Natural History Museums Nurture Local Sense of Place

This Royal Saskatchewan Museum golden eagle diorama has had quite a history. I saw it for the first time in the early 1980s. It struck me then as a vivid illustration of a land that had successfully maintained a definite sense of wilderness in the midst of massive agricultural transformation. In 1990, while the museum was undergoing major renovations, it was hit by fire. This diorama and many others were covered by black soot. The museum was closed to the public for a few months to repair the damage. The community and museum patrons pulled together, and invested in the creation of an even more ambitious set of galleries and displays that eventually yielded a spectacular First Nations Gallery.

Natural history museums play a subtle but critical role in helping shape a destination's brand identify. Their very presence in a community attests to the profound appreciation by its inhabitants of those aspects of life that enrich the local sense of place. Natural history museums highlight cultural capital and natural wealth. They are resource centres, learning opportunities for children, adults and visitors.

They are institutions tasked with the stewardship of artifact collections that researchers and citizens can enjoy in future generations. Perhaps more powerfully than other efforts, they eminently convey that private and public sector organizations are sometimes able to partner to achieve great projects. Perhaps studying what common ground was found among partners that allowed such institutions to be built might provide useful insight for all those who seek more mutually-beneficial partnerships in general.

Value Chain Development Brings Western Provinces Together

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Efforts to develop agri-food value chains are growing from a single province base to be delivered right across western Canada, with a new agreement between provinces.

"The Saskatchewan Agri-Food Value Chain Initiative was developed approximately seven years ago, originally funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada," says Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) Value Chain Specialist Bryan Kosteroski. "Three years ago, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and ACS developed the second phase of the program, which was co-funded by both levels of government."

The program delivered an educational awareness program built around learning modules on subjects such as value chain development, marketing strategies, marketing intelligence, and category management. According to Kosteroski, the program has been well received here.

"Those workshops were very well attended, with over 400 people participating over a period of about 16 months," he says. "We have 14 value chain projects either in the process of development or completed in Saskatchewan. Alberta also has a value chain program, and Manitoba just started one last December."

The new Western Canadian Value Chain Initiative arose out of discussions between representatives of the four western provinces and the federal government.

"It was decided that there should be a consistent message across western Canada," Kosteroski says. "We are interested in creating awareness of the program itself, and the various strategies being employed by the agri-food industry. Many of the concepts are about working together in areas like talking to retail buyers, developing category plans, and communicating throughout the sector to make sure producers know what's going on."

The information developed on value chains will now have consistent content and the same look across the west, with the joint effort resulting in new material being made available in Saskatchewan.

"We have just launched an Internet marketing program," says Kosteroski. "Our companies have to take a look at website development, what suits their products, and the customers they are trying to attract. We just completed some organic livestock and vegetable workshops. It gives them more awareness of what potential markets may exist for them both domestically and for export."

The new co-operation between the provinces and federal government is a sign of the growing importance of this sector.

"You have small, medium, and large companies that are becoming players in the agri-food industry in Canada, and it's not an easy game," says Kosteroski. "It takes time to get into the retail markets, up to 16 months to get a product listed and on the shelf. Producers and companies have to be prepared to work through the process, to tweak their ideas to accommodate the needs of the retailer."

Among the new workshops to be offered in the next year, there will be an emphasis on marketing education, which is seen as a knowledge gap for emerging agri-food companies.

Anyone interested in what the Western Canadian Value Chain Initiative has to offer can get that information from the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan on their website at http://www.agcouncil.ca/.

For more information, contact:
Bryan Kosteroski, Value Chain Specialist
Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306)975-6851
E-mail: kosteroskib@agcouncil.ca

Food safety management for beef producers made simple

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Cattle producers have the tools and the know-how to prepare their cattle for market free of drug residues, thanks to the practices outlined in the Quality Starts Here/Verified Beef Production (VBP) program.

"The program provides the latest knowledge to assess and improve on-farm food safety," said Jodie Horvath, Provincial Co-ordinator for VBP in Saskatchewan. "It helps cattle producers keep up to date with good production practices in their operations, and supports improved efficiency."

The Verified Beef Production program manual outlines standard operating procedures on the use of animal health products, medicated feed and water, control of pesticides, and cattle shipping.

A key recommendation is that producers keep a permanent record of all individual and group medical treatments of their herd. The record should include details such as date, animal identification, product used, route of administration, withdrawal time, and who administered the treatment.

"The manual provides sample records to help you get started," Horvath said. "Animal identification is a must-do step in order to clearly link the animal with its treatment or vaccination record throughout the duration of its withdrawal period. Group or pen identification can be used in the case of group treatments."

Another important record-keeping practice is to double-check that all drug withdrawal requirements have been met before cattle are shipped to slaughter or to the next owner. The manual suggests that treatment records should be initialled once the producer has verified the withdrawal date.

