of bacteria belonging to the Xanthomonas genus. It is a difficult disease to attack. The bacteria can move along with seeds and plant matter. “When contaminated seeds are planted, the bacteria can then go on to infect the germinating plant and spread further,” says Singh. Infected plant matter left behind after harvest can also infect
the next cycle of crops. Complicating matters further, different strains of the bacteria can exist on the same seed. In fact, “A single field in Wisconsin yielded more than 200 different strains of Xanthomonas,” says Singh. Chemical treatments have not been effective in combating the spread of the common blight. This makes breeding and using resistant cultivars of bean “crucial for effective, economical, and environment-friendly management and control of the common blight,” according to Singh. But generating cultivars of common bean resistant to the common blight has been challenging. The challenge is to generate cultivars of common bean that are resistant to multiple less aggressive and aggressive strains of blight bacteria, while maintaining high yield and quality. Genes that provide resistance to the common blight can have either major effects or minor ones. Since blight has a more difficult time overcoming a combination of these, researchers aim to cross bean cultivars with different resistance genes. In this way, they hope to generate new cultivars with multiple resistance genes. Breeding common bean cultivars with multiple resistance genes can be a long and arduous process. “It can take between five to 10 years to get a bean cultivar that
Promoting genomic technology Staff Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay has announced a $1 million investment by the Government of Canada to increase adoption of genomic technologies in Canada’s cattle sector. According to a press release, the investment will enable the Canadian Beef Breeds Council to demonstrate to producers the use and value of improving beef herds through genotyping. The project will make genomic testing available for the various breeds at a reduced cost, increasing adoption by producers. Determining the right genetic mix in their herds will allow producers to increase their return on investment, while accurately predicting traits that benefit consumers and the environment.
national breed associations that collectively represent more than 10,000 producers of purebred beef breeding stock.
has high levels of resistance to various bacterial strains,” says Singh. Further, a resistance to various strains of blight bacteria is only half the battle. “The next step is crossing this resistant cultivar with a high-yielding cultivar of bean that can grow well in the region it is intended to be cultivated,” Singh says. Therein lies another challenge. Genes responsible for resistance to common blight and those responsible for unwanted agricultural traits, such as low yield or imperfect seeds, are often close to one another in the bean genome. Such genes are linked and tend to be inherited together by offspring during breeding efforts. Researchers conduct thousands of crosses to ultimately generate one common bean cultivar that has both resistance to common blight and characteristics desired by farmers and consumers. Singh’s research group performs hundreds of crosses every day during the pollination season. Of course, while common blight is a devastating disease affecting bean crops, it is not the only one. Singh has been working with growers in many parts of the world to breed commercially viable cultivars of the common bean that are also resistant to several diseases and pests. The work continues, slowly. “Cultivars with partial resistance to common blight are becoming available in increasing numbers,” Singh says. For more information, read “Breeding Common Bean for Resistance to Common Blight: A Review” in Crop Science.
COMPLETE FARM AUCTION
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th
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11:00 AM Directions: From junction of Hwy #16 & 40 go 24km (15 miles) East on Hwy #40 and .8km (1/2 mile) south into yard. Seller Contact: Myron Tkatchuk, 306-446-2349 • Auction Coordinator: Kim Kramer, 306-445-5000
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The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016 - Page 6
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Agencies approve canary seed for human food Staff Canary seed, which has been used almost exclusively as birdseed has received novel food approval from Health Canada as well as Generally Recognized as Safe status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “With the achievement of this milestone, we’re hopeful that the food industry and consumers will begin to adopt this nutritious, high protein, gluten free grain,” says Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan chair David Nobbs. “Up until now, production potential has been limited by the size of the market for birdseed.” Producer levies paid to the commission over the past decade supplemented by various government programs have made food approval possible. Extensive compositional, nutritional and toxicological work was required. “Canary seed is the first novel cereal crop to be approved in Canada,” notes Dr. Carol Ann Patterson of The Pathfinders Research and Management. Patterson is the food scientist who piloted all the work necessary for food approval. “Projects are continuing to determine the best food applications.” Canary seed flour can be used to make bread, cookies, cereals and pastas.
