Sheep industry gets funding for biosecurity
The Canadian Sheep Federation has received $348,090 in federal funding to integrate the National Sheep Biosecurity Standard and the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep into the Food Safe Farm Practices policy.
This will provide assurances that sheep and lamb have been raised under an integrated farm program that addresses food safety, biosecurity and animal care.
Funding to improvehog marketing risks
The Canadian Pork Council will receive $169,530 in federal funding to study the risks and impacts of hog market price fluctuations on producers.
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It will explore the potential of developing a hog-hedging program to help protect producers against fluctuations in market prices.
Producers, financial institutions, packing plants and organizations will be consulted to provide risk management services to producers for their assessment of this risk.
The hog industry typically experiences price volatility, which producers manage through a limited selection of short-term risk management instruments offered by hog marketers, packing plants and producer associations.
Funding for potatoes
Potatoes New Brunswick will receive $1.4 million in federal funding to lead national research into improving potato yields and french fry exports.
The research will be conducted with other industry partners, Agriculture Canada scientists and universities to identify factors that limit potato yields.
On-farm experiments will help improve yields and develop new tools and technologies for farmers.
Potatoes represent more than 30 percent of all Canadian vegetables produced. The french fry sector buys almost half of Canadian potato production and generates more than $708 million in export sales.
Poultry sector gets money
The University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine will receive $400,000 in federal funding to develop and commercialize a potential advancement for treating bacterial infections in chickens.
The new technology delivers an immunity-boosting aerosol protectant to chickens as an alternative to antibiotics.
The project supports partnerships with poultry farms in Saskatchewan and British Columbia as well as industry associations in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Angus group honours longtime members
The Canadian Angus Association recently honoured its members with six 50-year, two 75-year and one 100-year long-term recognition awards.
Fifty year award recipients included the Gibson family, Steve Tofteland family, Spuceyvale Angus, Allencroft Angus, Gord Bradshaw and Aldo Pederzolli.
The Bradshaw family and Willabar Ranch were recognized for 75 years of continuous membership, while the C.H. Richardson Family/Willow Park Farm was honoured for 100 years of continuous membership.
All of the farms are from Alberta.
Seed association gets new executive director
Crosby Devitt is the Canadian Seed Trade Association’s new executive director.
Devitt had previously been vice-president of strategic development for Grain Farmers of Ontario and was also instrumental in forming the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance, which he currently chairs.
Previous experience includes advocating for the advancement of policy, marketing, trade and research on behalf of growers.
He was awarded a Nuffield Agricultural Scholarship in 2012.
