Marion Seeks Proposals for Old Hospital

Monday night the Marion City Council voted to seek proposals for redevelopment of the old Marion Memorial Hospital site. A Request for Proposal (RFP) went out yesterday.

Here's the RFP in part:
The City of Marion is seeking proposals from qualified developers to acquire and redevelop the former Marion Memorial Hospital located at 917 W. Main Street in Marion, IL.

Letters of intent must be submitted to Gail West, Director of Economic Development, City of Marion, 1102 Tower Square, Marion, IL 62959 by: 5 p.m., Friday, December 3, 2007.

The City of Marion will require the selected development team to enter into a redevelopment agreement with the City and commit to a timeline for improvements.

Background: The former Marion Memorial Hospitals sits on 7.448 acres, on Main Street and one block off of Route 37. The zoning of the site is C-1, General Commercial. The site is composed of three buildings, with a total square footage of 139,176 square feet. The largest building housed an 84 bed hospital and has 121768 sq ft. Attached to the main building is a 10528 sq ft one story building that served as an OB addition. The third Building also a one story brick building served as an insurance processing center and contains 6880 sq ft. Available utilities upon the site are city water, city sewer, electricity, natural gas and telephone. The topography of the site is generally level, drainage is adequate and landscaping is good. The driveway surface and parking areas are mostly asphalt covered. There are 135 parking spaces.

Redevelopment Objectives:
The City of Marion desires to encourage a development project that is innovative and will utilize either: (1) the existing structures or (2) by demolishing the existing structure(s), development of a project with retail, restaurant, and professional offices and/or mixed-use structures and which could include a combination of the following: street-level retail or restaurant and second level housing (town homes, loft-style apartments) and professional offices.

Available Incentives:
Acquisition: The City of Marion is willing to negotiate the cost of the building depending on the project scope and financial feasibility. A financial commitment will be required as a down payment.

The down payment and end use will both be used to judge the award of the proposal.

Hub TIF: The site is located in the Marion’s Hub Tax Increment Financing District. The City is willing to enter into a TIF agreement with the developer.

Williamson Snags Air Service to Vegas

Beginning Feb. 1, Southern Illinoisans will be able to fly direct to Las Vegas from Williamson County Regional Airport.

Airport Manager Doug Kimmel made the announcement this morning that Alligiant Air would begin service locally in just over three months.

Codell Rodriguez has the story at TheSouthern.com:
Flights will leave Williamson County at 1:25 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and arrive in Las Vegas at 2:55 p.m. with fares as low as $79 one way until May 15, 2008, when it will rise to about $99. Allegiant will use a 150-seat MD-80 jet, the largest plane the airport has ever used. Doug Kimmel, airport manager, said Allegiant expressed interest in expanding to Marion in November of 2006 because of the airports runway extension to 8,000 feet.

New Air Service for Williamson County

Officials with Williamson County Regional Airport will announce new air service tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 23) at 10 a.m. in the airline terminal.

It's been "win one, lose one" over the last few months with St. Louis service returning and Chicago service leaving next month.

In August airport manager Doug Kimmel told the Southern Illinoisan that negotiations were underway with Allegiant Air concerning service to vacation spots Orlando and Las Vegas.

No word if this is the announcement tomorrow, if it's Great Lakes Airlines taking over Chicago service, or something else entirely. Whatever, it's a step forward.

The media and public are invited to the announcement. Refreshments will be available.

WCTB Staff Take Part in ICCVB Conference

I normally wouldn't use the blog to talk about conferences we attend, but since the Macomb Journal has an article on it I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

The Illinois Council on Convention and Visitor Bureaus is the state trade association for tourism bureaus across the state. Macomb hosted this fall's conference.
"We're all doing the same thing, we're just doing it for different areas," said Kimberly Bless, chair of the ICCVB and President and CEO of the Elgin Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Tourism in Illinois is booming, relatively speaking. Back up to pre-Sept. 11 numbers, it's now in the top 10 industries that make up the Illinois economy.

"We've seen double digit growth in tourism money (spent) in Illinois over the last few years," Bless said.

One of the biggest assets ICCVB provides Williamson County is the opportunity to participate in trade shows and promotional events that would normally be too expensive for the bureau to do ourselves.

ICCVB has long had three niche committees - Tour Illinois, Meet in Illinois and Sports Illinois - which focus on the motorcoach/group tour markets, the meetings and conventions market and sports tourism respectively. A new committee, Market Illinois, held its first meeting this week and besides providing professional development opportunities for the bureaus' marketing directors plans to start attending travel writer conferences.

Log Cabins Opening and Under Construction

I spoke with Jim Grissley of Olde Squat Inn this afternoon about some pictures promoting log cabin stays in Southern Illinois.

Grissley's establishment is a virtual village of reconstructed historic log cabins a few miles east and a bit south of Johnston City and northeast of Marion.

The picture is of the inside of the "newest" cabin, the Church Cabin, so-named because much of the lumber used for trim inside came from an old church.

I took the picture last fall and the cabin opened for rentals this spring. That gives him eight rooms in five cabins.

Jim's cabins aren't the only ones in the county. Devil's Kitchen Cabins opened last fall with one cabin on private property between Grassy Road and Devil's Kitchen Lake.

The demand is so great that they started on a second cabin this summer. It should be ready for rent either by late winter or early spring.

Win One, Lose One

Just as we win a victory with air service resuming to St. Louis next month from Williamson County Regional Airport, Mesa Airlines announced this week they will be suspending air service to Chicago.

Airport Manager Doug Kimmel called the decision an "unfortunate situation" in an interview with the Southern Illinoisan.
Mesa came to Williamson County Airport in February as a result of the I-Fly fund that provided more than $100,000 each to the airports in Marion, Quincy and Decatur. Thomas Bacon, vice president of planning for Mesa Air Group said operating costs were too high and the exit is part of a strategy that will affect services throughout the company.

"We're very disappointed we have to leave the market," Bacon said. "The community's been great."


The only silver lining in the deal is that with the Marion-Decatur-Chicago route officially dead the possibility exists for a new Marion-Springfield-Chicago service which should service a greater demand.

St. Louis Air Service Resumes Next Month

Air service from Williamson County Regional Airport in Marion to Lambert Field in St. Louis will resume November 4.

Initially there will be only two departures and two arrivals at the airport with a morning flight leaving at 6:07 a.m. and arriving in St. Louis at 6:45 a.m. and an afternoon flight leaving Marion at 1:43 p.m. and arriving at Lambert at 2:21 p.m.

Flights from St. Louis at 12:55 p.m. with arrival in Marion at 1:33 p.m. and an evening flight leaving Lambert at 7:30 p.m. and arriving in Marion at 8:08 p.m.

Reservations can be made online at a variety of travel site, or directly from the airline at www.flygreatlakes.com. Fliers can also call the Great Lakes' reservation center at (800) 554-5111 or their local travel agent.

Entrepreneurship Program Teaches the Business of Farming

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

For producers who spend a lot of time working at their businesses rather than on their businesses, the University of Saskatchewan is offering a program that will help them to learn how to switch hats.

The Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) is a week-long, intensive school open to producers of all kinds who want to learn about farm management, including how to successfully manage change, capital and risk. The 2008 session will mark the 10th anniversary of the program.

Program Co-ordinator Pat Englund says the initiative addresses a wide variety of agribusiness issues and questions, including content suggested by producers.

"The content is largely based on business planning, financial planning, marketing, finance and accounting, and different farm management issues," Englund said. "There's an Aboriginal dimension, too, as well as an agribusiness simulation where participants break into groups and make decisions based on a devised situation."

