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University of Saskatchewan forage breeder and professor emeritus Dr. Bruce Coulman has been appointed the interim director of the school’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence. Coulman will replace Kris Ringwall, who is retiring at the end of the month. Ringwall joined the centre around the time it opened in late 2018 and oversaw the consolidation of staff and cattle…
University of Saskatchewan forage breeder and professor emeritus Dr. Bruce Coulman has been appointed the interim director of the school’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
Coulman will replace Kris Ringwall, who is retiring at the end of the month.
Ringwall joined the centre around the time it opened in late 2018 and oversaw the consolidation of staff and cattle herds from Termuende Ranch, Goodale Farm, and the Beef Cattle Research Unit into the new research facility south of Clavet, Sask.
“Kris has brought three distinct operations together under one roof and set us on the path towards a new and exciting way of carrying out innovative livestock and forage production research that that supports sustainability, profitability and environmental stewardship,” says Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn, the dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, in a news post on the centre’s website.
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Coulman has developed 22 forage crop varieties over his 40-year career, which has included serving as the head of plant science departments at McGilll University and the University of Saskatchewan. He also worked as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In 2008, the Canadian Seed Trade Association gave Coulman its Canadian Plant Breeding and Genetics Award.
Having just celebrated the centre’s second anniversary this fall, the university says a search for a permanent director is underway.
“We find ourselves at an important juncture. We will look back at our brief past and learn from it while also looking forward as we head into the next chapter of the LFCE story. Seizing this opportunity will require the steady leadership that Bruce can provide in the coming months,” says Bedard-Haughn.
Related: Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence aims to deliver world-leading research
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has reached an agreement to transfer key research programs to the University of Alberta (U of A), expanding its agriculture research capacity. The $3.7 million grant…
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has reached an agreement to transfer key research programs to the University of Alberta (U of A), expanding its agriculture research capacity.
The $3.7 million grant will assist in the transition of critical agriculture research programs and researchers.
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, says that the U of A has a strong agriculture program, and that adding these great researchers to their programming will benefit Alberta’s farmers and ranchers for years to come.
“Research is critical to agriculture’s success, and by leveraging and increasing capacity it will result in huge benefits for Alberta’s agriculture sector,” says Dreeshen.
The researchers and programs that will now reside with the U of A include:
- John Basarab, beef genomics and feed efficiency;
- Dr. Marcos Colazo, reproductive management in beef and dairy cattle;
- Valerie Carney, Poultry Innovation project lead; and,
- Sheri Strydhorst, cereal agronomy.
The new research agreement is part of the Alberta government’s Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) program. Over the long term, RDAR will assume ongoing responsibility for the funding agreement with the U of A.
Dr. Stanford Blade, dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences at U of A, says the faculty is very excited to be joined by these new colleagues.
“These individuals are excellent researchers who have an impressive track record of working with producers and the entire agricultural sector,” Blade says. “We are looking forward to enhanced capacity and new opportunities for collaboration with our new faculty members.”
The Ontario government, through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), and the University of Guelph will spend $6.5 million to build a new Field Crop Services building on the…
The Ontario government, through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), and the University of Guelph will spend $6.5 million to build a new Field Crop Services building on the Ridgetown campus.
The new build will house agronomy research services and modernize the field crops research operations on campus, while also reducing operating costs. Ridgetown campus field crop research is focused on the study of crop production, including crop genetics, nutrient inputs, and integrated pest management.
“This is a significant long-term investment in field crop research infrastructure, and I want to thank the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and University of Guelph administration for their tremendous support,” says Ken McEwan, Ridgetown Campus director, University of Guelph. “The Ridgetown Campus fills an important need for applied agricultural research, education and outreach that is not duplicated within the province.”
Proud to be at my alma mater, the @UofG @RidgetownCampus with MPP @RickNichollsCKL to announce construction of a new Field Crop Services building. This $6.5M provincial investment will support advanced research to increase the competitiveness of our farmers & agri-food sector. pic.twitter.com/DmmOPtcsj8
— Randy Pettapiece (@RandyPettapiece) October 19, 2020
Viterra has announced it is starting construction on a new grain elevator with a loop track at Biggar, Sask. “For the last several years, we have been making targeted investments…
Viterra has announced it is starting construction on a new grain elevator with a loop track at Biggar, Sask.
“For the last several years, we have been making targeted investments across our asset network to ensure we’re aligned with our operating environment and able to provide the high level of service our customers expect from a leader like Viterra,” says Kyle Jeworski, president and CEO for Viterra North America. “We’re pleased to be revitalizing our presence in the Biggar area, and making a long term commitment to our customers through this significant investment.”
The current Viterra facility at Biggar is on the Canadian National railway line and has a capacity of 11,050 metric tonnes, according to the Canadian Grain Commission.
The new, larger elevator will be built on the north side Biggar, with service from Canadian Pacific, and storage capacity of 34,000 metric tonnes.
“We commend Viterra for its steady and substantial investments across its asset network, including its new facility at Biggar,” says Joan Hardy, CP’s vice-president of sales and marketing for grain and fertilizers. “As industry partners, Viterra and CP are focused on strengthening Canada’s agriculture supply chain through targeted infrastructure investments. This project is the latest example of our commitment to Canadian farmers, and moving their crops in a timely and efficient manner.”
Viterra says it plans to complete construction on the new elevator in early 2022.
Related: Viterra to build new elevator northwest of Winnipeg
The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) — a collaboration of the Alberta Wheat Commission, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, and Manitoba Crop Alliance — is committing over $22.6 million to Agriculture…
The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) — a collaboration of the Alberta Wheat Commission, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, and Manitoba Crop Alliance — is committing over $22.6 million to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for a core breeding agreement over a five-year term.
The group says the agreement ensures that farmers will benefit from new premium wheat varieties and associated genetics from AAFC’s breeding program for many years to come.
This latest five-year agreement is $2.6 million above the previous agreement and will be used to support plant breeders, technicians, and specialists who are working to deliver new wheat varieties for western Canadian farmers.
“The activities being conducted by Canadian researchers and wheat breeders, such as those at AAFC, have led to major innovations over the past few decades, including the development of several new wheat varieties with improved genetics and more desirable traits,” says Fred Greig, CWRC board chair and director with the Manitoba Crop Alliance. “Building on the work funded by farmers through organizations such as the Western Grains Research Foundation, this investment will ensure Canadian farmers benefit from new wheat varieties that improve and enhance the competitiveness of their farming operations while maintaining Canada’s reputation for providing quality wheat for markets around the globe.”
Greater yield potential, resistance to priority diseases such as fusarium head blight, rusts, and common bunt, and resistance to pests such as the orange wheat blossom midge and wheat stem sawfly are objectives of the agreement.
The agreement is funded proportionally by province based on the 2018-2019 production year, with 53 percent from Saskatchewan, 32 per cent from Alberta, and 15 per cent from Manitoba.
The CWRC took on the responsibility for producer-funded wheat variety development from the Western Grains Research Foundation earlier this year.