W E N
Whole seeds can be used in nutrition bars and sprinkled on hamburger buns in place of sesame seed. The approval covers glabrous (hairless) canary seed varieties, with both brown and yellow-coloured seeds. The glabrous varieties currently grown by farmers are brown when the hull is removed. Dr. Pierre Hucl, the canary seed breeder at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre will be seeking approval for a yellow line at the variety registration meetings in February. Nutritionally, brown and yellow are very similar, but the yellow seeds are more aesthetically pleasing in many food products. It was Hucl’s work to develop glabrous canary seed that started the effort for food approval. TM Beyond the breeding, it was Dr. Elsayed Abdelaal, a member of Dr. Hucl’s team, who did the initial compositional, nutritional and toxicological analysis on the first hairless variety, CDC Maria, to show its similarity to other cereal grains. His work provided the core safety data for the Health Canada submission. While canary seed is gluten free, those individuals with a food allergy to wheat may also be allergic to a protein in canary seed. Canary seed and canary seed products for human consumption
will have to be labelled with a statement such as, “This product contains canary seed which may not be suitable for people with a wheat allergy”. “We hope that further work will lead to the removal of this labelling requirement at some future date,” says Patterson. “On food products where wheat is a labelled ingredient, the cautionary statement will not be necessary.” The CDCS will establish a toll free number published at www.canaryseed.ca
where any adverse reactions to canary seed can be reported. These will be passed along to Health Canada annually. Another area of ongoing commission activity involves the approval of crop protection products. “The herbicides and other crop protection products registered for use on canary seed for birdseed do not immediately have their registration extended to canary seed for food use,” explains Kevin Hursh, executive director for the CDCS. “These
products are registered on other food grains, and the commission is working to get expanded registrations for products that are important to canary seed production.” The food use approval is for dehulled canary seed. Commercial dehulling capacity may be required as food demand for the crop expands. Saskatchewan is the world’s top exporter of canary seed. Nearly 2500 Saskatchewan farmers have marketed canary seed
within the last three crop years. In 2015, an estimated 149,000 tonnes of canary seed with a farm gate value of roughly $90 million was harvested from over 300,000 acres. Note: Over the decades, “canary seed” has been expressed as both two words and as one word. In the human food approvals, the two word version is used. The Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan is registered with just one word used for the crop.
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2000 heat units TM Earliest corn product that yields, manages harvest timing and provides built-in protection against corn borer. • Optimum® AcreMax® seed product – for the ultimate simplicity at planting • Excellent yield potential • Excellent test weight for more profit opportunity • Good plant height for ease of harvest • Good husk cover to help protect against disease
New Canola Product “New” Pioneer Protector HarvestMax 2225 heat units DuPont Pioneer is the first company to introduce 46M34 a Genuity Roundup Ready canola hybrid • Optimum® AcreMax® seed product delivering integrated refuge for above-ground insect control • Excellent early growth with pod shatter resistance traits that can • Very good standability reduce the risk of harvest losses due to • Excellent yield potential pod shatter and pod drop. • Good drought tolerance The majority of the feed value • “R” for fusarium wilt of corn comes from the cob. •NEWExcellent root strength Pioneer® corn hi-breds deliver the best combintation of maturity and 45H33 P7202 AM cob yield in Western Canada. • New high yielding Clubroot resistant hybrid • 2050 Excellent husk cover to help prevent damage from disease heat units Big mature corn cobs will deliver • Built-In Pioneer Protector Clubroot resistance trait (races 2,3, 5, 6 & 8) ®
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AgriSpirit grants offered Staff
FCC AgriSpirit grants support community improvement initiatives. Photo submitted
Farm Credit Canada is accepting applications from registered charities and nonprofit organizations in rural Canada for the $1 million FCC AgriSpirit Fund. The application deadline is April 18 and FCC will announce the selected projects in August. Rural community groups can view the eligibility requirements, past projects and apply online by visiting www.fccagrispiritfund.ca. For the past 13 years, FCC has awarded rural community groups between $5,000 and $25,000 in FCC AgriSpirit funding for various community improvement initiatives. From purchasing equipment for emergency services and
recreation centres to building care homes and playgrounds, FCC AgriSpirit funding supports key projects that enhance the community.
Since inception of the FCC AgriSpirit Fund in 2004, FCC has supported nearly 950 capital projects in rural Canada totaling $9.5 million in donations.
