Pulse Crop Development Workshops Cater to producer Needs

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The upcoming Pulse Crop Development Workshops scheduled for Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Sedley on January 31 and February 1 and 2, respectively, aim to provide the latest on pulse crops where it matters most, according to Provincial Special Crops Specialist Ray McVicar.

“There is a lot of pulse crop production in southern Saskatchewan ," he explains. "We found that there are many people who don’t get the chance to attend Pulse Days in Saskatoon in January. We organize these workshops every year in association with the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers to make industry development information more readily accessible to southern Saskatchewan producers.”

Pulse crop production in Saskatchewan has increased tremendously during the last two decades—rising from 30,000 acres in 1981 to five million acres in 2005. This increase is a result of a strong partnership between public and private stakeholders who have worked together to enhance the pulse industry, explains McVicar.

“These stakeholders include Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF), Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), the University of Saskatchewan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and many private companies involved in basic and applied research, processing, handling, market development and export, as well as biological and chemical product manufacturing.

“SAF continues to play a significant role in the pulse industry,” continues McVicar, “mainly in the areas of research and extension. Plus, through the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), SAF provides funding for pulse research conducted by scientists at different levels.”

The workshops will feature industry displays and presentations: Market Movers for the Pulse Industry with Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture in Winnipeg; new research developments with Yantai Gan of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada>; agriculture business centres for Saskatchewan with Ken Evans (SAF); and new pulse crop varieties with Bert Vandenberg and Tom Warkentin of the University of Saskatchewan. There will be a session on insect pest management with Dan Johnson of the University of Lethbridge and Scott Hartley of SAF, and there will also be a talk entitled Pulse Futures: Food, Fuel, Nutraceuticals with Bob Tyler of the University of Saskatchewan.

McVicar believes it is important that growers and industry players like processors and others have a chance to get together.

"The whole industry is built on partnerships among the marketers, processing companies, researchers, the governments—both Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food," he says. "We have really grown together, to the point where Saskatchewan is a major player in the pulse world. So we stage these workshops because we have made this entire journey together."

To pre-register, call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 by January 27, 2006.

For more information, contact:

Ray McVicar
Provincial Special Crops Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4665

Agreements Between Grain and Stock Producers Could Be Beneficial

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

It seems the livestock sector is enjoying renewed vigour these days, but a little caution is always in order.

One of the ways to reduce risks for both grain and livestock producers is to enter into agreements that are mutually beneficial, according to Sarah Sommerfeld, an Agri-Business Development Intern with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

The opening of the border to the United States for cattle under 30 months of age, and the reopening of the Japanese border to cattle less than 20 months of age, bode well for the industry. Producers have been and are expanding operations, and consequently they are requiring access to more forage resources.

“But expenses within the agriculture industry continue to increase, and producers are continually trying to keep costs in check," explains Sommerfeld. "Livestock operators are no exception; therefore, purchasing large acres of grazing land may not be financially viable or attractive for them. A solution may be the creation of agreements between the owners of cultivated land—grain producers—and livestock producers.”

Typically, these sorts of agreements have not been very common, explains Sommerfeld, but more producers—of both livestock and grain—are slowly realizing the potential value of working together in a mutually beneficial partnership.

“For example," she elaborates, "a grain producer could contract with a livestock producer to grow an annual forage crop for swath grazing or baled green feed. An annual or perennial crop may also be grown for silage. At the start of the growing season, the intent may be to produce a crop for human consumption, but growing conditions may down-grade the crop to livestock feed. Provision of a fence and water supply could be the responsibility of either the land owner or the livestock producer.”

Sommerfeld suggests that establishing these agreements presents the opportunity for grain producers to invest in livestock without extra expenses, labour or management.

“Producers might feel uneasy entering into an agreement that is not typical for their sector, whether it is livestock or grain production that is being considered," she says, "but as agriculture continues to evolve, operators must be willing to evolve along with it and to think progressively. It could mean the grain producer puts up a fence at his/her own cost or develops a water source, and recovers those expenses through the rent he or she charges the livestock producer.”

