The Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) has announced $1.1 million in funding for three projects.
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities will receive $420,000 for its research into more economical and environmentally friendly methods of gopher control, while two projects designed to help First Nations youth become involved in agriculture through programs such as 4-H will receive $680,000.
Saskatoon First Nations businessperson Lester Lafond said he grew up in a 4-H beef club and once showed the grand champion at a local show. He has an agriculture diploma from the University of Saskatchewan and chaired the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations agriculture task force.
He told the news conference announcing the funding that with $1 billion worth of land assets, First Nations youth must learn how to manage it properly.
Funding for the programs comes from the federal Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food program, but ACS is delivering it.
