Dairy commission CEO appointed
Serge Riendeau has been appointed the new chief executive officer of the Canadian Dairy Commission for a three-year term.
Riendeau has been operating a dairy farm near Coaticook, Que., for more than 40 years.
He was on the Agropur Cooperative board for 25 years, including 15 years as president.
College dean wins national award
Josie Van Lent, dean of Lakeland College’s School of Agricultural Sciences, received a 2018 Gold Award of Excellence from Colleges and Institutes Canada.
Van Lent was the winner of the leadership excellence for managerial staff category in April.
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Enrolment in the college’s agricultural sciences has increased since Van Lent joined in 2007 from 182 students to about 500 this year.
She was instrumental in helping to secure industry collaborations as well as three recent capital projects at the college:
- modernization of the G.N. Sweet Livestock Research Facility
- construction of a dairy learning centre
- construction of an animal health clinic
She also showed leadership in expanding the student-managed learning concept to animal science technology and agribusiness.
4-H honours member
Evan Jamieson from Dalemead, Alta., has been awarded the 2018 4H Alberta Premier’s Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of young people in rural Alberta.
Jamieson has been a member of the Bow Valley Beef and Multi 4-H Club for nine years.
He will represent 4-H Alberta at various regional 4-H and agricultural events throughout the year.
In addition, 14 senior 4-H delegates were named as 4-H Alberta Ambassadors to promote 4-H and youth involvement in Alberta.
4-H Alberta has also selected 42 members to represent 4-H Alberta at educational events and conferences throughout Canada and the United States.
Top wheat grower wanted
The 2018 Wheat Yield Challenge is underway.
It marks the second year that the Alberta Wheat Commission has held the contest to determine Alberta’s top wheat grower.
New rules this year will help level the playing field across all soil types and classes. First and second prizes will be awarded to wheat growers who obtain the highest yield percentage above the five-year averages set by the Agriculture Financial Services Corp.
They will receive a pass to the Prairie Cereals Summit in Banff, Alta., in December, including two nights stay and a $200 gift card to cover travel expenses.
Farmers can enter the 2018 Wheat Yield Challenge by July 1 and have until Nov. 1 to fill out their harvest report.
For more information, contact Brian Kennedy, grower relations and extension co-ordinator, at bkennedy@albertawheat.com.
Farm Products Council announces new members
Three recent appointments were made to the Farm Products Council of Canada.
Brian Douglas begins a four-year term as chair, while Yvon Cyr joins the council for a four-year term and Maryse Dubé returns for her second three-year term.
Council members are appointed to hold office by the governor in council upon the recommendation of the agriculture minister for terms of varying lengths.
At least half of the members, not including the chair, must be primary agricultural producers at the time of their appointment.
