GENOME BC RECEIVES FUNDING
The British Columbia government has provided $25 million to Genome British Columbia to support research in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, human health, bioenergy, mining and the environment.
The research includes developing and applying new genomics tools that can help beekeepers stop annual colony losses caused mostly by bee-specific infectious diseases and widespread resistance to chemical controls.
Genome BC is also providing a forum to explore environmental, ethical, economic, legal and social issues so that scientific research remains focused and relevant to society.
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Poor trailer design and transportation stress are killing pigs and costing the pork industry millions of dollars in penalties, meat quality downgrades and failed welfare audits, according to research by a federal scientist.
Investments have led to the creation of full-time research positions, recruitment of top researchers to B.C. and the production of patents and licences in the province.
NEW ADVISERS FOR HOLSTEIN CANADA
Two new members have joined Holstein Canada’s Young Adult Advisory Committee.
Tom Mufford of Hague, Sask., is general manager of Rivercrest Land and Cattle, a family farm operated with his father and brother. They milk 260 cows with a mix of high genetic animals and commercial animals.
Jon Raymond of the 50-cow Butternut- Hill Holsteins in Dykstra, N.B., is a 4-H leader and vice-president of the New Brunswick Holstein branch and is involved with the Atlantic Young Breeders School. He also won Holstein Canada’s education award in 2007.
Mufford and Raymond join William Judge of Caledon East, Ont., and Melissa Marcoux of St. Ferdinand, Que., on the committee.
NEW MEMBER FOR GRAINS COUNCIL
Stew Gilroy has joined the Alberta Grains Council as a farmer member.
He was appointed by the provincial government.
Gilroy farms near Camrose and has pioneered the use of hulless oats in pharmaceuticals and the food and feed industries.
He has most recently been chair of the Canola Council of Canada and was a member of the Western Agri- Food Institute, the Alberta Canola Producers’ Commission, the Prairies Oat Growers Association, the Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta and the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.
Other council members are Greg Porozni, Mundare, farmer, chair; Henry Dechant, Fairview, farmer member; Dan Greene, Carmangay, farmer; D’Arcy Hilgartner, Camrose, farmer; Gerard Oosterhuis, Bow Island, farmer; Ed Lefsrud, Viking, farmer; Dennis Nanninga, Barrhead, farmer; Sean Royer, Edmonton, Alberta Agriculture; and Andre Tremblay, Edmonton, Alberta Agriculture.
NEW DIGS
Saskatchewan Agriculture has opened a new satellite office in Assiniboia.
The office will provide information and advice about crops, livestock, forage and farm business management.
Producers in the area had been without provincial extension services since the town’s rural service centre was closed in 2004.
The Assiniboia office is one of seven new satellite offices that have been opened this year. The others are in Lloydminster, Moosomin, Meadow Lake, Estevan, Shaunavon and Wadena.
They will operate as two-year pilot projects.
Regional offices already exist in Tisdale, Watrous, Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Kindersley, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Weyburn and Outlook.
