AAFC and Sask Ag & Food News Release
May 28, 2013

FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
AGRICULTURE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

Today, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced more than $600,000 in funding for 63 producer-led agriculture research demonstration projects. The funding is provided through the Agriculture Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) program.

“Our government understands that investments in research contribute directly to the success of our producers and our overall economy,” Ritz said. “We will continue to partner with the Province of Saskatchewan on initiatives that will help increase producer productivity and grow the agriculture industry.”

ADOPT is designed to accelerate the transfer of new technologies to Saskatchewan’s farmers and ranchers. The program provides funding to producer groups to evaluate and demonstrate new agriculture practices and technologies at the local level.

“As demonstrated in this year’s budget, our government is committed to making sure Saskatchewan is a leader in agriculture research,” Stewart said. “Projects such as these will help farmers adopt new and innovative technologies and help us meet the objectives of the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth.”

The 2013 Saskatchewan Agriculture budget included a record $27.7 million for agriculture research, an increase of more than 104 per cent since 2007. This funding will help achieve the goals set out in the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth which aims to increase crop production by 10 million tonnes, increase agri-food exports by 50 per cent and increase value-added opportunities.

This year’s ADOPT projects demonstrate a wide range of innovative initiatives, including cattle breeding programs, crop protection products, trials of new crop varieties and seeding techniques, among others. Projects receiving funding this year include:

  • Beef cattle breeding programs and beef research school;
  • Cropping systems response to seed treatment, seed size and sowing density;
  • Demonstration of foliar fungicide options for canola;
  • Demonstration of the effect of fungicide application and seeding rate on disease levels in peas and lentils;
  • Evaluation of forage and grazing corn varieties;
  • Fungicide management practices in lentils to provide disease resistance;
  • Harvesting oats and barley as yellowfeed;
  • Forage management practices and techniques;
  • Optimal seeding rate for spring wheat;
  • Optimum timing of weed control in field peas and lentils;
  • Various fertilizer demonstrations; and
  • Straight combining canola.

Since 2009, the federal and provincial governments have provided more than $2.5 million to producers through the ADOPT program. ADOPT funding is provided under the federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 framework.

- 30 -