These agreements take some of the risk off the livestock producer, but they also reduce the grain producer’s risks because the grain producer has a guaranteed price and market for the crop.

“If the two parties can work together, and the grain farmer produces a crop that the livestock can use, then it is a win-win situation,” concludes Sommerfeld.

For more information, contact:

Sarah Sommerfeld, BSA
Agri-Business Development Intern
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 867-5557

Miniature Herefords Seek Acceptance in League of Beef Cattle Breeds

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

In 1991, Unity, Saskatchewan’s Jerome and Sharon Kratchmer decided to acquire some miniature Herefords. They run a mixed farm with commercial cows and grain. They also sell hay. According to Jerome, the animals seemed the right fit for their agricultural operation.

“We wanted miniatures to have them on the farm because the other cows are gone all summer, but we still wanted some cattle around," he explains. "We didn’t get them as a moneymaking venture. They are small, but they have the same problems as the big cows. You can have C-sections. It is like any breed. You try to breed out the problems.”

In 1742, the Tomkins family in Herefordshire, England, set out to develop a breed of high-yielding beef cattle that could survive and grow in all kinds of environments, and which was endowed with early maturity and high rates of reproduction. The first breeding herds of Herefords were brought to Canada in 1831 and into the United States in 1840. These original Herefords were much smaller than today’s animals, ranging from 45 to 50 inches in height.

In the mid-1960s, a Texan rancher noted that buyers of his farm-gate beef showed a preference for smaller cuts. While his neighbours selected their Herefords to breed larger animals, he started to breed for smaller animals

“Ours were the first ones brought into Canada, in March 1991, from Fort Davis, Texas,” Kratchmer explains. “I have two dozen now.” Kratchmer knows of a number of miniature Hereford owners who are not regular cattlemen.

“If you only have five acres on your acreage, you can keep them," he says. "A fellow who bought two heifers from me is going to slaughter them as he needs them for food. That is where his regular meat comes from."

In a way, the miniature Herefords are a match made in heaven for today’s world, explains Kratchmer.

“It is not as physically demanding to move them around. In terms of portion size, people are eating less meat now. A steak from a miniature Hereford is similar to a pork chop in size, or a little bigger. So you are not getting a big frying pan full of just one steak,” he says.

But the miniatures still face significant hurdles on their way to the beef market.

“It is the same problem as with bison," he explains. "People raised a whole bunch of bison but they didn’t have a market for the meat. That is what you have to look into. The problem with miniature Herefords is that we don’t have enough animals around to create a meat market yet. They don’t sell for as much as the big cattle because they don’t fit in.

“This is a niche market that won’t take anything from the beef industry. I haven’t shown them locally. They get attention. Most people simply ask: do you still have them?”

In Kratchmer's mind, every passerby who comes to his yard to admire the miniature Herefords represents an opportunity to make headway for the little breed that turns out the perfect steak.

For more information, contact:

Jerome Kratchmer
Unity, Saskatchewan
(306) 228-3156

BYOB (Build Your Own Business) Conference Coming Up

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

If the field of agri-business has ever crossed your mind as a career opportunity, you might benefit from the upcoming series of three conferences on business-building resources, says Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) Agri-Business Development Specialist Ron Monette.

“We want to talk about the opportunities that exist for rural business and to provide information on the entities that can assist entrepreneurs in exploring those opportunities," says Monette. "As a result, we will provide information on opportunities that may exist and have been looked at and developed in the area around each of the three locations.”

The “BYOB” (stands for “Build Your Own Business”) conferences will take place at the Bella Vista Hotel in Humboldt on January 18, at the Watrous Community Centre on January 25, and at Rosthern’s St. Odillion Catholic Church Hall on February 1.

Are you one of those energetic, budding Saskatchewan entrepreneurs waiting for the opportunity to develop your idea into a thriving business that contributes to your community’s well-being?

“Most of us have thought about it,” states Dianne Olchowski of the Sagehill Development Corporation in Bruno, one of the conference organizing partners. “Some of us have put the idea aside for various reasons, but sometimes the itch to start your own business just won’t go away, and you just have to do something about it."

