SASKATOON – Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister is planning to change his ministry’s extension service.
Bob Bjornerud told cattle producers meeting in Saskatoon that the extension service from nine rural service centres is failing badly.
“That’s got to change,” he said.
However, he’s not likely to turn back the clock to the days when fully staffed extension offices operated in more than 30 communities.
He told reporters increased staffing would depend on how things go.
“Right now we have some pretty capable people there that I think have been underutilized the last few years and that’s what they’re telling us.”
Those people will be getting out of their offices more.
“If we need more people it probably says it was a success.”
Bjornerud said farmers tell him technology is changing so fast that they need more information. Private companies have their own agrologists, but the minister said a neutral, independent opinion is needed.
The former NDP government closed 22 rural service centres and laid off 120 people in its 2004 budget.
