Online listing for custom farm services as well as feed

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

It remains one of the most popular and well-used services Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) offers. But for producers in dire need of extra feed or extra help on the farm, it's often more than just a convenience - it can be a real lifesaver.

The Feed Grain and Forage Listing Service acts as a free "online bulletin board" connecting producers and others in the agricultural industry looking to buy and sell feed and forage resources, as well as custom farm services.

The listing has traditionally been a hot spot for those offering or seeking feed grain, baled forage and pasture space. But Al Foster, a Forage Development Specialist with SAF, stresses that many producers are also looking for custom farm help throughout the year. He says providers can easily pick up a lot of business by spending a few short minutes posting their availability.

"The listing service enables providers to post custom combining, cutting and baling, grain drying, seeding, silage making, spraying and trucking services," Foster stated.

"Throughout the year, the Agriculture Knowledge Centre and the regional offices of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food get calls from producers and land owners looking for these services. In the spring and summer, calls for custom seeding, forage harvesting and silage making are common. At this time of year, custom bale and cattle hauling become more popular."

Foster wants to get the word out to custom farm operators who aren't using the listing service that they might be missing out on some excellent business opportunities.

"I really want to emphasize that the listing service is about more than feed," he said. "It provides producers and custom operators an opportunity to advertise those services to farmers in their areas and across the province."

To advertise a product or service or to browse the listings available, Internet users can visit the SAF website at http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/, click on the "Programs and Services" link and access the "Feed Grain and Forage Listing Service."

Farmers who do not have Internet access can call SAF's Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 to have items posted for sale on their behalf or to have a copy of the listing sent to them.

Foster says it's important for service providers to remember that their information is available beyond just the electronic posting when they advertise through the listing service. He points out that staff at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre and the SAF regional offices regularly receive calls from producers asking if they know of anyone providing a certain custom farm service in their area.

"When providers' names are listed on our website, we've got quick and easy access to it, and we're able to pass along their contact information to the callers," Foster noted.

"Producers who provide these services change from time to time, as new people enter the operation and others retire, so it's difficult for SAF staff to keep an updated list of people providing these services. Using the Feed Grain and Forage Listing Service is the quickest and surest way to keep us aware of the services provided through your custom farm business."

For more information, contact:
Al Foster, Forage Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 878-8890
E-mail: afoster@agr.gov.sk.ca