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Saskatchewan commits $7.5 million to livestock and forage research

Last week, both the Government of Canada and Saskatchewan announced a combined $7.5 million in funding for both livestock and forage-related research through Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund. The funding includes $4.1 million for 24 projects, as well as $3.5 in operational funding for the Prairie Swine Centre and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan.

The research will impact producers across commodities with studies that benefit bison, beef, cattle, swine, poultry, dairy and others. For example, one project will look at how removing sulphates from agricultural ponds improves cattle health, while another will use watering bowls to study antimicrobial resistance.

The funding is aimed at helping farmers find more sustainable and efficient ways to produce food and grow in Canada’s agri-food sector. Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit said in a statement that innovation will help the province’s producers meet the Saskatchewan Growth Plan objectives of increasing livestock cash receipts to $3 billion, and increasing value-added revenue to $10 billion by 2030.

In addition to funds committed from the governments, the projects will receive more than $300,000 from partners including the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, SaskMilk, Alberta Milk and others.