Municipal awards presented
The Saskatchewan Municipal Awards program recently recognized innovation in Saskatchewan local governments.
- First place: Regional Municipal Plaza. Rural municipalities of Baildon, Hillsborough, Rodgers, Moose Jaw and Caron co-own a building, allowing member municipalities to share space and resources.
- Second place: Revitalization of Humboldt’s Merchants Bank of Canada Building. Turned an under-used, municipally owned building into Humboldt’s first and only public art gallery.
- Third place: Water Conservation Measures Bylaw in Lumsden. The bylaw regulates new building projects to reduce water use and alleviate pressure on the existing waste-water treatment system.
- An award for regional co-operation was presented to the Moose Jaw–Regina Industrial Corridor Committee Inc. The not-for-profit corporation was created to attract investment to the area and support regional planning.
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Final crop reports show strong yields, quality
Crops yielded above average across the Prairies this year, and quality is generally average to above-average.
An independent, six-member committee reviewed 10 nominations from 33 municipalities to choose the four winning projects.
BASF Clearfield system for canola
Two new hybrid varieties are being added to the Clearfield Production System for canola for next year: Pioneer Hybrid 45H76 and Nexera Hybrid 2020 CL.
The company claims that both offer better standability and higher yield potential.
Like all Clearfield seeds, they are non-genetically modified.
Food processor funded
An Ontario health food processing company will receive $990,000 in federal funding to install food processing equipment for the commercialization of its patented nutrient-dense muffins and vitamins.
U-Be-Livin-Smart’s project is expected to increase demand for berries, apples, sweet potatoes, eggs and whey protein.
The company claims that its 10 -to-one patented process transforms 10 pounds of raw ingredients into one lb. of healthy food without losing nutrient and micro-nutrient value.
Young farmer video winners announced
Jeff Barlow of Ontario, Jill Burckhardt of Alberta and Dean Harder of Manitoba won Farm Management Canada’s Y We Farm: A Young Farmer Video Competition.
They each won a trip to FMC’s Ag Excellence Conference in Winnipeg Nov. 19-21.
The video competition is designed to engage young farmers using multimedia to share their enthusiasm and dreams for Canada’s agricultural industry.
The videos focused on the question: what does the future of Canadian agriculture look like to you?
They can be seen at www.youtube.com/fmcgac.
Fruit research funded
The Ontario Tender Fruit Producers’ Marketing Board has received $410,545 in federal funding to develop new varieties suited to the province’s soil conditions and climate.
The money will enable the not-for-profit organization to produce new varieties of tender fruits and fresh grapes, which can be introduced to consumers earlier in the season.
The tender fruit and grape sectors are estimated to bring more than $250 million to the province’s farm economy.
Wheat research proposals sought
Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund has put out a third call for wheat research proposals.
Total funding of $2.28 million is available over five years.
Proposals from research teams are invited to undertake new and innovative research in wheat improvement that will increase crop production.
Proposals can include:
- Conventional or molecular breeding technologies that target wheat yield and/quality improvement.
- The prevention of wheat losses through biotic (disease and insects) and abiotic (heat, cold and drought) stress tolerance.
- Agronomic studies toward establishing best management practices as a way of achieving maximum yield potential and increased input use efficiency.
- Innovative products and processes, to add value to wheat export products and enable access to new markets.
Wheat RFP-ADF application forms can be obtained from Sharon Popp at 306-787-5929 or by email at Sharon.Popp@gov.sk.ca.
Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. Jan. 28.
