Federal and provincial governments provided the funding
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) is receiving $7.7 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments.
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced that 46 projects are receiving funding.
Of the funded efforts, some research focuses on improving plant breeding technology to test for DON toxins as a result of fusarium head blight in wheat, optimizing loss-sensing technology on farm equipment to minimize losses at harvest, and the development of a pulse-based replacement for shortening.
Fusarium head blight
Photo: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
MacAulay and Stewart said investing in research is a key way to ensure farmers remain successful.
"Research in agriculture is the key to maintaining a competitive edge, and that's why the federal government, in partnership with Provinces and agriculture organizations, invests in research,” MacAulay said in a release. “These millions of dollars invested into crops research in Saskatchewan over the years will help create growth and put more money in the pockets of farmers within the sector.”
“Continual innovation through the ADF leads to improved crop varieties, more value-added processing and cutting edge farming practices and knowledge, keeping our agriculture industry strong,” Stewart said in the release.
Other farm organizations, including SaskPulse, SaskCanola and the Alberta Wheat Commission, have contributed about $3.7 million to ADF projects.
Farm groups say the government funding can go a long way to help producers maximize the potential of their operations.
"We are appreciative of the funding provided through ADF that enables collaboration and the ability to make advancements across the Saskatchewan agriculture sector,” Carl Potts, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, said in the release. “Amongst the funded projects are ones looking to address key priority areas for pulse growers such as weed control and pest management in pulse crops."