WE ARE NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR THE
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APRIL 8, 9 & 10, 2016
Book your booth now for the best spots. Call 306-445-2024 or visit www.agsociety.com
Nature groups seek federal pause on grassland transfers Submitted
Nature Canda
The new federal government should announce an immediate pause in transfers of grasslands formerly managed by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) until a plan is in place to protect their ecological values, say Nature Canada, Nature Saskatchewan and Alberta Wilderness Association. “We simply cannot afford to lose more grasslands, the most imperilled ecosystem in Canada” says Stephen Hazell, Nature Canada’s director of conservation. “Saskatchewan grasslands are critical habitat for threatened species such as Greater Sage grouse, Burrowing owl, Swift fox and Ferruginous hawk as well as providing a carbon sink for greenhouse gas emissions. Transfers of management responsibility of PFRA community pastures to the Saskatchewan government should be halted until Canada and Saskatchewan agree on a legally binding plan to
protect the ecological values of these grasslands”. “Given its election commitment to National Wildlife Areas, the new government should move forward quickly on public consultations towards establishing a National Wildlife Area for the 28,000 hectare Govenlock community pasture to protect wildlife and the carbon sink while providing for ongoing cattle ranching,” says Jordan Ignatiuk, Nature Saskatchewan’s executive director. “Financial arrangements need to be put in place to ensure protection of species at risk and the carbon sink in those PFRA grass-
lands already transferred to the province. Manitoba has moved in this direction on its 24 PFRA community pastures, now it is time for Saskatchewan and Canada to plan how to protect the ecological values of the 62 PFRA community pastures covering 720,000 hectares in our province”. “A federal pause on transfers of PFRA community pastures should be part of a larger plan to conserve native grasslands across the prairies” says Cliff Wallis of Alberta Wilderness Association. “Canada should support a plan for nature conservation on the community pastures that haven’t
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yet been transferred, as well as conservation actions by ranchers and nature groups on private lands. These plans should be developed in full consultation with all those concerned about these grasslands and recognize current positive stewardship practices”.
Contact Battlefords Ag Society
306.445.2024
Visit www.agsociety.com
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SPIRIT OF THE NORTH
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The 31st annual Agri-Mex farm, home and trade show will run Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 8, 9 and 10 in North Battleford.
It’s time again for Agri-Mex. Long considered a harbinger of spring in the Battlefords, the 31st annual farm, home and trade show will run Friday, Saturday, Sunday, April 8, 9 and 10 at the North Battleford Exhibition Park, organized by the Battlefords Agricultural Society. Both the Agriplex and Agrivilla will be in use. Every year, more than 5,000 consumers from the Battlefords and its surrounding communities attend AgriMex to see the latest in new ideas and innovations for the farm and home Friday, April 8, the show runs from noon until 8 p.m. Saturday, the hours are 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday the hours will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This annual trade show is one of the Battlefords most well-known events and is a sure sign spring is on the way. Head out to the Agricultural Society grounds where there will be a huge variety of booths to check out for a mere $3. As always, breakfast is free on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Bob Tyler honoured for research Submitted Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, in partnership with BASF, honoured Dr. Robert (Bob) Tyler from the University of Saskatchewan by presenting him with the Pulse Promoter Award at their annual general meeting in Saskatoon inn January. Tyler was recognized for his contribution to the pulse industry through his work in the area of research and
—Photo by Louise Lundberg
development, specializing in pulse ingredient utilization. “Bob Tyler has been a long-time member on the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers R&D committee,” says Tim Wiens, chair of SPG. “He has provided assistance to SPG in the development of R&D priorities, and continually dedicates his time to review and evaluate research project proposals for alignment with our organization’s goals.” Tyler, who is professor of
Food and Bioproduct Sciences and associate dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, has focused 35 years of research on the use of pulse crops, with a particular focus on peas. His research group has undertaken projects on the modification of pea starch, the extrusion of pea protein concentrate from pea flour and the manufacturing of pasta, snacks and breakfast foods from pulse
flours, amongst others. He is a long-time member of the Pulse and Special Crops Committee of the Prairie Grain Development Committee, and currently serves on the board of directors for Ag-West Bio and the council of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, in addition to his role as the chair of the Saskatchewan Agri-Food Council. “Dr. Tyler’s impact on the industry expands even beyond the organizations and the projects he is directly involved in,” says Carl Potts, executive director with SPG. “He instills his passion for pulses in everyone he encounters, which has allowed the pulse industry to retain many of his former students who are now actively involved in the pulse research and innovation community.”
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Page 9 - The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016
Second Section
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armer ancher Serving the producers of Northwest Saskatchewan
Thursday, March 17, 2016
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Keeping Watch
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Photos by Vicky Clayton
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G reGoire S eed F armS L td . Pedigreed Seed Growers & Processing * Wheat: AAC Brandon, AC Carberry, AAC Ryley * Peas: CDC Raezer, CDC Striker, CDC Limerick, CDC Greenwater * Barley: CDC Copeland, CDC Meredith, CDC Kindersley * Flax: CDC Glas * Faba: CDC Snowdrop R.R. 3 North Battleford, Sk S9A 2X4 Email: gregfarms@sasktel.net PH: 306-445-5516 FAX: 306-446-2997
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Swift Current Maple Creek Leader Kyle Kindersley Shaunavon N. Battleford Humboldt Unity Kelvington Visit our website @ jdat.ca
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The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016 - Page 10
Picturesque 14 of 100+ Upcoming Public
Unreserved Agricultural Auctions Birch Hills Acreage & Farmland
Brian & Janet Schulz
Proposed Country Residential Acreage & 16 Parcels of Farmland near Birch Hills Saskatoon Auction Site – March 21
Bossert Sandy Ridge Farms Ltd.
