New funding for Saskatchewan agriculture projects

Thirteen new agriculture research
projects got the green light at the Farm Progress Show on Friday. 

The Federal and Provincial
Agriculture Ministers announced $550, 000 in funding to promote and adopt the
new technologies and production methods the researchers come up with. 

Some farmers said the ideas seem a
bit “futuristic”, but Federal Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz is confident the
practises will get adopted, and result in more efficient production. 

“It wasn’t that many years ago when
we talked about GPS steers as something in Star Wars,” he said. “Now it’s the
accepted practice and has proven itself in less overlap and less use of
chemicals.” 

He says it’s important to keep
driving Saskatchewan
agriculture forward with innovative ideas that can be put to practical use
after instruction and demonstration to farmers. 

“It’s up to farmers to embrace the
ideas. They spend the winter months studying a lot of these ideas that come
out. They come to the Farm Progress Show to actually see the physical
properties and look at the details,” said Ritz. 

Saskatchewan
Association of Rural Municipalities President, David Marit says the farming
community appreciates the support. 

“Research
is critical to the future of our agriculture industry and I know many producers
will be interested to se how these projects can help benefit them on their
farms.