This year's program will also include sessions on two very popular topics - personal financial planning and farm succession planning.

With the AEP, you never know who your classmates might be. Englund says a diverse collection of participants make up the program each year.

"It really appeals to a wide variety of people - first and foremost, producers. We've had them from all three Prairie provinces," she noted. "Last year, we saw some people from the Canadian Wheat Board, Ducks Unlimited and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, as well as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. We also saw people from credit unions and banks, as well as agribusiness consultants, lenders, entrepreneurs, economic development professionals, venture capitalists and manufacturers."

The AEP features four instructors from the professorial staff at the University of Saskatchewan. Two professors from the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and two from the Edwards School of Business will each teach portions of the program.

The 2008 AEP session has room for approximately 40 participants. It runs from January 20 to 26 in Saskatoon. More information will soon be posted on the program's website at http://agribusiness.usask.ca/.

Tuition for the program is $1,250 for producers and $1,500 for non-producers. However, producers interested in attending can apply for sponsorship funding through a program offered by the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS), formally the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development.

"There's an application form on our website, at http://www.agcouncil.ca/," said Bev Magill, a project officer with ACS. "We like to pick a variety of folks with different experiences, coming from different backgrounds, producing different crops, or maybe they're doing something different on their farm altogether."

The ACS sponsorship is $1,000 and can be used toward tuition, travel, accommodations or any other expenses that producers taking the AEP may incur.

If you are interested in applying for sponsorship, Magill says completed applications must reach her office by January 14, 2008. Those who are already receiving funding from the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) to take the program will not be eligible for ACS sponsorship.

For more information, contact:
Pat Englund, Program Co-ordinator
Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program
Phone: (306) 665-1678

Bev Magill, Project Officer
Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 975-8928
E-mail: magillb@agcouncil.ca
Website: http://www.agcouncil.ca/

Future Looks Bright, According To Bioventure Challenge

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

"The young people are our future." It's an often stated, but undisputable, axiom - and it's why a new initiative administered by the Industry Liaison Office (ILO) at the University of Saskatchewan has proven to be so heartening for the province.

The winners of the first-ever BioVenture Business Plan Challenge are Rachel and Chris Buhler, a brother and sister team from Osler, just north of Saskatoon. Their company, Floating Gardens Ltd., will now receive a $50,000 award to help make their business proposal a reality.

"The Buhlers are trying to take advantage of a very interesting synergy between fish farming and hydroponic growing of vegetables," stated Doug Gill, Managing Director of the ILO. "They've done a lot of work to identify what the markets are and what the challenges are. I think that the team is a very worthy winner."

The BioVenture Challenge is a joint initiative of the U of S ILO and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food to help promote, develop and accelerate the bio-economy within Saskatchewan. It encourages young people to use their talents to build companies in Saskatchewan and, ultimately, to stay in Saskatchewan. It's a strategy to enhance the province's economic base, but also to help demonstrate that young people don't have to leave the province to find good business opportunities.

Gill says this year's field proved the tremendous amount of entrepreneurial talent we have in Saskatchewan.

"All five of the finalists displayed the ability to be creative and innovative with regards to their business proposals. The entrepreneurs involved in writing these proposals showed a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn and develop an extensive network of contacts and support systems," he noted.

"I think this challenge is very encouraging for the future of the province."

By all measures, Gill says the first BioVenture Challenge was a resounding success. "We received a really great response. There were probably in the order of 10 applicants for this award, and that, in itself, shows that there is an audience out there," he noted.

"There are young entrepreneurs who are interested in pursuing their business dreams in Saskatchewan.

The quality of the five finalists demonstrates that. I think they are all winners in this initiative,

especially when you look at the training, knowledge and experience that they received in preparing their business plans, writing their proposals and making their presentations to the judging panel. It was a great learning experience for them."

The BioVenture Challenge was funded under the Strategic Research Program agreement between SAF and the U of S. Given the level of enthusiasm for the inaugural BioVenture Challenge, Gill is optimistic that the competition will continue in the future.

More information can also be found on the ILO website at www.usask.ca/research/ilo.

For more information, contact:
Doug Gill, Managing Director
Industry Liaison Office, University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-7335
E-mail: doug.gill@usask.ca

Factors to Consider When Marketing Cattle

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Ancient “Wonder Berry” Taking Root in Saskatchewan

An ancient and exotic cure-all plant is being rediscovered across North America, and the Saskatchewan company Northern Vigor Berries is at the heart of its resurgence.

Seabuckthorn bushes, which some Saskatchewan producers have been using as shelterbelt plants for years, also yield bark, leaves and fruit that are packed full of things that are good for us: omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9 are found in the seeds, and the fruit is rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, B1, B2 and Niacinamide.

Betty Forbes, President and CEO of Northern Vigor Berries, grows and markets seabuckthorn bushes and their products. She says the plant has some legendary admirers.

"Ghengis Khan is said to have fed seabuckthorn to troops and horses prior to battle to keep them healthy, in battle and afterwards," said Forbes. "It's been traditionally used in many forms throughout China for centuries."

Forbes, herself, is still getting acquainted with the myriad of uses for seabuckthorn bushes and berries.

"Medicinally, it has uses as a soothing oil for cuts or burns," she said. "It's one of the fruits that has a perfect one-to-one ratio between omega-3 and omega-6. Of all the fruits, it has the highest content of Vitamin E. It is very high in Vitamin C. In fact, there's a company out of Finland that's marketing capsules just on the Vitamin C alone."

Forbes noted that the berries, leaves and even the tree bark have been studied for a wide range of potential health benefits. She says it's impossible to narrow its benefits down to just one or two specific uses.

"It's really hard to say ‘this is what it's good for,' because the list is pages and pages long."

Forbes' father and brother have a 15-acre seabuckthorn orchard, which she estimates is probably the largest in Canada at present. She stepped into the business full-time when no one else expressed a desire to market the relatively unknown plant.

"One of the problems they (her family) experienced was when promised markets for the berries fell through, so I stepped up and said we need to do something for ourselves rather than to wait for

somebody else to do it for us," she stated. "Although we get a lot of consultative help, we needed to take the reins, move forward, and develop some products in addition to just the berry line."

On top of the health benefits, seabuckthorn actually makes a pretty tasty pie, juice, or even a liqueur.

"Its taste is between an orange and a lemon," Forbes said. "It's not everybody's flavour choice, but mixed in with various other things, it's awesome. The Chinese used it as their sports drink during the Seoul Olympics."

As far as markets go, Forbes says Canada is now in the process of learning where seabuckthorn is needed, at home and around the world. Currently, foreign markets like Japan, Russia and China are the strongest, but she believes interest is growing in Canada and the United States.

According to Forbes, Saskatchewan has a distinct advantage when it comes to growing seabuckthorn bushes. The plant is very winter- and drought-tolerant, and it grows well in high pH soil. It even tolerates saline soil.

"Our climate is perfect for seabuckthorn. We've got a very good growing climate and soil. It doesn't do as well in clay soil, but in most of the countryside, it does wonderfully."

For those interested in learning more about seabuckthorn bushes and products, Forbes recommends typing "seabuckthorn" into your Internet search engine and enjoy the reading.

For more information, contact:
Betty Forbes, President and CEO
Northern Vigor Berries Inc.
Phone: (306) 955-2319
E-mail: northernvigorberries@shaw.ca
Website: http://www.northernvigorberries.com/

Keep Your Canola Cool This Fall

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

A decent harvest and record production will see a lot of canola in the bin this year. However, the Canola Council of Canada is advising growers to make sure they condition their canola to storage-safe temperature and moisture levels this fall, or their hard work could all be for naught.

