By Alice McFarlane

Saskatchewan beef and forage research funding announced

Jan 29, 2025 | 10:53 AM

The federal and Saskatchewan Governments will continue their financial support of livestock and forage research.

Both governments pledged $6.9 million for 30 livestock and forage-related research projects in Saskatchewan combined with co-funding from industry partners for a total of $7.2 million with the money delivered through the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).

The announcement was made by Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison at the Saskatchewan Beef Industry conference in Saskatoon, Sask.

Harrison said innovation is the key to staying competitive and allowing Saskatchewan to remain a global leader when it comes to new and best practices in agriculture.

“We continue to support this and help Saskatchewan’s livestock producers to keep doing what they do best through investments of this nature, which enables the kind of world-class scientific work that constantly moves the industry forward,” he said.

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This year’s projects include a range of topics such as enhancing the capacity to research pathogens and manufacture vaccines and therapeutics to help control infectious diseases, including those that cause pandemics; evaluating the combined impact of prescribed fire and post-fire herbicide applications to control woody plants (snowberry) in rangelands; and investigating how trace-mineral supplementation could help feeder calves respond better to vaccines.

The largest amount will be directed to the University of Saskatchewan (USask) where 21 livestock-focused research projects have received roughly $5.18 million dollars.

From animal vaccines to genomic tools to feed strategies and more, the ADF supports a myriad of research across disciplines at USask, according to Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn, dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

“USask researchers have a proven record of delivering on both the basic and applied science needed for a sustainable future,” Bedard-Haughn said. “This important funding through the ADF supports the essential and interdisciplinary research that strengthens Saskatchewan’s agricultural leadership in Canada and around the world.”

Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association Chair Keith Day said investment in research is critical for the industry.

“We appreciate both levels of government recognizing its value and investing in our research priorities, which focused on animal health and forage production this year,” Day added.

This year’s ADF projects were also supported by an additional $216,000 contributed to 10 projects by the SCA, Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission, SaskPork and Western Dairy Research Collaboration which includes BC Dairy, Alberta Milk, SaskMilk, and Dairy Farmers of Manitoba.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW