News

Dr. Martin Scanlon has been appointed to a five-year term as dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba effective January 1, 2019. Scanlon is no stranger to the U of M, having been a professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences. One of his priorities will be to ensure that the faculty continues to provide leadership in the agri-food sector.

Scanlon has also served as the associate dean (Research), chair of the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, and acting head of the former Department of Food Science.

“I look forward to working together with partners across a wide spectrum to develop research capacity that aligns with the University of Manitoba’s priorities in food and agriculture,” says Scanlon. “Collaboration drives us forward because interdisciplinary perspectives often shed new light on the complex problems we encounter in food systems research.”

Previous to his role with the university, Scanlon worked for the Canadian Grain Commission Grain Research Laboratory in Winnipeg and the Flour Milling & Baking Research Association in Chorleywood, England. Among other accolades, he was the first Canadian recipient of the AACC International George W. Scott Blair Lecture Award for exceptional ability in research areas involving rheology and texture as related to cereal-based products.

Statistics Canada, it would appear, knows you don’t really want to talk to them. The government agency is sharing news of its AG-Zero project — an initiative that seeks to move phone and other surveys from first to somewhere else down the list of information gathering.

“We’re working to produce comprehensive, relevant, and integrated farm data – while minimizing the burden on farm operators,” says StatsCan ag diverion director Étienne Saint-Pierre. Farmers want timely, accurate and detailed data, the department says, while completing the least number of surveys.

Reducing the response burden is a key part of the agency’s modernization initiative — AG-Zero — which explores how alternative sources of information can complement surveys and improve the timeliness, quality, and accuracy of statistical information. In October 2018, the division reached out to farm organizations and key partners, during the National Consultation Week held by Statistics Canada.

The agency received positive feedback on the project, and plans to leverage the greater availability of alternative data sources, increasingly free access to high quality satellite imagery, and the advances in data processing techniques to reduce response burden and improve statistics.

Related: Tracking cropping production from the sky leads to delicious rural finds

The idea is, that before turning to surveys, teams must consider whether the same data could be obtained from other organizations or existing sources, and extensive use of alternative data files will reduce or replace direct data collection from farmers, StatsCan says. Data modelling and advance data processing will also move the Agriculture Statistics Program closer to achieving AG-Zero. On an ongoing basis, survey questionnaires are being reduced in length through the use of alternative data sources. For example, a study is planned to determine how model-based estimates could ultimately replace the pig inventory questions on the Livestock Survey program.

It doesn’t mean surveys will never be used, as they are essential in many cases, the department says, and points to the success of the 2016 Census as an example. The response rate for the 2016 census long-form was the best in the agency’s history – which led to an “unprecedented wealth of statistical output.”

So while alternative sources of data will continue to be used, this would never be at the expense of providing Canadians with the statistical information they need about the economy and society.

Statistics Canada also recognizes that respondents’ goodwill is one of the agency’s “most valuable assets,” since it is the continued co-operation of Canadians that enables us to turn survey results into reliable information.

Just before 9:30 a.m Tuesday the Saskatoon Fire Department, along with Saskatchewan RCMP, were called to a train derailment on Highway 11 near Wanuskewin Road, just north of Saskatoon, Sask.

It’s been conirmed by Saskatoon’s Air Support Unit that 30 cars tipped over or were taken off the CN Rail track. The CN teain was 52-cars long. CN Railway says there is no danger to the public, and no injuries were reported. The railway added no dangerous goods were involved.

From witness video, most of the grain cars belonged to Parrish & Heimbecker. RealAgriculture has reached out to P&H and have yet to get a statement.

Early reports from RCMP say there’s grain spilled after a train derailment on Hwy11 near Wanuskewin, just N of Saskatoon. Currently waiting to hear back from @CNRailway & @ParrishHeimbeck. Info to be posted: https://t.co/waTLQtZ4R4 #WestCdnAg #CdnAg
?Scott Kammer (@sjmkammer) pic.twitter.com/zjWjqXMeKZ

— Jessika Guse (@JessikaGuse) January 22, 2019

CN apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this incident and says the cause of the derailment is under investigation. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it has a deployed a team of investigators to examine the crash site on Wednesday.

A streamlined process for grain dryer inspection and approval should make it easier for farmers in Manitoba to get up and running this upcoming harvest season.

As all grain dryers have to be inspected by the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), the organization has established a central booking process co-ordinated with Manitoba Hydro to streamline the scheduling of inspections. In addition, the availability of inspectors has been expanded to include evenings and weekends throughout the harvest season, and a 24-hour inspection hotline will be available from August 15 to December 31.

“We recognize the importance of responding in a timely fashion, and the OFC has taken strides to improve the inspection and approval process for grain dryers,” says Blaine Pedersen, Manitoba’s Minister of Growth, Enterprise, and Trade in a news release.  “When producers find they need to dry the grain in their bins, it is important to be able to move quickly and accommodate a large number of requests that may come in at the same time.”

As always, farmers must ensure the installation is completed in compliance with the manufacturers installation instructions along with the Canadian Standards Association code requirements. All of those checks must be completed prior to the inspection to avoid unnecessary delays.

“We have heard loud and clear from producers that we must do better when it comes to reducing red tape on grain dryers,” says Ralph Eichler, minister for Manitoba Agriculture.

The province also announced it will be harmonizing installation requirements with Saskatchewan to further reduce confusion as equipment suppliers and installers often serve clients in both provinces. According to Pedersen, the OFC and SaskEnergy are working closely to align the approval process and installation requirements such as venting, dryer and fuel tank protection and general installation code requirements.

Related: 

Tips for setting up a new grain dryer