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By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday September 27, 2022

Sep 27, 2022 | 11:09 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – A feedlot owner wants a regulatory board to review its decision to deny his request to expand his operation near a popular recreational lake in central Alberta.

Greg Thalen of G&S Farms asked the Natural Resources Conservation Board to take another look at its decision on his proposal for a 4,000-head feedlot near the shores of Pigeon Lake.

The board denied the request in August, saying the effect on the local communities and watershed wouldn’t be acceptable.

In filings to the board, Thalen said his plan conforms to all technical requirements.

He said the board did no independent study of what the effects would be and relied too heavily on research from the Pigeon Lake Watershed Management Plan.

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He said that plan was prepared by people with no legal standing in the application.

Local residents have said they fear Thalen’s plans would further damage the lake, already susceptible to algae from too many nutrients.

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Saskatchewan is celebrating the role biotechnology plays in the agriculture industry.

This is global biotech week and Agriculture Minister David Marit said approximately one-third of Canada’s agricultural biotechnology sector is in Saskatchewan.

He said the province is considered a leader in the field.

“Scientists use biotechnology to grow Saskatchewan’s economy by developing new crop varieties that are more resistant to disease and pests, weather-related stress and more; delivering vaccines to protect our livestock; and enhancing environmental sustainability of the sector,” Marit said. “Global biotech week celebrates the work of researchers and raises awareness of the important role the sector plays in agriculture and the life sciences.”

Ag-West Bio President and CEO Dr. Karen Churchill said it’s important to celebrate the successes within the bioscience industry.

“Many people don’t understand how important biotechnology is to modern society. Without biotech, we just wouldn’t have modern agriculture or medicine,” Churchill said. “Economic and environmental sustainability depends on science, and Saskatchewan is world-class in this area.”

The Saskatchewan government supports agricultural research through a variety of programs and initiatives committing $33.8 million for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

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Shikha Jain was appointed to the board of the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) for a four-year term.

Jain is the chief executive officer of Green Energy Trading Corporation (GET Corp.), a green tech organization that supports climate farming and sustainability in the dairy industry. She also has extensive experience in strategic and operational planning.

In announcing the appointment Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude said Jain’s extensive experience in strategic planning and sustainability in the dairy industry will be assets for the commission.

“Her guidance will be valuable as the CDC is moving forward with the government’s agenda to advance innovation and GHG emissions reduction,” Bibeau said.

The CDC board of directors’ help deliver on the priorities in the areas of transparency, innovation, international trade, engagement, and inclusiveness.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW