Sustainable agriculture research receives funding
The University of British Columbia will receive $1.8 million in federal funding to determine carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions and develop beneficial management practices for increasing the efficiency of fertilizer use in blueberry, potato and forage crops.
The research team will use state-of-the-art instrumentation and automated measurement techniques to quantify annual greenhouse gas emissions.
The joint project is one of 20 new research projects supported by the $27 million Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program, a partnership with universities and conservation groups.
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The program supports research into greenhouse gas mitigation practices and technologies that can be adopted on the farm.
FCC board members appointed
The federal government has made several appointments to the board of directors of Farm Credit Canada. They have experience in fields related to the agriculture industry, including farming, finance, law and science.
- Del Anaquod: newly appointed as director for a three-year term
- Bertha Campbell: newly appointed as director for a four-year term
- Laura Donaldson: newly appointed as director for a four-year term
- Michele Hengen: newly appointed as director for a three-year term
- James Laws: newly appointed as director for a three-year term
- Govert Verstralen: newly appointed as director for a four-year term
- Jane Halford: re-appointed as director for a three-year term
Satellite technology helps manage feed crops
A study to explore the use of new technology that tracks hay and pasture production will receive $988,000 in federal funding.
The Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and Research at the University of Manitoba’s I.H. Asper School of Business will work with the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association on a project that consists of collaborative research with Alberta Beef Producers to use new satellite-based technology to estimate forage growth at the farm level in each province.
It will develop a forage production index that would form the basis for the development of new insurance tools.
Grass and hay insurance participation rates on the Prairies are much lower than for annual crops.
Perennial crops may be moved closer to a competitive balance with annual crops for insurance programs offered.
Sask. chief vet wins Premier’s Award
Dr. Betty Althouse has been awarded the Saskatchewan Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service.
The chief veterinary officer with Saskatchewan Agriculture was one of six recipients of the award.
