Jan. 7-8: Wild Rose Agricultural Producers and Canadian Outstanding Young Farmers Alberta/NWT convention and seminars, Black Knight Inn, Red Deer (Rod, 780-451-5912)
Jan. 9-10: Peace Country Beef Congress, Grande Prairie, Alta. (Patricia Fraser, 780-568-2203)
Jan. 12-14: 2004 Canadian Forage and Turf Seed conference, Radisson Hotel, Saskatoon, 306-787-7712
Jan. 12-16: Western Canadian Crop Production Show, Saskatoon, 306-931-7149
Manitoba beef and forage week:
Jan. 12: Holland, Bob Wheeler, 204-723-3232
Jan. 13: Eriksdale, Jim Mason, 204-762-5649
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A Vancouver agri-tech company wants to give canola growers another weapon in the never-ending battle against flea beetles.
Jan. 14: Ste. Rose, Rodger Sheldon, 204-447-2116
Jan. 15: Rosa, Wally Happychuk, 204-425-5055
Jan. 16: Teulon, Hilmar Johnson, 204-886-2696
Jan. 15: Agritourism workshop, Assiniboia, Sask. (Garry Noble, 306-642-7225)
Jan. 16-17: Canadian Bull Congress, Camrose, Alta., 780-672-3640
Jan. 20-21: Cattlemen’s Corral Crop Visions, Lloydminster (Mike Sidoryk, 306-825-5571)
Jan. 20-22: Manitoba Ag Days, Keystone Centre, Brandon (Owen Beever, 204-571-6566)
Jan. 20-23: Banff Pork Seminar, Banff Centre for Conferences, Banff, Alta., 780-492-3651
Planning on-farm festivals and special events for farm direct and ag tourism operators. (Keily Stetson, 780-853-8240)
Jan. 21: Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin
Jan. 22: Lynnwood Ranch, Okotoks
Jan. 22-25: Organic Conference, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont., 519-824-4120
Jan. 28-29: Manitoba Swine seminar, Best Western Victoria Inn, Winnipeg (Ian Seddon, 204-945-0353)
Jan. 28-30: FarmTech, Mayfield Inn, Edmonton, 866-327-6832
Westman beef seminar. (John Popp, 204-867-3961)
Feb. 3: Miniota
Feb. 4: Belmont
Feb. 3-5: Dairy Farmers of Canada Dairy Policy conference, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ottawa, Ont. (DFC, 613-236-9997)
Feb. 4-7: Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention and trade show, Telus Convention Centre, Calgary (CPMA, 613-226-4187)
CIGI makes appointments
The Canadian International Grains Institute has announced the appointment of Gord Carson as director of cereal technology.
Carson is now associate technical director of grain-based products with Robin Hood Multi-Foods Inc. in Markham Ont. He is expected to begin at CIGI Jan. 5.
As director of cereal technology, Carson is responsible for CIGI’s baking technology, milling and pasta technology and noodle and steamed bread technology sections.
As well, Linda Malcolmson, director of agri-foods, has been appointed director of special crops, pulses and oilseeds. Malcolmson will be responsible for quality control and product development in these areas.
She had been responsible for cereal technology and was instrumental in CIGI’s expansion into special crops and oilseeds.
CIGI is a nonprofit instructional facility dedicated to promoting Canada’s field crops in domestic and foreign markets.
Researcher gets funding
University of Saskatchewan chemical engineer Ajay Dalai has received $240,000 to be paid over three years to create a biodegradable lubricating additive for diesel engines.
The additive may reduce engine wear by as much as 50 percent and boost fuel economy by 10 percent.
The biodiesel, made from low-grade canola and soy oils and restaurant grease, also promises to lower environmentally harmful sulfur levels in diesel fuel.
The study is funded by Biocap Canada Foundation and the federal Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
Biocap Canada is a nonprofit foundation designed to bring together leading researchers.
As well, Western Economic Diversification has announced it is giving $199,040 to help keep the City of Saskatoon’s four experimental buses operating on canola biodiesel for two years. The project is run by the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, which has contributed $20,000 toward the project, as did the Canadian Canola Growers Association.
Project organizers hope to assess canola biodiesel’s ability to improve mileage and reduce emissions.
FCC awards program
Farm Credit Canada is offering $69,000 to encourage agricultural students to plan their futures.
FCC’s business planning awards program has expanded to 11 from six agricultural schools across Canada this year.
The program asks students in the final year of an agricultural diploma program to develop business plans in conjunction with their professors and experienced farm operators.
The highest quality plans from each school are chosen for the awards, which are handed out in the spring.
Participating schools include Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Assinboine Community College, Lakeland College, Olds College, the universities of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Guelph, two campuses of the Institute de technologie agro-alimentaire, McGill University’s Macdonald Campus and University College of the Fraser Valley.