Producers can avoid some potential issues by taking simple steps, such as storing their animal health products according to label instructions, which normally means avoiding extreme cold or heat. It is also important to make sure that syringes and other equipment deliver the intended amount of product.

"Sometimes we see producers using treatments in ways that are not in keeping with product labelling," Horvath noted. "This so-called ‘extra-label use' includes use on species or under conditions not listed on the label, using different dosages than specified, or using the treatment via an inappropriate route, frequency or duration."

The VBP requires that, in cases of extra-label use, there must be a vet prescription for the treatment. This prescription should include withdrawal times appropriate to the product's use.

The manual also deals with "what-if" situations that may arise.

"For example, if a needle breaks, you need to identify the animal and record the incident in a permanent record," Horvath stated. "The next owner must be notified. Or, if the wrong product is administered or if the dose is wrong, you should contact your vet and record it to make sure the animal meets its withdrawal time before shipping for slaughter."

At this time of year, it is common for cull cows to be shipped if they have turned up open during pregnancy checks. Concerns can arise if they have been given health products in the two-month period prior to shipping.

"Some of the common topical treatments for parasite control require a 49-day withdrawal period before slaughter," said Horvath. "Separating the culls from the rest of your cows before treating the herd is an easy way to avoid any accidental treatments."

Producers can learn more about these procedures and the manual at Verified Beef Production program workshops, which will be scheduled at various locations this fall and winter.

"The workshops last about two hours, and include time to go through the manual and discuss its requirements with qualified VBP trainers," said Horvath. "I welcome questions about the program from anyone who wants more information."

For more information, contact:

Jodie Horvath, Provincial Co-ordinator
Saskatchewan Verified Beef Production Program
Phone: (306) 675-6177
E-mail: jhorvath@sasktel.net

Maximum value from equine health funding

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Equine health research is getting a major boost with the latest funding from the Equine Health Research Fund (EHRF) to the University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

The EHRF is providing $225,000 to several research and training programs at the college. It is the single largest annual amount ever awarded by the 30-year-old fund. The investment will be used in three major areas, according to Dr. Norman Rawlings, WCVM's associate dean of research.

"The fund is supporting three of our residents," Rawlings said. "They are veterinary graduates who have come back to do specialized training in some aspect of equine medicine or surgery. They are tomorrow's specialists and researchers."

In addition to the training component, the funding will also be used for research projects that are aimed at increasing knowledge of equine medicine.

"The faculty members apply for the funds, and an external committee composed of people from other colleges reviews the applications," Rawlings said. "They would be projects to do with fertility and management of reproduction, orthopaedic surgery, and several in the area of infectious diseases and immunology."

Another important aspect of the WCVM research effort is the fellowships offered to undergraduate students.

"Last year, we had some 43 undergraduates working in the college, in a laboratory, with a professor, on some sort of research project do with veterinary medicine," said Rawlings. "We see this as a means of getting students interested in research and graduate studies when they leave the college."

The Equine Health Research Fund has helped the WCVM become a national centre for horse health research and specialized training. It has resulted in the training of many equine specialists who are working in clinics across Western Canada.

"The reason this fund was set up was to foster equine research with the WCVM," Rawlings noted. "We regard this as start-up money for research projects, but we encourage faculty to go outside and look for other sources of funding once they get rolling."

The EHRF is administered by the college, but is entirely dependent on grants and donations from outside the university.

"We get donations from horse clubs, individual owners, clinicians and some of the racing associations, as well as the endowment which makes grants from its interest earnings," Rawlings said. "We have a standing offer of $100,000 in grants from a private foundation over the next four years if we can find a matching amount from other sources. So we are always looking for participants in this two-for-one campaign, and we welcome new supporters."

There is always information on the activities of the Equine Health Research Fund in the college's Horse Health Lines magazine. Anyone interested can also find more on the WCVM website, at http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Norman Rawlings, Associate Dean of Research
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-7068
E-mail: norman.rawlings@usask.ca

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

Provincial pest control program to be administered by PCAB

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification (ADD) Boards for Saskatchewan Inc., or PCAB, will be given responsibility for administering pest control efforts across the province under a new arrangement with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF).

The “Fieldworker Program,” a co-ordinated pest control effort, began in Saskatchewan in 1972. Grants were provided to ADD Boards and rural municipalities, which worked together to organize control initiatives at the local level. Pest Control Officers (PCOs) were employed by the ADD Boards and RMs to deliver services on the ground and to help property owners develop effective control methods.

As the provincial body representing ADD Boards, PCAB has long played an important role in program delivery, maintaining Pest Control Co-ordinators who focused on creating a more uniform pest control initiative across the province.

For its part, SAF administered the Fieldworker Program, including the designation of grants. However, in order to facilitate improved program delivery, streamline the funding process, and encourage education and awareness, SAF has now given PCAB the opportunity to take over the management of the entire initiative.

