The federal and provincial governments are giving a boost to livestock and forage research in Saskatchewan.
According to a Wednesday media release from the province, $7.5 million will head to the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).
That includes more than $4.1 million for 24 livestock and forage-related research projects, along with nearly $3.5 million in operational funding for the Prairie Swine Centre and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan.
“The projects announced today will help to advance important research so our farmers can find even more sustainable and efficient ways to produce this food and continue to grow the sector,” Marie-Claude Bibeau, the federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, said in the release.
“Participating classes receive physical learning materials such as ear tags and feed samples, as well as monthly updates on the life of their calf,” explains Mortenson. “One fieldtrip per class per school year to the farm is also included: although, due to current pandemic restrictions, this year’s field trips are all being conducted virtually through Zoom which still allows the ability to interact in real time and answer questions from the students.” Virtual farm tours will remain an option for any class unable to make the journey to the farm in person. Sign-up for Classroom Cattle opens to Canadian teachers in September each year and the program runs from October to May. Mortenson intends to have the program remain free to classrooms through industry sponsorship and fundraising.
By Jim Smalley
Dec 27, 2020 1:26 PM
The chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association says 2020 has been a tough year for many livestock producers.
In a year end interview, Arnold Balicki of Shellbrook says COVID-19 has had quite an impact on the cattle industry, causing a backlog of cattle going to market because of temporary shut-downs of major beef packing plants.
Balicki says the coronavirus caused lower cattle prices after meatpacking plants had temporary closures.
Balicki remains optimistic that markets will turn around and conditions will return to a more normal position in 2021,
but he worries another backlog of cattle going to market if packing plants are forced to shut-down due to covid-19.
Prairie farmers using high-end Wagyu genetics to create snow beef
Benbie Holsteins in south-central Saskatchewan milks 150 Holsteins every day, but the dairy farm does not need all of its heifer calves for milking, so the remainder are used for something very different: snow beef.
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