To provide as much information as possible, SAF's Agri-Business Development Branch has teamed up with a number of local organizations with compatible mandates to create events that are full of value for participants. Partners include three local Regional Economic Development Authorities (REDAs), among others.

“The Sagehill Development Corporation, which is our local Community Futures organization, the Carlton Trail REDA out of Humboldt, the Saskatoon REDA, which covers Rosthern, and the Long Lake REDA, which covers Watrous, have all come on board," Monette says. "Other groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce in Humboldt, are also supporting our effort.”

Local entrepreneurs and enterprises will share their successes at these events, explains Monette.

“In Watrous, we have representatives from Drake Meats and Wagon Wheels Farms coming forward; in Rosthern, it is a local pet food manufacturer that has been invited, along with Parenteau Gourmet Foods; in Humboldt, ChampĂȘtre County of St. Denis will attend, as well as Country Log Ranch, which has created a goat dairy.”

The conferences would not be complete without a few guest speakers:

“At different locations, Al Scholtz will share his insight on rural entrepreneurship," says Monette. "Tom Allen of the University of Saskatchewan will talk about marketing strategies for rural businesses. We’ll also have Melanie Boldt of Pineview Farms, a natural meat producer, processor and marketer of poultry, sausages and other processed meats near Martensville. Kevin Hursh will wrap up each event with a talk about opportunities in rural Saskatchewan.”

Each day's opening speaker will encourage participants to think outside of the box and to recognize the specific opportunity that is right for themselves, their families and their communities. The second speaker of the day will build on the first presentation by focusing on what comes next.

“What critical actions need to be taken to ensure your chosen opportunity has the best possible chance of success as a thriving, sustainable business? The importance of knowing the marketplace for an opportunity and how to access that market is a critical element of this process,” believes Monette.

Each event will also have a lunch time speaker focusing on each of the local communities' recent activities regarding business development.

“Following a hot lunch,” continues Monette, “participants will meet a series of entrepreneurs who have already successfully developed their agri-business opportunity. They will identify how it worked for them, what some of the most critical issues were in developing their business, and how they successfully dealt with those issues.”

The next session will focus on the event partners, who will explain to the audience what their organizations do, with particular emphasis on how they can help entrepreneurs at the early stages of business development.

The final speaker will wrap up the event at each location with a call to action based on his or her personal experience, empowering participants to follow their dreams.

To register, call the Saskatoon Agriculture Business Centre at 306-933-6128.

For more information, contact:

Ron Monette
Agri-Business Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 933-6128

Saskatchewan Bison News: An Industry Quarterly with Attitude

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Pick up a copy of Saskatchewan Bison News and it’ll make an impression right away. There is something about the layout, the look and feel of the publication that makes it stand out.

The Saskatchewan Bison Association (SBA) has had a newsletter since the organization got going in the early 1990s, explains Jim Warren, executive director of the SBA and editor of Saskatchewan Bison News. The purpose of the publication was to keep members informed on industry developments, and to act as an extension arm in terms of communicating the most current production, marketing and management information to members.

“About two years ago," he says, "we determined there were things we could do to develop greater effectiveness within the organization. We had developed a strategic plan. I’d joined the association in January of 2004 and I had had some experience in communications and publishing. I presented a plan to the board that suggested we could increase readability and attract advertisers if we made a concerted effort to improve the quality of the publication.”

Warren and his colleagues reviewed the editorial plan and came up with the concept of breaking the publication down into several regular sections that would appear in each edition.

“The publication always begins with the hot button issue in the industry. Anything from border issues to announcements of BSE support programs and all news developments in the industry," he explains. “In every edition, we follow that with an analysis of bison markets right across North America and here at home, and then we try to follow that up with a marketing-related news story, like European Union trade barriers. We have a feature piece on the current important issue to the industry and we address that issue in detail.”

Good focus is key, believes Warren, and the right mix of stories is also important.

