SASKATOON — Government funding for beef and forage re-search in Saskatchewan will hit a record $4.65 million this year.
Provincial agriculture minister Lyle Stewart announced last week that 26 projects will receive money from the Agriculture Development Fund, which is cost-shared with Ottawa through Growing Forward 2.
Last year, 30 projects were eligible for $3.8 million.
Industry organizations are adding $800,000 to the pot, for a total of $5.45 million. The funders include Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and the Western Grains Research Foundation.
Stewart said the government is pleased to support research to keep the livestock industry strong. He said producers have a track record of adopting the latest technology and tools.
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“Saskatchewan, being so heavily involved in the crop sector, maybe the livestock sector has missed out a little on research funding in the past, so this is very important,” he told reporters at the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference. “Our livestock sector is vital and growing and profitable these days, for the most part, and this allows producers access to new information that will help them be more efficient and sustainable and profitable.”
The government actually an-nounced $7.8 million in spending for 2016, but that includes $3.15 million in core funding for the Prairie Swine Centre and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
Stewart said that money comes from the same source so it was rolled into the announcement at the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference.
Projects include evaluating core body temperature as an indicator of feed efficiency and nutrient status of beef cattle on forage diets.
Stewart said the ADF board does a great job of picking projects that deserve funding.
The University of Saskatchewan, including VIDO and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, will receive the most funding, followed by the swine centre, the Western Beef Development Centre, Agriculture Canada, the Saskatchewan Bison Association and the University of Regina.
Research cash: who gets what
- $1.75 million for forage
- $1.25 million for beef
- $787,000 for swine
- $758,000 for other species
- $138,500 for a project to screen feed for mycotoxins