Canola Council agronomy specialist David Vanthuyne says the variable weather conditions during the harvest season should make growers very cautious as they store their canola.

Vanthuyne explains that conditioning involves moving air through the grain mass to prevent any spoilage that may result from moisture migration and seed respiration. He stresses that canola harvested at much above eight- to nine-per-cent moisture must be conditioned, especially if grain temperature is above 25 degrees Celsius.

"Aeration and/or ‘turning' the canola can be an effective way to avoid spoilage," Vanthuyne said. The objective is to cool the seed to below 15 degrees Celsius, and to lower its moisture content to eight per cent moisture - but "if moisture levels are above 10 to 12 per cent, growers need to consider heated air drying," he added.

Growers must regularly monitor their bins for heating or mould growth. Because farmers are using bigger and bigger bins, more heat can be generated and trapped in the bin.

Recent cooler temperatures may give growers a little more time to condition canola, but growers must not assume they are home free, "even if the stored canola is already down below 15 degrees Celsius," Vanthuyne noted. Pockets of damp seed or green dockage can still create hot spots that can quickly spoil a bin.

Even dry canola can still be at risk if it has a high temperature, especially if parts of the bin contain green material which can potentially start the spoiling process.

As a result, Vanthuyne says it is important for producers with stored canola to keep a close eye on their bins even after the seed has been conditioned. Freshly harvested canola can maintain a high respiration rate for up to six weeks before becoming dormant. Over time, the seed may become mouldy or heat-damaged, and, in severe cases, it can ignite.

So, even though the crush of harvest may be nearing the home stretch, producers with crop in the bin are

reminded to keep their eyes open for any sign of trouble in there. "Monitoring is a best practice, just like keeping malathion far away from stored canola," Vanthuyne stated.

More information and advice on the safe storage of canola can be found on the following web pages:

* http://www.canola-council.org/safestorage.aspx
* http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/crop1301
* http://www.canola-council.org/MalathionAug11.html

For more information, contact:
David Vanthuyne, Agronomist
Canadian Canola Council
Phone: (306) 946-3588

Drought Hits Rend Lake Water Levels

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is announced further temporary restrictions at Rend Lake today due to low water levels.

I ran into Matt Stroebel of SnS Guide Service at a convenience store on the way to work this morning. He knew of a number of fishermen who were getting boats and equipment damaged who were not used to how shallow the lake was getting in parts.

Today's announcement by the Corps deals with the closure of the Turnip Patch boat ramp on the west side of the lake in Jefferson County. Last week it was the temporary closure of the North Marcum boat ramp and restrictions on the use of the Gun Creek boat ramp to boats "which require less than one foot of draft when afloat".

Still, fishermen and boaters still have access to the remaining 15 boat ramps.

The following is from today's announcement.
Below normal rainfall during the summer season has left Rend Lake water levels near record low elevations. The pool elevation at Rend Lake is currently 403.97 NGVD (National Geodetic Vertical Datum), which is approximately 1 foot below October’s average pool elevation of 404.9 NGVD.

The all-time low pool elevation recorded for Rend Lake was reached in November of 1974 with a level of 402.95 NGVD. The lake reached recreation “normal” pool of 405.0 NGVD for the first time following its construction in the fall of 1973.

Low water levels can cause sand bars, stumps and other obstructions to surface in unexpected areas. As always, the Corps strongly encourages boaters to wear their life jacket and exercise extreme caution when on the waters of Rend Lake.

Additional information on current lake levels and low water restrictions by calling the 24-hour Recreation Information Network at 618-625-1828 or by contacting the Rend Lake Project Office at 618-724-2493 or by email at rendinfo@usace.army.mil.

Low Water Levels Restrict Rend Lake Ramps

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the following news release today concerning low water levels at Rend Lake.
Due to the unseasonably low water levels, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake is announcing the temporary closure of the North Marcum boat ramp and restrictions being placed on the use of the Gun Creek boat ramp.

The use of the Gun Creek boat ramp is being limited to boats which require less than 1 foot of draft when afloat. Both of these areas will re-open for unrestricted use when water levels return to levels which allow for the safe use of these facilities. No restrictions are currently in place for the remaining 16 boat ramps at Rend Lake which remain open for public use.

Below normal rainfall during the summer season has left Rend Lake water levels near record low elevations. The pool elevation at Rend Lake is currently 403.97 NVGD (National Vertical Geodetic Datum), which is approximately 1 foot below October’s average pool elevation of 404.9 NGVD.

The all-time low pool elevation recorded for Rend Lake was reached in November of 1974 with a level of 402.95 NGVD. The lake reached recreation “normal” pool of 405.0 NGVD for the first time following its construction in the fall of 1973.

Low water levels can cause sand bars, stumps and other obstructions to surface in unexpected areas. As always, the Corps strongly encourages boaters to wear their life jacket and exercise extreme caution when on the waters of Rend Lake.

For additional information on current lake levels and low water restrictions call the 24-hour Recreation Information Network at 618-625-1828 or by contacting the Rend Lake Project Office at 618-724-2493 or by email at rendinfo@usace.army.mil.

Enrolment on the rise for U of S College of Agriculture

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan is reporting higher first-year enrolment heading into the new school year.

The college has enrolled 134 first-year students, who have already begun attending classes this semester, compared to the 105 first-year students enrolled last year.

This semester marks the first full year for the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, formerly known as the College of Agriculture.

Graham Scoles, interim dean of the department, believes that several factors have contributed to the rise.

"I would like to think the higher first-year enrolment is due in part to the college's new name," he stated. "However, the greater explanation may be that the college has also been participating in active recruitment initiatives in recent years."

Scoles says the college decided to change its name to reflect how it has evolved and expanded over the course of time. "To many people, the word ‘agriculture' denotes only the production side of the equation. Over its many years, this college has diversified to include new levels of expertise and new faculty members," he noted.

"So we had considerable discussions in terms of what name might better represent what we are and what we expect to become. ‘Agriculture and Bioresources' was the one that struck us."

Up to this point, the school has been a single-degree college, offering only a bachelor's degree in science and agriculture. However, with its new name comes a new degree program that is already underway this semester - the Bachelor of Agribusiness.

Scoles says that several other new programs are also in the works. The college intends to introduce a bachelor's degree in renewable resource management next year, and the plans don't end there.

"We are trying to diversify our offerings, and we expect that, by adding new programs, we will attract students to the college who would have otherwise not been attracted before," Scoles stated. "So we're working on others, but are interested in seeing the impact of these new programs first. We don't want to over-extend ourselves."

The college's ambitious recruitment is also believed to have had a positive impact on the increasing student numbers.

"Active recruitment activities are something the college had never tried before. They simply relied on students to come to the college on their own," Scoles said.

"Now, the college has a community liaison officer who is responsible for visiting various high schools and tradeshows to talk about the new vision for the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. We believe these activities have made the positive impact on our first-year enrolment numbers."

The new vision Scoles refers to includes a modern emphasis on the bioresource value chain.

"The bioresource value chain begins with the environment in which we produce the plants and animals that we use in agriculture systems," he explained. "The other end of the chain, in terms of adding value to those products, is to drive economic activity and to essentially bring wealth to the province, its producers and its entrepreneurs."

Potential students can find out more about the college and its registration requirements at http://www.ag.usask.ca/, and by watching for the college's presence at various tradeshows around the province.

For more information, contact:
Graham Scoles, Interim Dean, College of Agriculture and Bioresources
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-4050
E-mail: graham.scoles@usask.ca

A new opportunity to dispose of old pesticides

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The chance has come again for agricultural producers to properly dispose of their obsolete pesticides free of charge through the Saskatchewan Obsolete Pesticide Collection Campaign, which will be underway across the province from October 23 to 25.