“It’s a fast-paced world now," he says. "Many folks need jobs to support their agricultural habits. There is not always the time and opportunity to read a longer piece, so we try to keep stories short, but we always have a good meat-and-potatoes piece in each issue. Then we try to have a health and production issue piece: for example, the use of different vaccines or new research that is coming out on production.

We follow that up in the back section with news about members, especially those who are doing new and novel things in the area of marketing. Then we talk about our own events, the people who attended, and exciting things that may have happened. We also give information about which numbers people need to call. We keep them handy, and we list coming events.”

At the moment, Saskatchewan Bison News has a circulation of about 550. It goes to SBA members and a number of industry stakeholders: people in the meatpacking and processing business, and people in the bison industry across North America. For Warren and his colleagues, the extra effort the publication requires is well worth the results.

“Look at a typical association newsletter. The way they do it is they have the president’s report; then they have the executive director’s report, then they’ll have the committee reports. What tends to happen is they all pretty much repeat each other. I just thought, 'let’s be like a magazine and talk about the issues!' If the president is the main spokesperson on a particular issue, we’ll use him as a resource, but I try to get as many other members and people from the organization involved as possible.”

Warren recalls how people would only occasionally purchase advertising before the publication was revamped.

“Sometimes, someone wanted to help out the organization and bought a sponsorship type of ad. Sometimes people had things they wanted to sell and knew this publication was going out. By improving the look, we increase readability and retention. If we put out a good product, chances are that people will want to keep it around. I wanted to make it really inviting. At the same time, we believed that, if we improved the look, it would improve our chances to attract advertisers. As a result, in the first year, the new Saskatchewan Bison News broke even. It turns out the improvements have paid for themselves.”

For more information, contact:

Jim Warren
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Bison Association
(306) 585-6304
www.saskbison.com

SFGA Conference Seeks to Further The Prairie Fruit Industry

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

“Welcome to our ‘An Industry in Motion’ conference,” says the invitation brochure. “Whether you currently own an established operation or are just now looking into opportunities in the fruit industry, this conference offers something for you.”

“You can make money growing fruit in Saskatchewan," says Charon Blakley of the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association (SFGA). "That is partly what we wish to convey to participants on January 13 and 14 in Saskatoon at our annual conference during Crop Production Week. With today's focus on health and the importance of a healthy diet, we have a huge potential in Saskatchewan. The cleanliness of our environment compared to that of other parts of the world is also a big advantage.”

The SFGA event is designed to set the stage for the future of the fruit industry, and the agenda is loaded with topics ranging from beginner interests to very advanced issues.

Here is a sample…

Brian Goldsworthy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in St. John's, Newfoundland, and Neri Vautour of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA) will talk about the history of WBANA, its role in promoting the consumption and use of wild blueberries by the public and by the food and beverage industry, and how this was fostered to help growers and processors achieve their marketing objectives.

“What can we learn from the WBANA?" asks Blakley rhetorically. "What steps does the prairie fruit industry need to take for further development? Where do we start? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? These are questions Scott Wright, the Director of the Crop Development Branch at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, will help answer as he facilitates an interactive workshop to co-operatively brainstorm these and other questions.”

Joe Novak, a crop development analyst at SAF, has been working on developing tools and resources to help producers determine their own profit levels and to work on enterprise analysis as well as breakeven yields and prices. He is a strong promoter of the economic potential of Saskatchewan-grown fruit, according to Blakley.

Another presenter, Karen Tanino of the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, will address how to increase prairie fruit production for domestic and export purposes. Her presentation will also cover food issues in general.

Arne Strom of Sherwood Forest Orchard and Tyler Weisbrod of Loon Creek Saskatoons will share some of the things they learned when they attended the International Food Exhibition in London recently.

“This presentation will ask us if fruit growers can meet the challenges and expectations of international buyers,” explains Blakley, “and, at the same time, achieve the potentially high rewards available in the export market for saskatoon berries.”

Conference participants will be updated on the programs and services being offered through the Renewal initiative. It includes programs ranging from the Canadian Farm Business Advisory Services to the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service.

