Young Cattlemen’s Council fills positions
The Young Cattlemen’s Council recently filled three-at-large positions and one council member spot during its annual general meeting.
Newly elected YCC council members include Laura Bodell and Rae-Leigh Pederzolli of Alberta, Shane Klepak of Saskatchewan and Allen Rawluk of Manitoba.
Current YCC members are past-president Erika Strande from British Columbia, president Jake Meyer from Alberta, vice-president Brodie Haugan of Alberta, Warren Schneckenburger of Ontario and Daniel Muir of Atlantic Canada.
Goals for 2015 include increasing membership and member engagement and establishing an annual event.
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Young cattle producers aged 18 to 35 can join the organization by filling out an application form at www.youngcattlemenscouncil.com.
People can also participate on Twitter (@YCCBeef) and Facebook.
New control strategies for pig, cattle disease
The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board is receiving $260,000 in federal funding to help control two diseases that threaten swine and beef herds in Canada.
The research will target Brachyspira hampsonii, which causes diarrhea and colitis in pigs. It was recently discovered in Western Canada and is known to affect feeding and growth rates in pigs.
Scientists will also look for a better understanding of bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BCG), or vibriosis, which can reduce pregnancy rates among breeding cattle. A recent outbreak of BCG in a Saskatchewan herd reduced pregnancy rates by 16 to 62 percent.
Both studies will be conducted at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine and will include diagnostics, surveillance and trials involving live animals.
Man. wheat, barley group hires researcher
The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association has contracted Lori-Ann Kaminski to conduct research planning and project management support.
Kaminski will work with Brent VanKoughnet of Agri Skills Inc., who has been on contract with MWBGA for 18 months to launch the new organization.
Humanitarian projects aid those in need
More than 28,000 people in five countries will benefit from six projects worth $1.8 million.
The Mennonite Central Committee, World Renew, Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA), Emergency Relief and Development Overseas (ERDO) and Canadian Baptist Ministries are working on the projects.
One project, through ADRA, includes additional humanitarian support for war-affected South Sudan. It is providing monthly rations of sorghum, beans, oil and salt to 1,776 families.
Another project, started by World Renew in Ethiopia is partnering with Food for the Hungry to help feed orphans and other vulnerable children with monthly rations of wheat flour, beans, oil, and salt.
Other projects include a food security project in India through Canadian Baptist Ministries that benefits 4,320 people; a food security project in India through the Mennonite Central Committee that benefits 5,525 people; a nutrition project in Nepal through Mennonite Central Committee that benefits 1,300 people; and a school-feeding project in Bangladesh through Emergency Relief & Development Overseas that benefits 6,985 people.
Community projects receive funding
The Community Initiatives Fund will distribute $3,257,109 in funding to 107 Saskatchewan communities to support projects throughout the province.
Projects must have the goal of enhancing quality of life, such as literacy programs, community celebrations, parenting programs, community hall renovations, physical activity initiatives, volunteer programs and youth mentoring.
The list of grant recipients and their projects is at www.cifsask.org.
CWD vaccine research funded
Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise will receive up to $1.16 million in funding from the federal and Saskatchewan governments to help develop a new vaccine against chronic wasting disease, which affects elk herds in Western Canada.
CWD is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that has spread rapidly over the last decade. It’s endemic to wildlife populations in Saskatchewan, Alberta and 22 American states.
The disease is having a major impact on game hunting industry, and it’s estimated that the alternative livestock market declined 85 percent between 2001-11.
Funding supports health beverage manufacturer
Spirit Foods has received $67,000 in federal funding to increase the market for its line of health beverages.
The company is commercializing a health beverage containing fruit, water, herbs and spices.
The company will use the money to buy and install an automated fruit-filling machine, improve production and expand distribution.
The two-year-old firm introduced an infused water, which was inspired by kompot, a non-alcoholic clear juice obtained by cooking fruit in a large volume of water. It is a significant part of the culinary culture in Eastern Europe.
Farmers get help preparing for safety inspections
Keystone Agricultural Producers and SAFE Work Manitoba are working to provide farm safety support services that will help producers make their farms safe and prepare for safety inspections.
Farmers can contact the KAP office to arrange for SAFE Work employees to visit their farm and identify safety issues that need to be resolved. They will also explain what to expect when an inspector arrives at their farm.
For more information, contact the KAP office at 204-697-1140 and SAFE Work Manitoba at 204-957-SAFE (7233) or 855-957-SAFE (7233).