According to Tracy Wickstrom, PCAB’s Pest Control Co-ordinator, the move will allow the Council to establish a better line of communication with ADD Boards, RMs and PCOs without disrupting the delivery of a program that has been very beneficial across the province.

“PCAB will handle both administration and delivery, rather than them being separated,” she said. “From the average producer’s perspective, they won’t notice a big change in how the program is delivered. They will still look to their local Pest Control Officers as their primary point of contact.

“What it will do is change the contact between the ADD Boards or RMs and SAF. Basically, their project applications will no longer be going to SAF, they will be coming directly to PCAB.”

Wickstrom expects the streamlining will hold a number of benefits for overall pest control efforts in Saskatchewan, simplifying the process and reducing the number of channels through which program stakeholders need to navigate.

“It facilitates our communication amongst our ADD Boards and PCOs as to the efforts they’re undertaking, and enables us to be in better contact with them on a regular basis about their programs and their needs,” she stated.

PCAB is a non-profit agriculture organization that focuses on timely, effective delivery of agriculture programs to Saskatchewan producers. It is committed to working with both government and industry to ensure a co-operative, efficient approach to agricultural program delivery.

PCAB is the provincial level of the ADD system. Each of the 296 RMs in Saskatchewan has an ADD Committee, from which a delegate is selected to serve on one of 41 District ADD Boards. Each District is then represented on one of six Regional Councils. PCAB’s board of directors consists of two delegates chosen from each Regional Council. This structure ensures a strong connection to grassroots agriculture.

For more information on the organization or provincial pest control efforts, please visit www.saskpcab.com, or call (306) 955-5477.

For more information, contact:
Tracy Wickstrom, Pest Control Co-ordinator
Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification Boards
Phone: (306) 955-5477
E-mail: farmstewardship@saskpcab.com

Native Nova Scotian continuing research on the Prairies

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Although he lived in Nova Scotia his whole life, Dr. Michael Nickerson had no qualms about moving to Saskatchewan when opportunity knocked.

When a position became available in the Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Nickerson jumped at the chance to continue his research here in Saskatchewan.

He applied to serve as the Saskatchewan Research Chair in Protein Quality and Utilization under the Strategic Research Program (SRP), an initiative funded and administered by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. After being accepted, he packed his bags and headed to the Prairies.

Dr. Nickerson’s educational background began with a Bachelor’s degree in marine biology, concentrating in aquaculture. When he considered attending a graduate program, he came across the Food Science Department at Dalhousie University. It was there that he decided to continue his studies, obtaining both his Master’s degree and his Ph.D.

“I started graduate school and, at first ,was interested in the value-added aspects of aquaculture for food. However, I soon realized that I was really interested in food chemistry, so I switched fields completely and adjusted my research direction accordingly,” he said. His graduate research focused primarily on both polysaccharides and proteins, looking at how they behave and interact as ingredients in food gels.

Most of Dr. Nickerson’s post-doctoral studies have been spent researching ingredient delivery systems developed from plant-based compounds. These systems allow us to deliver a specific ingredient to a specific part of the body (i.e. releasing beneficial bacteria in the small intestine, where it is needed, instead of in the stomach).

Dr. Nickerson is currently administering two main research programs. First, he is looking at the value-added applications of plant protein for food, feed and bio-materials, specifically developing microcapsule delivery systems. These capsules are micron-sized packages made from plant protein specifically for the delivery of bioactive compounds such as flax oil. This will allow food manufacturers to use a stable form of flax oil in a host of recipes and food products.

Secondly, he is also working to deliver prebiotics and probiotic bacteria as an ingredient for food and feed.

Dr. Nickerson says there is a tremendous push to avoid using animal-based proteins, such as gelatin, in the functional food market. That’s where his research comes into play. “The market is encouraging the use of plant proteins as an alternative source for these delivery systems,” he stated.

Funding for Dr. Nickerson’s research began about six months ago. By September, six or seven graduate students will be working hard in the lab, bringing this technology to the marketplace.

While his work contains a highly technical and scientific element, Dr. Nickerson says it also holds a great deal of relevance for the average producer.

“It’s estimated that the functional food market in the global economy will be an industry worth about US$500 billion per year by 2010, three per cent of which is Canadian. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada anticipates producers could potentially realize between $300 million and $1 billion by growing the raw ingredients used to support this industry,” he stated.

According to Dr. Nickerson, the current plant protein industry in Saskatchewan is primarily focused on feed; however, his research intends to broaden its use by entering the functional food market.

“I’m taking the protein already extracted from the crop, and then finding value-added applications for those proteins based on their functional properties. The benefit to producers is the opening of new markets, increased product demand, increased prices and price stability,” he said.

“As in so many aspects of the Saskatchewan agricultural industry, supporting and investing in value-added opportunities is highly beneficial [to the Saskatchewan economy].”

For more information, contact:
Dr. Michael Nickerson
SAF Research Chair for Protein Quality and Utilization
Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5030
E-mail: michael.nickerson@usask.ca