"The Obsolete Pesticide Collection Campaign gives farmers the opportunity to safely dispose of de-registered, outdated, unwanted or otherwise obsolete agricultural pesticides during a three-day province-wide blitz," said Wayne Gosselin, an Environmental Policy Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF).

Pesticide products that will be accepted under the campaign include agricultural herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides.

It is also important to note the products that will not be accepted through the initiative: empty pesticide containers, spray tank rinsate, adjuvants, treated seed, home/garden pesticides, paints, thinners, waste oils or any other household hazardous waste.

Products destined for disposal will be accepted at designated ag-retail collection locations throughout Saskatchewan. "There will be 46 collection sites set up around the province, with the idea being that most agricultural areas of the province will be within 50 kilometres or so of a drop-off site," Gosselin said.

Producers can find the nearest collection depot by phoning their agricultural retailer or the SAF Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377, or by visiting the campaign website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca/pesticidecollection and checking out the associated map.

The collected pesticides will be safely packaged before being transported to a special waste treatment facility approved by Saskatchewan Environment for disposal in an environmentally responsible manner.

Disposal is free for agricultural and commercial-based operations. This includes farmers from all sectors of the industry. It also includes landscape companies, private forestry nurseries, golf courses, turf operations and commercial exterminators.

CropLife Canada is the industry umbrella group that represents the manufacturers and distributors of crop protection products. Under its mandate of "working responsibly to protect people and the environment," the organization is cost-sharing the initiative with the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (formerly the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development Inc.), which is contributing through the federal Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) program.

"We are pleased to be part of a program that provides farmers with a safe, effective and cost-free way to properly dispose of unwanted products," CropLife Canada Manager of Stewardship Development Russel Hurst said.

"This program is a great example of how government, grower organizations and industry can work co-operatively towards a better environment."

The campaign is a one-time opportunity with no legal implications or cost to producers. Those dropping off products are not required to identify themselves. All pesticides will be accepted, including those without valid Canadian Pest Control Act numbers. For safety reasons, however, all containers must be labelled.

"Please make sure containers are leak-free and a pesticide name is written on every container," Hurst said. "If you no longer know what the pesticide is, label the container ‘pesticide unknown.'"

More information on the Saskatchewan Obsolete Pesticide Collection Campaign, including a list of collection locations and details on how to safely transport your pesticides, can be obtained from your farm supply dealer, by calling 1-416-622-9771, or by visiting http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/pesticidecollection.

For more information, contact:
Wayne Gosselin, Environmental Policy Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-6586

Deal with weeds in the fall for a fresher spring

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

If Mother Nature has been good to you and your crops are largely in the bin, October is a good month to think about fall weed control.

Clark Brenzil, provincial specialist in weed control with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF), says there should still be some time for control measures before the snow flies.

"The challenge that arises with producers harvesting larger acreages in fall is that, unless the weather co-operates, they may not get done until very close to freeze-up," he stated. "At that point, it may be too late for some perennial weeds. But this year we saw many crops come off in mid-summer, which may present some opportunities for fall weed control."

Brenzil says that, for some weeds like Canada thistle, which are fairly hearty in the face of cold weather, there may still be good opportunities if the plants are in good condition and there haven't been many hard frosts yet. "We should still have some reasonably warm temperatures, and there's still a chance for herbicide to be absorbed by the plant and moved to the roots and developing buds underground. But for other perennial weeds, like dandelion, herbicide applications generally need to occur before October to be successful."

According to Brenzil, much of a producer's approach to fall weed control depends on the types of weeds being targeted. "If you're looking at a perennial that is more sensitive to frost, control needs to take place earlier in the fall, either with a pre-harvest herbicide application, or after harvest before there has been too much frost damage," he said.

"For winter annual weeds, later is better since they only begin to germinate in mid-September, and control needs to take place as late in the fall as possible to control them effectively."

The advantages of fall weed control are obvious when spring comes and your fields are already well prepared for the season. "Research is showing that the earlier perennial and winter annual weeds are controlled, the greater the yield benefit to the following crop," Brenzil said.

"If the weeds are left there until just before seeding, they use moisture and nutrient resources that could otherwise be used by the crop in that critical early development stage. If you can't get it done this fall, plan to control winter annuals and dandelion as soon as possible next spring."

Brenzil says that post-harvest perennial weed control may be an option for many producers this year on fields where harvest took place earlier in the summer. "Perennial weeds that were cut off during harvest will have had the four to six weeks they need for adequate top re-growth in order to provide a good target for the herbicide spray."

According to Brenzil, a common mistake producers should avoid is trying to use the same herbicide rate they would with a pre-harvest treatment.

"Because the mature standing weeds were cut off with the crop, the leaf surface area of the weed that is able to intercept herbicide droplets has been reduced significantly," Brenzil stated. "Since there are a lower number of droplets for each plant, the concentration of herbicide in the spray solution must be increased by increasing the application rate in order to get the same amount of active ingredient into each plant. The rate needs to be right the first time because the first effect of glyphosate is to stop nutrient (and herbicide) movement in the plant, making additional herbicide applications ineffective."

Brenzil estimates there are at least 12 glyphosate formulations available now from six different manufacturers, plus glyphosate mixes with other herbicides. No matter which brand you choose, though, there are important things to remember when spraying the chemical.

"Glyphosate-based herbicides can be negatively affected by cold conditions. The ideal time to spray is when several days are expected to be bright and sunny, with temperatures in the 15 to 20 degree (Celsius) range and overnight lows no less than five degrees (Celsius). If glyphosate is sprayed under cool, cloudy conditions, there is a high risk of it getting trapped in the leaves and being unable to translocate to the roots," he noted.

"Die-back of perennial plants treated with glyphosate in the fall is not necessarily a good predictor of control come next spring. If glyphosate is sprayed on a day when sugars are being rapidly moved to the roots, the plant may not show signs of death this fall, but will not emerge next spring either, and that is the goal of the exercise."

Because of the cooler temperatures in mid- to late October, glyphosate may not be the most appropriate herbicide for winter annual control in late fall, and should be saved for next spring. Winter annual weeds such as stinkweed, flixweed, whitlow-grass, pygmyweed and shepherd's purse can be effectively controlled just before freeze-up using a light rate of 2,4-D (0.2 to 0.28 millilitres per acre of 600 grams-per-litre formulation).

Other problem winter annual weeds, like narrow-leaved hawk's-beard, should be left alone until being treated with glyphosate early in the spring. Not only is 2,4-D ineffective on hawk's-beard, but it injures the plant enough that it makes the glyphosate applied the next spring ineffective, as well.

More information and advice on fall weed control can be found on the SAF website at http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/, or by calling the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

For more information, contact:
Clark Brenzil, Provincial Specialist, Weed Control
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-4673
E-mail: cbrenzil@agr.gov.sk.ca

Fall planning for spring forage seeding

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Producers know that farming is a matter of not only focusing on what needs to be done today, but also of planning ahead for the future.

In light of this, Todd Jorgenson with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) says there are a number of factors producers looking at seeding perennial forage stands next spring can consider this fall, prior to purchasing seed or making final decisions.

"They should identify what forage species are best adapted to their soil type, moisture conditions and overall climate. They should factor in how the forage stand will be utilized, be it for grazing or hay, and the type of animals that will feed on it. And they need to consider how the stand will fit into their overall range or forage management plan," Jorgenson said.

Different forage species are adapted to different growing conditions. Jorgenson says these adaptations are well documented, and should be reviewed prior to purchasing seed.