On Saturday, Bob Bors, Rick Sawatzky, and Linda Matthews from the Fruit Program at the University of Saskatchewan will each host sessions at the conference to share their expertise on fruit processing, plum, hazelnuts, haskap and cherries. Presentations will provide an introduction to these crops from a prairie perspective, covering the best varieties to grow, University of Saskatchewan research on these crops and some of the key growing requirements.

In addition, SAFFruit Development Specialist Clarence Peters will talk about apples and saskatoons, and he covers the basic growing how-tos— including markets, site selection and development, cultural requirements, and pest management. The importance of pruning to maintaining the health, productivity, and longevity of the orchard will also be stressed.

Blakley emphasizes the importance of the networking aspects of the conference. “You can learn a lot from other people who face the same challenges as you as a grower.”

The SFGA “An Industry in Motion” conference takes place at the Heritage Inn. To register, call (306) 743-5333.

For more information, contact:

Charon Blakley
Secretary-Treasurer
Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association
(306) 743-5333
http://saskfruit.com/

Food Safe Farm Practices A Sign of the Times

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Food safety is becoming an increasingly important topic within the agriculture community.

Around the globe, food safety programs and practices are becoming an essential component to regular business and trade. Within Canada, many commodity groups are taking a proactive approach and are beginning to develop and implement food safety programs.

One such group is the Canadian Sheep Federation, which introduced a national Food Safe Farm Practices Program designed to provide assurance that the sheep and lamb products on our farms are produced through a safe and verifiable process, according to Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board Executive Director Gordon Schroeder.

“The Food Safe Farm Practices Program is driven by the Canadian sheep industry for the Canadian sheep industry. A technical committee, including sheep producers and technical experts in sheep production and food safety, from across the country, developed program materials for the initiative.”

The sheep producers were an integral part of the process, explains Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) Livestock Development Specialist Tara Jaboeuf. “They provided clear input to make the program efficient, non-invasive and affordable.”

This food safety program was developed under the auspices of the Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Program (COFFS), and funded through the new Agricultural Policy Framework.

“COFFS is a producer-driven partnership between industry and government, that helps national commodity organizations develop and implement on-farm food safety programs," says Jaboeuf. "The sheep industry’s program has undergone technical review by the CFIA, and has been approved as a result. We are now starting on implementation of the program across Canada.”

In essence, the program is based on an internationally recognized hazard control system called HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points). This is a proactive approach to the identification, evaluation and control of food safety hazards. It is endorsed by government health agencies worldwide, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture.

“Most producers are already adopting the practices stipulated in the program, “Jaboeuf points out. “The program represents a formalization of these practices, demonstrating to the public and consumer that their food is indeed a safe and healthy choice.

“Participating in this nationally recognized food safety program will demonstrate to customers that producers have exercised due diligence in their production activities to minimize the possibility of physical, chemical and/or biological hazards.”

Jaboeuf adds that “some of the benefits of participating in an on-farm food safety program include maintaining or expanding domestic and international markets; increased management effectiveness, with efficiencies and cost savings on–farm; employee knowledge on-farm; and increased consumer confidence."

The Sheep Development Board's Schroeder concurs. “Saskatchewan sheep farmers already provide a safe, high quality meat, milk and wool product to our customers; however, we are now entering a time when it will become even more necessary that we demonstrate that the food we produce is safe.”

Tara Jaboeuf has taken the initiative one step further:

“We have decided to try something different. We are teaming up with the Environmental Farm Plan co-ordinator and holding workshops in Saskatoon and Regina as a pilot.”

The registration is free for both workshops, and lunch is provided. Both events will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Agriculture Business Centre at 3830 Thatcher Avenue in Saskatoon on February 24, and on February 25 at a location yet to be determined in Regina.

To find out more about the Food Safe Farm Practices Program, call the sheep development board or Tara Jaboeuf at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food at (306) 933-5099.

For more information, contact:

Gord Schroeder
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board
(306) 933-5200

Tara Jaboeuf
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 933-5099

"The Big Picture Crop" Sunflower Seminar Coming to Moose Jaw

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

On a recent cold Saturday in November, a dozen brave riders sat on their horses, herding 100 cows back from pasture along the Qu’Appelle Valley. In the background, fields of brown, frozen sunflower still awaited harvest.

