Pulse officials
Two positions on the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) board of directors have been filled by acclamation.
John Bennett of Biggar, Sask., will return to the board for another term. Jeff Sopatyk of Saskatoon will also join the board, replacing Jim Moen who retired after serving two terms.
Bennett has farmed in the Biggar area for more than 30 years.
He has a no-till operation that produces pulses, oilseeds and cereals.
He is past-president of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SSCA) and sits on the board of the Saskatchewan Research Council.
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He was named SSCA farmer of the year in 1993 and the Canadian no-till farmer of the year in 2000. In 2007, he was named an honorary life member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists.
Sopatyk and his wife, Patti, operate Sopatyk Seed Farms in the Saskatoon area. They farm 6,000 acres producing seed peas, lentils, chickpeas, canola, barley, wheat and hemp.
Sopatyk has a diploma from the University of Saskatchewan and attended an additional two years in the College of Agriculture. He is a director of Saskcan Horizon Seed Processors in Aberdeen, Sask., and has served as a director for Farm Pure Seeds.
Other SPG board members include Maurice Berry of Carievale, Barbara Podhorodeski of Shipman, Murray Purcell of Pike Lake, Lloyd Affleck of Beechy and David Nobbs of Kindersley.
Agri-tourism seminars
Farmers can upgrade their skills and knowledge in the comfort of their own homes, thanks to a series of on-line seminars offered by the Canadian Farm Business Management Council. Agri-tourism entrepreneur Claude-Jean Harel will host the series.
Seminars are presented every Monday at 12p.m. EST. Topics include grain marketing fundamentals, biofuel production, beneficial management practices and agri-tourism.
For more information, visit www.farmcentre.com/.
Pulse recognition
Farmer Germain Dauk of Naicam, Sask., has been named 2007 Pulse Promoter of the Year for his ongoing contributions to the pulse industry.
Born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, Dauk completed bachelor of education and bachelor of science degrees at the University of Saskatchewan. He played football with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and later accepted a teaching position in Naicam, Sask. He retired from full-time teaching in 1984 to make farming his priority.
Today, Dauk farms 4,700 acres with his wife, Myrna, and two sons, Richard and Ryan.
During his farming career he has served as a director with numerous organizations, including the Saskatchewan Canola Growers’ Association, the Canadian Farm Business Management Council and the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers’ Association.
He also served as chair of Pulse Canada from 2001-03.
Dauk remains active with a number of agriculture and community organizations and serves as chair of the Saskatchewan environmental farm planning advisory committee.