"Some species, such as timothy, are poorly adapted to dry conditions and prefer poorly drained, highly fertile soils," he noted. "Others, such as crested wheatgrass, are poorly adapted to flooding and will do well under lower fertility. Meadow bromegrass, on the other hand, is a species more broadly adapted to moderate flooding and drought, and with a moderate to high fertility requirement."

It is not uncommon for forage seed mixtures to contain all three of the species (timothy, crested wheatgrass and meadow bromegrass) or more, as well as one or more legumes. However, if these forage mixtures are for grazing, livestock given the opportunity will select their preferred species and under-graze the others.

"If your field is variable, containing larger areas of different soil types, it is better to divide up these areas and seed to a best adapted single- or two-species mix," Jorgenson said. "Fields that are highly variable with many small acreages of different soils may not be practical to divide, and seeding a diverse forage mix would be a good choice in these conditions."

According to Jorgenson, care should still be taken in selecting a mix that will be adapted to a producer's local conditions. "Planning done over the fall and winter months, prior to seeding, can prevent purchasing poorly adapted forage species or mixtures, and result in a more productive, long-lived stand," he stated.

This includes having a clear idea of how the producer intends to graze the new forage stand. Complex pasture mixtures may not only contain poorly adapted, short-lived species, but they are also difficult to manage.

Different species have different growth patterns and rates of regrowth. Jorgenson says the best way to manage for these growth and regrowth characteristics is to seed them alone or with an adapted legume. "This will eliminate livestock selective grazing, and also enable producers to monitor grass growth in paddocks much more easily to take advantage of the growth cycle of the forage," he stated.

"Planning now for spring seeding is time well spent."

More information and advice on planning for spring forage seeding can be found on the SAF website at http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/, or by calling the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377. SAF forage development specialists are also available through the SAF regional offices to help develop or review seed mixtures and grazing management plans, as well as to help with Environmental Farm Planning (EFP).

For more information, contact:
Todd Jorgenson, Forage Development Specialist, Ecological Services
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 786-5859
E-mail: tjorgenson@agr.gov.sk.ca

Connection with producers behind new flax website

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

A completely revamped website for the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission is just part of efforts to improve services for producers. The commission's executive director, Linda Braun, says they are already receiving positive feedback on the changes.

"The previous version was very time-consuming for farmers to access, so we decided to revamp the site to make it much easier for them," Braun said. "Our website is a great way to get information to farmers relatively quickly."

According to the commission, there are over 15,000 flax producers in Saskatchewan, and the province produces four times more flax than its nearest provincial rival in Canada. The commission invests in research, communication, and market facilitation with the objective of further developing the industry.

"A producer recently told me that Saskatchewan is the heart and soul of flax production in this country," Braun said.

Prominent on the new website is information on the Flax Development Commission's Agri-Environmental Group Plan.

"Complete plant utilization is important," Braun noted. "Flax is a great crop for the bio-economy. We're looking at both the seed and the straw, animal and human markets, and industrial fibre markets."

One of the important developments on which the commission is working with producers is to find markets for the fibre from Saskatchewan flax straw.

"Flax producers have always been good stewards of the land and have taken a leadership role, but sometimes with the amount of fibre there was no alternative but to burn," Braun said. "So we've been talking about chopping and spreading, and sharing information on stripper-header technology. We've also been working on developing the fibre industry from the field through to the consumer."

Braun says the development of new markets for flax fibre is bringing many players to the table.

"We've been working on the national scene with organizations like Flax Canada 2015, the National Bio-Fibres Advisory Board, and the new network of about 100 people within the Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program," she noted.

Early in 2008 the commission will be putting together two important events for flax producers. The first will be Flax Day on January 7, during the Crop Production Week. The program will include "everything from what the breeders are doing to what the market is going to look like," Braun stated.

In addition, the commission is organizing a two-day workshop in February on the topic of effective flax straw management. "We'll be bringing in farmers and researchers to discuss all the alternatives and the development of new beneficial management practices for flax straw," she said.

Braun advised producers to watch the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission website, at http://www.saskflax.com/, for more details on these events, as well as on the upcoming board election.

For more information, contact:
Linda Braun, Executive Director
Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
Phone: (306) 664-1901
E-mail: saskflax@saskflax.com

Beekeepers association continues to buzz

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association (SBA) has been around for 85 years, but this energetic organization does not intended to slow down anytime soon. In fact, it is buzzing with continued progress and the opportunity to further its research.

Recently, the SBA was given a $366,729 grant under the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food in Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) program to continue its important work for another three years. The grant is targeted at the organization's ongoing project breed productive, gentle honeybee lines with improved tolerance to mites and brood diseases.

The SBA's continued research will help to establish breeding methods to develop bees with genetic resistance to parasitic mites, eliminating or reducing the need for chemicals. This practice protects the environment from harmful organophosphates, the consumer from food safety or quality concerns, and the beekeeper from bee colony losses.

"This research is essential, due to the fact that two mites, the tracheal mite and the varroa mite, have made their way to Canada, and have become devastating over the last 10 years," said John Gruszka, Provincial Apiculturist for Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. "These mites have caused the honey production industry in Western Canada to re-think and change how it operates."

Gruszka says that, beginning in the early 1940s, Western Canadian beekeeping developed as what is known as a package bee industry. "We used to be able to purchase two pounds of bees and a new queen from the southern states. They would be trucked up here in April, installed in the colonies, and produce a honey crop. Then the bees would be destroyed and the same process would be repeated the following year," he stated.

"Since the advent of these mites and the concerns over how devastating they are going to be, along with rapid increase in the price of the honey, there has been a movement to learn how to keep bees in our climate. It was re-thinking an old technology and applying new methodology."

The SBA was at the forefront of this movement. When the tracheal mite first gained prominence, the organization applied for and received money from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's Agriculture Development Fund to test how much of an impact it would have on the industry.

When the varroa mite appeared, the industry approached government to change the regulations on importing honeybees into Canada. This resulted in a certification program that permitted only mite-free honeybees to be imported into the country.

"The SBA has been working on breeding a honeybee stock that is suitable to our climate and that minimizes winter losses, which allows the bees to come through the winter in much stronger colonies, enhancing honey production. They are now showing almost complete resistance to the honeybee tracheal mite and some resistance to the varroa mite," Gruszka said.

"The SBA has been instrumental in getting research done in order to tackle the concerns and threats to the honey production industry, and in working towards a long-term solution that will alleviate some of our current dependence on chemical applications to keep these mites under control."

The SBA has more recently established the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission to administer a producer-based development fund.

The commission collects approximately $38,000 per year from Saskatchewan beekeepers, which is used for the genetic breeding program, as well as for advertising and promotion on the provincial and national scale.

There are roughly 140 commercial beekeeping producers in Saskatchewan (and another 1,000 hobby beekeepers) who provide around 1,000 summer jobs bringing in the honey crop during the extracting season. On a per-colony basis, Saskatchewan is one of the largest honey producers in the world, with a 10-year average of about 200 pounds per colony.

"Saskatchewan produces between 20 and 25 million pounds of honey per year, most of which is exported to other parts of Canada, the United States and the world," said Gruszka.

For more information, contact:
John Gruszka, Provincial Apiculturist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 953-2790

How many bushes per bedroom

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

A Saskatchewan company is now offering the first ever Saskatchewan-built grain burning stove for sale to the public and dealers.

Delmer and Janet Hering operate Prairie Fire Grain Energy Inc. from their farm home near Bruno. They have been involved with grain-burning heating systems since 1993, and Delmer says their experience drove the need for this new product.