“Sunflowers have a reputation as a crop you harvest in November or December after the snow flies,” explains Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) Crop Development Specialist Elaine Moats, “and yet, under normal conditions, sunflowers are off earlier than that. They are a pretty dependable money-making crop, which is perhaps the most important characteristic of sunflowers.”

Moats and industry partners are getting ready for a one-of-a-kind seminar on January 24 and 25 at the Heritage Inn in Moose Jaw called Sunflower: The Big Picture Crop. “We called it that because we believe sunflowers have a bigger role to play in crop production and value-added agriculture in Saskatchewan than they have been given credit for.”

One of the obstacles sunflower growers face in Saskatchewan, Moats points out, is market access.

“Most of the sunflowers grown in Saskatchewanat this time are intended for the birdseed market, and sold into southern Alberta, North Dakota or Manitoba. We have a few processors—the biggest one is Monty Bergquist’s Sun Country Farms at Langham—producing snack-food sunflower seeds. We probably harvested about 35,000 acres of sunflowers this past growing season in Saskatchewan.

“Originally, most of the sunflowers we grew were crushed for cooking oil. There was a crusher in Manitoba as well as the United States. But with the strengthening of the canola industry, we don’t have any sunflower crushers in Canada anymore,” explains Moats...“Certainly, the snack-food market for the hulled sunflower seeds and the birdseed market are very big markets. One of the largest confection processors in Canada is Spitz Sunflower Seeds based out of southern Alberta.”

Moats believes the seminar will provide useful information to growers, potential new producers and people who are looking for ways to market their sunflowers differently.

“We will be providing information on improved ways of growing sunflower, whether it is in terms of weed control, timing of seeding, or other factors that will allow producers to get a good quality crop off the field a little bit earlier. It is important to know that we don’t have any plant breeders in Canada, and virtually all the seed is imported from the United States. There are new developments in seed treatment and disease control that are significant because some seed treatments are not allowed in Canada."

The seminar will feature a presentation by the director of the Canadian National Sunflower Association, Mel Reimer, who will bring participants up to date on developments on the Canadian scene.

“There a couple of sunflower roasters in Manitoba that he will tell us about,” says Moats, “and there are opportunities with China in the sunflower business. The NuSun market class has the mid-oleic oil profile and is in strong demand from the cooking oil industry. Commercial processors use NuSun oil in their deep fryers because of its cooking properties. Not only is it a healthier oil, but it also remains stable longer under the higher temperatures used in the food processing industry.”

Cliff Powlowski, the Variety Testing Co-ordinator for Saskatchewan, will provide an update on his results that are printed in the grain variety guide every year.

“There is also some new work on herbicides that are registered or coming down the pipe that SAF Provincial Weed Control Specialist Clerk Brenzil will tell us about. SAF Plant Disease Specialist Penny Pearse is going to talk about new fungicide registrations. SAF Insect/Pest Management Specialist Scott Hartley will talk about some of the insect concerns, as insect pressures vary from year to year, Moats says.

“Bill May is doing research on yield and adaptation, comparing sunflower and flax to other crops like mustard. Monty Bergquist of Sun Country Farms exports a wide variety of bird food mixes that include sunflower seeds. He asks questions like: is there room for small crushers or de-hullers? He has put a lot of thought into the new uses for sunflower seeds,” Moats points out.

Also, Vern Racz and Dave Christensen of Prairie Feed Resource Centre will elaborate on where sunflower seeds fit in beef or dairy cattle feeding programs.

“When you add sunflower seed to the ration, it affects the feed intake of the cattle, which has an impact on the cost of the ration,” according to Moats. “It affects the conjugated linoleic acid level in both the milk and meat, and therefore could potentially make the milk and the meat healthier, which would bring about significant marketing advantages.”

Moats and her colleagues invite everyone interested in sunflowers to take a second look at “The Big Picture Crop.”

For more information, contact:

Elaine Moats
Crop Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 848-2856

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