2010 John Deere 9770STS Herbert, SK – April 8
Anchor Farm & Ranch Ltd.
2003 John Deere 9650STS Hanna, AB – April 9
Kraft Cattle Co
2011 Case IH 450 Rosebud, AB – April 11
Andy & Wonona Makranoff
2015 John Deere W150 35 Ft Provost, AB – April 12
Kingsland Farm Ltd.
5 Parcels of Real Estate Altario, AB – April 12
Allan Andrukow
2012 Case IH 7120 Birsay, SK – April 12
Mike & Shelly Daniel
2009 Challenger MT865C Viking, AB – April 13
Chris & Laurie Wittig
2009 Case IH 6088 Vanguard, SK – April 15
Stanrick Ranch Ltd.
2014 Versatile 550 Quill Lake, SK – April 16
Dennis & Estelle Kuhn
2013 John Deere S690 St Paul, AB – April 16
Larry & Linda Taschuk
2009 John Deere T670 Wetaskiwin, AB – April 19
Ruthles Bison Ltd.
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2009 New Holland CR9070 & 2005 New Holland CR970 Neilburg, SK – April 27
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Photos by Vicky Clayton
Page 11 - The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016
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Rural Canada is being neglected: report Submitted
University of Guelph
After decades of neglect, it’s time to reinvest in rural Canada. That’s the finding of a new national report coauthored by University of Guelph professors. “Without question, we’ve been ignoring rural Canada,” said Al Lauzon, a professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, who helped
write the State of Rural Canada report. SEDRD professors Wayne Caldwell and David Douglas are also authors. The report was produced by the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation and the Rural Policy Learning Commons, an international network funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The study – issued dur-
ing the Building Community Resilience conference in Summerside, P.E.I. – is intended for policy-makers seeking to better understand and work with rural regions and people. “We also hope it will help get rural on the federal election agenda,” said Lauzon, who is the president of CRRF. Rural Canada is vital to the nation’s economy, the report says, citing food production, resource extraction,
energy generation, clean water and air and carbon sequestration. But Canada has run down capital invested earlier in rural regions and has allowed community development to erode, the report says. Rural areas have also taken a back seat in policy development. “Fundamentally, we have forgotten to invest in rural areas and small towns,” Lauzon said.
“We have work to do, at all levels, if we want a sustainable future for rural Canada in the 21st century.” Challenges in rural Canada include an aging population, workforce shortages, and gaps in human and financial capital, says the report. But rural Canada responds in innovative ways to low-cost global competition, and is addressing such issues as sustainability, food security and balancing re-
source development and economic diversification. Rural communities are re-imagining themselves to fit new aspirations and service needs, and they lead in reconciliation and wealth sharing with aboriginal communities. “There is a lot to learn from rural Canada,” Lauzon said. “People often forget how rural communities and regions contribute economically and culturally to Canada.”
G reGoire S eed F armS L td . Pedigreed Seed Growers R.R. 3 North Battleford, Sk S9A 2X4 Farm: 306-445-5516 Fax: 306-446-2997 Email: gregfarms@sasktel.net Denis (Cell): (306) 441-7851 Brandon (Cell): (306) 441-3781
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$4M invested in beef innovation Staff The federal government has announced an investment of more than $4 million to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association for three innovative projects. These projects will support the industry with new and existing markets both at home and abroad, a press release states. “The Government of Canada is pleased to be able to support the CCA in these innovative projects. These industry-led projects will strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian beef industry, while meeting consumer demands for safe high quality products,” said Lawrence MacAulay, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The three projects include: • $2,601,500 from the AgriMarketing Assurance Stream toward the development of tools to enable end users (packers, retail food service), consumers and the industry to have easy access to beef product information. • $380,834 under AgriRisk Initiatives for a feasibility study into the use of satellite-based technology to track and measure forage and pasture production for cattle producers. This study will lay the basis for developing field-level productionbased forage insurance for producers. • $1,045,510 under Agrilnnovation’s research
and development stream to work with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientists to enhance the quality of Canadian beef using Computer Vision Systems measurements. The CVS will image beef carcasses to predict and measure the tenderness, dark cutting,
lean yield, bruising, and fat colour of beef. “Innovation drives continuous improvement in the beef industry and funding forward-thinking projects like these ensures continued progress in key areas of sustainable production, quality, and business risk manage-
ment to the benefit of the entire value chain, including consumers, said CCA president Dave Solverson.
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The Battlefords, Thursday, March 17, 2016 - Page 12