"We were selling an Ontario-made stove for 14 years, and decided that we could make some improvements on it," Hering stated. "Also, they couldn't keep up with the demand, so we decided it was time to make them here in Saskatchewan."

The Herings teamed up with Mifab Manufacturing of North Battleford, a company primarily known for making and distributing plumbing hardware, to manufacture the new stove, known as the "Prairie Fire Model PFG-060."

Hering says it's the first stove designed to burn grain.

"Most of the stoves are either converted wood pellet stoves or burn corn," he stated. "This is the first certified grain burner. We can also burn bin-run grain, whereas the other one had to have clean grain."

Prairie Fire used the opportunity of starting from the ground up to add improvements to the design, such as a bigger glass door, better air flow and a heavier burning pot. It was also built so that it could be certified for use in mobile homes.

Prairie Fire rates the new grain-burning stove as being capable of heating approximately 2,000 square feet, burning about one bushel of grain per day. According to Hering, the stove pays for itself in energy cost savings.

"It's about four times cheaper than using natural gas, and seven to eight times cheaper than propane, diesel or electric heat," he said. "If you're heating with propane, diesel or electricity, [the Prairie Fire] will pay for itself in probably two years. Compared with natural gas, it might be three to four years."

The grain-burning stove has an operating life expectancy of about 20 years.

While the new stove is designed to burn wheat and rye, Hering says it doesn't need to be fed number one grade.

"The trick is to use poor quality grain," he noted. "If you can find something that's been downgraded, like wheat with fusarium, or grain that's partly heated or mouldy, it will all work."

The stove is designed to be a do-it-yourself installation for most users. It can be situated in any open area, and is vented directly through an outside wall, eliminating the need for an additional chimney. Heat output is controlled by a timed release system that feeds the grain into the firebox from a hopper, and circulated by a variable-speed fan.

"They hold a bushel," Hering stated. "You pour it into the hopper, fill it up, light it, and away you go."

Hering says the primary market for their grain-burning stove is the farm, but they are also selling to owners of cottages and acreages, as well as to a few town-dwellers. Prairie Fire Grain Energy also sells two different sizes of grain-burning boiler systems, which operate outside the home or shop, heating water which is then piped into the buildings to provide heat.

Potential buyers or those interested in becoming dealers can contact the Herings via their website at http://www.grainburningstoves.ca/, or give them a call at (306) 369-2825.

For more information, contact:
Delmer Hering, Owner
Prairie Fire Grain Energy Inc.
Phone: (306) 369-2825
E-mail: prairiefire@sasktel.net
Website: http://www.grainburningstoves.ca/

New beginnings for Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Many new beginnings are on the horizon for a well-known agriculture and rural development organization - starting with a new name.

The Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) is the new title of the former Saskatchewan Council for Community Development, or SCCD.

"During our comprehensive strategic planning process this past February, the board felt that we have evolved into an organization with more of an agricultural focus, and they thought that a name change was very critical in terms of being looked at as an agricultural organization," said ACS Executive Director Laurie Dmytryshyn.

"Our new name, therefore, reflects the primary activities of our organization and our membership base."

The majority of ACS members are provincial agricultural, agri-food and community development organizations.

"Membership is constantly growing. We currently have 39 members, a number that has doubled over the past year," Dmytryshyn said. In order to become a member, an interested party must be a provincial organization in the agriculture, agri-food or community development sectors.

During its strategic planning process, the board also developed a new vision and mission for the organization, along with some strategies to guide ACS into the future.

"The ACS vision and mission is to provide leadership and programming to advance the agriculture and agri-food sectors, contributing to a healthy Saskatchewan community," Dmytryshyn stated.

ACS will expand the programming it already delivers to advance Saskatchewan's agriculture and agri-food industry. Through programs like the federally funded Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) program, ACS has been able to fund projects that will advance the industry within Saskatchewan, providing many new and innovative opportunities in both domestic and global markets for the province's primary and value-added products. The next application deadline for ACAAFS funding requests of more than $10,000 is November 16, 2007.

The Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI) is another federally funded program that has been very successful. Eleven projects from across Saskatchewan have received funding to develop business plans and feasibility studies for ethanol and biodiesel production facilities with significant producer involvement. To date, ACS has committed over $11.57 million in funding to 170 projects through BOPI and the ACAAFS program.

ACS is also continuing to deliver two well-received initiatives, the Saskatchewan Agri-Food Value Chain Initiative and the Centre for Agribusiness Training and Education (CATE). The Value Chain Initiative will continue with workshops across Saskatchewan this fall, showing producers, processors and marketers how they can forge alliances that will allow them to benefit from each other and to better respond to market demands. The CATE program will continue to provide a link to educational institutions, workshops and courses for those seeking education and training opportunities in the agriculture and agri-business fields. The CATE website can be accessed at www.agtraining.ca.

ACS has also recently elected a new chair, Murray Purcell, who represents the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) at ACS.

"Murray brings his extensive producer expertise to the organization, and we're confident his leadership skills will provide us with the momentum we need to build a strong, proactive and effective industry council in Saskatchewan," Dmytryshyn said.

Purcell takes over from Garth Patterson of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, who decided to step down from the chair position. "As chair, Garth's input, leadership and guidance were invaluable during this past transition year. We are pleased that he will be staying on as a director for ACS," Dmytryshyn added.

For more information, contact:
Laurie Dmytryshyn, Executive Director
Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 975-6849

Protecting cattle against nitrate poisoning

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

There are all sorts of potential dangers from which cattle producers need to protect their herds. The hardest to defend against are those threats which can't be seen, like nitrate poisoning.

All plants contain some nitrate, but excessively high amounts are likely to occur in forage grown under stress conditions such as drought, frost, hail, low temperatures, herbicide applications or diseases.

Saskatchewan can experience all of these circumstances over the course of a regular growing season. Therefore, it's important for producers to be aware of the symptoms, preventative measures and treatments for nitrate poisoning in cattle.

The Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan (FACS) has devoted one of its many "Cattle FACS" fact sheets to the subject to give producers more knowledge in this area.

"The information we provide through these fact sheets has been developed by committees of cattle care experts with specific knowledge in each of the topic areas covered," said FACS Executive Director Adele Buettner. "Our organization offered to co-ordinate the effort, produce the material and make it as widely available to producers as possible."

The fact sheet explains that, when growing conditions are favourable, plants take up nitrogen largely in the form of nitrate. The nitrate is rapidly converted to ammonia, which is incorporated into plant protein. Unfavourable growing conditions can interfere with nitrate use and cause it to accumulate in the plant. If the stress is removed and the plants recover, excess nitrate stored in the plant is usually metabolized over several days.

Under normal conditions, cattle convert the nitrate in the forage they eat to nitrite, which is then converted to ammonia and used by rumen microbes to make protein. Feed experts suggest that problems arise when nitrate converts to nitrite faster than nitrite converts to ammonia. When this occurs, nitrite accumulates and is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it binds with haemoglobin, thus reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

"In worst-case scenarios, animals can die by suffocation," Buettner said.

The amount of nitrate in plant tissue can be affected by other factors, such as the stage of growth. Nitrate concentrations in forage are usually higher in young plants and decrease as the plant matures. However, plants grown in soil with excessive nitrates, or those grown under stress might still have a higher content at maturity.

The parts of the plant closest to the ground also have the highest nitrate levels. Leaves contain fewer nitrates than stalks, and the seed (grain) and flower usually contain little or no nitrate.

Similarly, since nitrates in the soil are the source of nitrate in plants, a positive relationship exists between the two. However, the effect of nitrogen fertilization appears to be less significant in causing high nitrate content in forages than most other factors.

"Animal nutritionists say that some common cattle feed like alfalfa, vetch, trefoil, peas and clover generally do not accumulate nitrates," Buettner said. "However, they recommend that producers feed test their legumes to be sure they are not storing excess nitrates in the plant material."

According to the fact sheet, producers can still safely use feed that has higher-than-normal nitrate levels, provided they carefully manage their rations. Forage with high nitrate content can be diluted with grain or other forage low in nitrates. Feeding grain in combination with high-nitrate forage can help reduce the effect of the nitrate content because the energy from the grain helps complete the conversion of nitrate into bacterial protein in the rumen.

Frequent consumption of small amounts of high-nitrate feed can likewise increase the total amount of nitrate that can be tolerated by livestock, since it helps cattle to adjust to high-nitrate feeds. "Experts advise to feed long-stemmed forages, such as oats or barley hay, that contain high amounts of nitrate in limited amounts several times daily rather than feeding large amounts once or twice daily," Buettner said.

Under the right conditions, pastures can also accumulate nitrates. Risk can be reduced by providing supplemental feed that contains little or no nitrate, and grazing suspected pastures for limited periods each day for the first week to help cattle adapt. If possible, producers should not graze a suspected pasture until one week after a killing frost.

Should a producer's efforts to prevent nitrate poisoning fail, the fact sheet also offers some treatment instructions. "When the condition is first suspected, call a veterinarian immediately to confirm the tentative diagnosis and administer treatment," Buettner stated. "Handle the affected cattle as little and as quietly as possible to minimize their oxygen needs. Finally, remove the contaminated feed and replace it with a high-energy alternative, such as barley."

The Cattle FACS fact sheet on nitrate poisoning can be obtained from the organization's website at http://www.facs.sk.ca/ or by calling (306) 249-3227.

For more information, contact:
Adele Buettner, Executive Director
Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Inc.
Phone: (306) 249-3227
E-mail: facs@sasktel.net

Expansion takes biodiesel producer to the next level

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

With a $2.5 million expansion nearing completion, Milligan Bio-Tech is taking another giant step in its remarkable growth.

The Foam Lake company is currently the only processor in North America making biodiesel from 100 per cent canola oil.

"Biodiesel can be made from any animal fat or vegetable oil, including rendered grease, yellow grease and waste restaurant grease, or traditional oilseed crops like canola, flax and sunflower," said Milligan Bio-Tech Executive Manager Zenneth Faye. "We use canola as our feedstock, and have developed exclusive processing technology to produce a very high quality biodiesel."

Faye says processors traditionally use a solvent extraction process that is very expensive for small-scale operations to implement. Working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Milligan Bio-Tech developed technology for extracting oil out of oilseeds based on a "cold crushing" method.

"What this does is enable the efficient extraction of oil from oilseeds, particularly canola, which our company uses to produce biodiesel and other related co-products like diesel fuel conditioner, penetrating oil and road dust suppressant," he stated.

Milligan Bio-Tech currently uses canola that is not suitable for food use, such as crop that may have been contaminated, distressed, heat-damaged, frozen or improperly stored. "It gives Saskatchewan producers another opportunity for a product that can't fit into the food market," Faye noted.

On top of the environmental advantage typically found with biofuels, the company's biodiesel has also demonstrated proven performance benefits. It has a higher oxygen content than regular diesel fuel, resulting in it burning cleaner and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Studies, such as the Saskatoon BioBus Project, have also shown it to increase lubricity, reduce engine wear and improve fuel economy in diesel motors.

Buyers seem to agree on the product's high quality. Faye says the company's sales have nearly doubled every year since production began in 2001. Milligan Bio-Tech's expansion is aimed at increasing production to meet this growing demand, as well as enhancing the scope of the current operation.

While the Foam Lake facility houses its cold crushing technology, the oil extracted through the process is presently transported to the Bio Processing Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, where it is refined into biodiesel, and where the technology the company developed with AAFC is studied and fine-tuned.

The company now believes this technology has been perfected to the point that it is ready to bring it home.

"With this expansion, we're bringing that technology back to our location," Faye said. "We've just put up a stand-alone building to produce biodiesel here in Foam Lake rather than transporting the extracted oil to Saskatoon and bringing back the fuel."

The expansion will also include a quality control lab and new research and development facilities.

Once the construction is complete, Milligan Bio-Tech will have an overall production capacity of 15 million litres per year. The company's workforce will also grow by an estimated nine jobs, bringing the total employed at the plant to around 25.

As a company committed to Saskatchewan, Faye says working to revitalize the rural economy is important to Milligan Bio-Tech. "For a community like Foam Lake that has about 1,350 people, an extra 25 jobs is a substantial boost to the economy," he noted. "There are also a lot of businesses in the area that benefit from serving our needs on an ongoing basis, from meals and trucking to welding, plumbing and so forth."

Faye says Milligan Bio-Tech owes much of its success to Saskatchewan producers, who have always stood faithfully by the company. "We're very grateful for the support we've received from producers in this province. They've given us nothing but encouragement throughout these many years of developing a technology and trying to get our feet on the ground as a small company venturing into business markets and commercialization," he stated.

"It's their support that has really enabled us to get to this stage."

For more information, contact:
Zenneth Faye, Executive Manager
Milligan Bio-Tech
Phone: (306) 272-6284

With a $2.5 million expansion nearing completion, Milligan Bio-Tech is taking another giant step in its remarkable growth.

The Foam Lake company is currently the only processor in North America making biodiesel from 100 per cent canola oil.

"Biodiesel can be made from any animal fat or vegetable oil, including rendered grease, yellow grease and waste restaurant grease, or traditional oilseed crops like canola, flax and sunflower," said Milligan Bio-Tech Executive Manager Zenneth Faye. "We use canola as our feedstock, and have developed exclusive processing technology to produce a very high quality biodiesel."

Faye says processors traditionally use a solvent extraction process that is very expensive for small-scale operations to implement. Working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Milligan Bio-Tech developed technology for extracting oil out of oilseeds based on a "cold crushing" method.

"What this does is enable the efficient extraction of oil from oilseeds, particularly canola, which our company uses to produce biodiesel and other related co-products like diesel fuel conditioner, penetrating oil and road dust suppressant," he stated.

Milligan Bio-Tech currently uses canola that is not suitable for food use, such as crop that may have been contaminated, distressed, heat-damaged, frozen or improperly stored. "It gives Saskatchewan producers another opportunity for a product that can't fit into the food market," Faye noted.

On top of the environmental advantage typically found with biofuels, the company's biodiesel has also demonstrated proven performance benefits. It has a higher oxygen content than regular diesel fuel, resulting in it burning cleaner and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Studies, such as the Saskatoon BioBus Project, have also shown it to increase lubricity, reduce engine wear and improve fuel economy in diesel motors.

Buyers seem to agree on the product's high quality. Faye says the company's sales have nearly doubled every year since production began in 2001. Milligan Bio-Tech's expansion is aimed at increasing production to meet this growing demand, as well as enhancing the scope of the current operation.

While the Foam Lake facility houses its cold crushing technology, the oil extracted through the process is presently transported to the Bio Processing Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, where it is refined into biodiesel, and where the technology the company developed with AAFC is studied and fine-tuned.

The company now believes this technology has been perfected to the point that it is ready to bring it home.

"With this expansion, we're bringing that technology back to our location," Faye said. "We've just put up a stand-alone building to produce biodiesel here in Foam Lake rather than transporting the extracted oil to Saskatoon and bringing back the fuel."

The expansion will also include a quality control lab and new research and development facilities.

Once the construction is complete, Milligan Bio-Tech will have an overall production capacity of 15 million litres per year. The company's workforce will also grow by an estimated nine jobs, bringing the total employed at the plant to around 25.

As a company committed to Saskatchewan, Faye says working to revitalize the rural economy is important to Milligan Bio-Tech. "For a community like Foam Lake that has about 1,350 people, an extra 25 jobs is a substantial boost to the economy," he noted. "There are also a lot of businesses in the area that benefit from serving our needs on an ongoing basis, from meals and trucking to welding, plumbing and so forth."

Faye says Milligan Bio-Tech owes much of its success to Saskatchewan producers, who have always stood faithfully by the company. "We're very grateful for the support we've received from producers in this province. They've given us nothing but encouragement throughout these many years of developing a technology and trying to get our feet on the ground as a small company venturing into business markets and commercialization," he stated.

"It's their support that has really enabled us to get to this stage."

For more information, contact:
Zenneth Faye, Executive Manager
Milligan Bio-Tech
Phone: (306) 272-6284

With a $2.5 million expansion nearing completion, Milligan Bio-Tech is taking another giant step in its remarkable growth.

The Foam Lake company is currently the only processor in North America making biodiesel from 100 per cent canola oil.

"Biodiesel can be made from any animal fat or vegetable oil, including rendered grease, yellow grease and waste restaurant grease, or traditional oilseed crops like canola, flax and sunflower," said Milligan Bio-Tech Executive Manager Zenneth Faye. "We use canola as our feedstock, and have developed exclusive processing technology to produce a very high quality biodiesel."

Faye says processors traditionally use a solvent extraction process that is very expensive for small-scale operations to implement. Working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Milligan Bio-Tech developed technology for extracting oil out of oilseeds based on a "cold crushing" method.

"What this does is enable the efficient extraction of oil from oilseeds, particularly canola, which our company uses to produce biodiesel and other related co-products like diesel fuel conditioner, penetrating oil and road dust suppressant," he stated.

Milligan Bio-Tech currently uses canola that is not suitable for food use, such as crop that may have been contaminated, distressed, heat-damaged, frozen or improperly stored. "It gives Saskatchewan producers another opportunity for a product that can't fit into the food market," Faye noted.

On top of the environmental advantage typically found with biofuels, the company's biodiesel has also demonstrated proven performance benefits. It has a higher oxygen content than regular diesel fuel, resulting in it burning cleaner and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Studies, such as the Saskatoon BioBus Project, have also shown it to increase lubricity, reduce engine wear and improve fuel economy in diesel motors.

Buyers seem to agree on the product's high quality. Faye says the company's sales have nearly doubled every year since production began in 2001. Milligan Bio-Tech's expansion is aimed at increasing production to meet this growing demand, as well as enhancing the scope of the current operation.

While the Foam Lake facility houses its cold crushing technology, the oil extracted through the process is presently transported to the Bio Processing Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, where it is refined into biodiesel, and where the technology the company developed with AAFC is studied and fine-tuned.

The company now believes this technology has been perfected to the point that it is ready to bring it home.

"With this expansion, we're bringing that technology back to our location," Faye said. "We've just put up a stand-alone building to produce biodiesel here in Foam Lake rather than transporting the extracted oil to Saskatoon and bringing back the fuel."

The expansion will also include a quality control lab and new research and development facilities.

Once the construction is complete, Milligan Bio-Tech will have an overall production capacity of 15 million litres per year. The company's workforce will also grow by an estimated nine jobs, bringing the total employed at the plant to around 25.

As a company committed to Saskatchewan, Faye says working to revitalize the rural economy is important to Milligan Bio-Tech. "For a community like Foam Lake that has about 1,350 people, an extra 25 jobs is a substantial boost to the economy," he noted. "There are also a lot of businesses in the area that benefit from serving our needs on an ongoing basis, from meals and trucking to welding, plumbing and so forth."

Faye says Milligan Bio-Tech owes much of its success to Saskatchewan producers, who have always stood faithfully by the company. "We're very grateful for the support we've received from producers in this province. They've given us nothing but encouragement throughout these many years of developing a technology and trying to get our feet on the ground as a small company venturing into business markets and commercialization," he stated.

"It's their support that has really enabled us to get to this stage."

For more information, contact:
Zenneth Faye, Executive Manager
Milligan Bio-Tech
Phone: (306) 272-6284

With a $2.5 million expansion nearing completion, Milligan Bio-Tech is taking another giant step in its remarkable growth.

The Foam Lake company is currently the only processor in North America making biodiesel from 100 per cent canola oil.

"Biodiesel can be made from any animal fat or vegetable oil, including rendered grease, yellow grease and waste restaurant grease, or traditional oilseed crops like canola, flax and sunflower," said Milligan Bio-Tech Executive Manager Zenneth Faye. "We use canola as our feedstock, and have developed exclusive processing technology to produce a very high quality biodiesel."

Faye says processors traditionally use a solvent extraction process that is very expensive for small-scale operations to implement. Working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Milligan Bio-Tech developed technology for extracting oil out of oilseeds based on a "cold crushing" method.

"What this does is enable the efficient extraction of oil from oilseeds, particularly canola, which our company uses to produce biodiesel and other related co-products like diesel fuel conditioner, penetrating oil and road dust suppressant," he stated.

Milligan Bio-Tech currently uses canola that is not suitable for food use, such as crop that may have been contaminated, distressed, heat-damaged, frozen or improperly stored. "It gives Saskatchewan producers another opportunity for a product that can't fit into the food market," Faye noted.

On top of the environmental advantage typically found with biofuels, the company's biodiesel has also demonstrated proven performance benefits. It has a higher oxygen content than regular diesel fuel, resulting in it burning cleaner and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Studies, such as the Saskatoon BioBus Project, have also shown it to increase lubricity, reduce engine wear and improve fuel economy in diesel motors.

Buyers seem to agree on the product's high quality. Faye says the company's sales have nearly doubled every year since production began in 2001. Milligan Bio-Tech's expansion is aimed at increasing production to meet this growing demand, as well as enhancing the scope of the current operation.

While the Foam Lake facility houses its cold crushing technology, the oil extracted through the process is presently transported to the Bio Processing Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, where it is refined into biodiesel, and where the technology the company developed with AAFC is studied and fine-tuned.

The company now believes this technology has been perfected to the point that it is ready to bring it home.

"With this expansion, we're bringing that technology back to our location," Faye said. "We've just put up a stand-alone building to produce biodiesel here in Foam Lake rather than transporting the extracted oil to Saskatoon and bringing back the fuel."

The expansion will also include a quality control lab and new research and development facilities.

Once the construction is complete, Milligan Bio-Tech will have an overall production capacity of 15 million litres per year. The company's workforce will also grow by an estimated nine jobs, bringing the total employed at the plant to around 25.

As a company committed to Saskatchewan, Faye says working to revitalize the rural economy is important to Milligan Bio-Tech. "For a community like Foam Lake that has about 1,350 people, an extra 25 jobs is a substantial boost to the economy," he noted. "There are also a lot of businesses in the area that benefit from serving our needs on an ongoing basis, from meals and trucking to welding, plumbing and so forth."

Faye says Milligan Bio-Tech owes much of its success to Saskatchewan producers, who have always stood faithfully by the company. "We're very grateful for the support we've received from producers in this province. They've given us nothing but encouragement throughout these many years of developing a technology and trying to get our feet on the ground as a small company venturing into business markets and commercialization," he stated.

"It's their support that has really enabled us to get to this stage."

For more information, contact:
Zenneth Faye, Executive Manager
Milligan Bio-Tech
Phone: (306) 272-6284
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