Young people with ideas for new businesses in the emerging bio-economy can receive encouragement - and perhaps some funding - through a new University of Saskatchewan program sponsored by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF).

The Bio-Venture Challenge invites students from the university under the age of 35 to submit business ideas based in the bio-economy.  After a judging process, the best concept will receive a cash award of $50,000.

"One of the reasons we're doing this is to encourage young people to be entrepreneurs and to use their knowledge and skills to start new businesses, particularly in the bio-technology, agriculture and food sectors," said Doug Gill, Managing Director of the Industry Liaison Office at the University of Saskatchewan.

"A secondary objective is to encourage those young people to stay in the province and to contribute to its economic betterment."

SAF worked closely with the Industry Liaison Office to design a program that supported the commercialization of technologies developed at the University of Saskatchewan, and which supported the government's Youth Strategy.

"The Bio-Venture Challenge is an important collaboration for us," said Abdul Jalil, Director of SAF's Agriculture Research Branch.  "Developing young entrepreneurs is crucial to our continuing economic success, as is ensuring that the research funded by SAF and other sources at the university is commercialized for use right here in the growing bio-economy."

The initial business ideas were screened by a panel of judges, including representatives from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, Bio Access, the Saskatchewan Angel Investors Network and the Industry Liaison Office.  Five finalists were chosen in June, each of whom has since received training in the development of business plans and been mentored by three professors at the university's recently renamed N. Murray Edwards School of Business.

The finalists were:

• Plant sciences researcher Rachel Buhler for Aquaponics, a system that combines fish farming and hydroponic greenhouse practices to recycle water and process fish waste.
• Joel Campbell, who proposed a commercial greenhouse which will grow hardy fruit species in Saskatchewan.
• Patrick Mah, for his plan to bio-remediate contaminated soil at oil field and mining sites.
• Steve Mamchur, who created a concept to develop hormone concentrates from natural plant sources to be used in hormone replacement therapy, allowing this preparation to be mixed at most pharmacies.
• Tyler Whale, for his proposal to create a curbside collection company for compostable waste material in Saskatoon.

After the mentorship process, the finalists will submit a completed business plan to the panel of judges.  A winner will be announced in September, and will receive the cash award to further his or her business concept.

"It's something that fits with our mandate at the Industry Liaison Office, which is to see that new research results and knowledge get translated into business opportunities and products for the market," Gill said.  "It also fits well with the overall provincial government strategy of trying to encourage young people to stay in the province."

He anticipates that some or all of the finalists will go on to launch business ventures from their ideas, whether they take home the top prize in the competition or not.  In fact, the Saskatchewan Angel Investors Network has offered to review them all for investment potential.

"The enthusiasm of these young people and their business ideas are really quite exciting," Gill stated.  "We're very pleased with how it's gone."

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

There's a new kind of "country club" popping up in rural Saskatchewan, and this one doesn't involve golf or tennis.  In fact, these clubs are more about t-bones than tee times.

Beef clubs are an excellent way for cattle producers to discuss common issues, develop ideas, solve problems and share resources.

Adrienne Hanson, a Livestock Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, says clubs are generally started by a group of people with similar interests.  "In beef clubs, the mutual interest is cattle production and the common issues that go hand-in-hand with running a beef operation," she stated.

Beef clubs can be formal entities with membership dues, or something as simple as a regular coffee row gathering, a winter card game or a trip to the curling rink.  "The key is some co-ordinated activity that brings the people in the group together," Hanson said.

"Any opportunity for producers to gather together to share ideas and information is a valuable opportunity."

Hanson feels there are many benefits to forming these sort of producer groups.  Members can help each other with common challenges and opportunities.  They may bring different perspectives, areas of expertise and helpful contacts to the club.  Producers in the group can learn from one another, and improve their knowledge base and networking capabilities.  As the group grows and members become more comfortable with each another, business opportunities may arise that could see members of the club working together on larger-scale ventures.

Hanson says the topics that might be discussed in beef clubs are really unlimited, but some issues she has seen raised include electric fencing trial and error, early calving success and pitfalls, sale of excess forage or grain, and rotational and extended grazing.

Producers in the group might decide to market their calves together, thereby providing a more uniform package to an area feedlot, and potentially receiving a premium.  "They could develop a strategy for group-marketing or hay buying," she said.

Group members might also discuss some of the better places in the area to purchase good quality equipment, or where the best-priced supplies can be found.

"Part of the appeal of beef clubs is the ability to share with and learn from your colleagues' experiences," Hanson said.  "There's no sense trying to re-invent the wheel if you can, instead, hear how somebody else approached a problem and avoid the same growing pains they encountered coming to the same conclusion."

A diverse selection of members can make beef clubs even more beneficial, she suggested.  For example, grain producers who want to save money by limiting fertilizer input could partner with a cattle rancher to improve soil fertility.  The two producers might agree to work together and seed some grain land to perennial forage, thereby providing a new stand for the cattle rancher.  The hay land would be improved by controlling weeds and limiting underground pests.  In return, the cattle rancher would take some perennial forage out of production, and the grain farmer would benefit from the nitrogen that was fixed in the soil by alfalfa.

"By working together in a beef club, producers can really achieve a lot of advantages and collectively improve their operations in many ways," Hanson stated.

For more information, contact:
Adrienne Hanson, Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 848-2380

The statistics are shocking.  In an average year in Saskatchewan, 18 farmers or farm family members will be killed in activities around the farm.  Over 200 people will be hospitalized.

A significant portion of those preventable deaths and injuries will happen over the next few weeks.

Gord Moker, the program co-ordinator for Safe Saskatchewan, says there is often a noticeable increase in preventable injuries at harvest time.

"The increase in activity and the sheer number of hours that they are working just naturally increases the level of hazard out there on the farm," Moker said.

But Moker also believes the trend can be reversed.

"Experts in injury prevention will tell you there are four root causes of most injuries: rushing, fatigue, frustration and complacency," he said.  "It's really the human factor that enters into the picture.  It's common for farmers to be working 18-hour days this time of year, so fatigue plays a really big part, as well as complacency."

The human factor may be a part of the problem - but that means it is also part of the solution.

For example, it may be difficult to take a break during the busy time of harvest, but Moker says something as simple as taking a quick nap can save a life.

"One of the most important safety tips is to recognize when you are in those states of fatigue or frustration, or when you are rushing, and just back off," he stated.  "By appreciating when you are perhaps entering those periods of risk as an individual, it can go a long way to preventing an injury or, even worse, a fatality from occurring.

"The value of taking a 20-minute snooze on the seat of the grain truck will go a long way towards safety."

It just takes a moment to make a choice that could literally be the difference between life and death.

"Often, you will hear from farmers who have been injured, and they will say, ‘If I just would have stepped away.  I was frustrated.  The baler was plugged and I was in a hurry.  I could have prevented my injury if I just walked away for a minute and came back,'" Moker said.

"Remember the four root causes and recognize when you are in that state.  Take a break, take a nap."

Workplace safety is an issue that affects more than just the agricultural sector.  In fact, Safe Saskatchewan estimates that preventable injuries cost the provincial economy $1 billion per year.  However, Moker says that farming and ranching are among the most hazardous occupations.

"The level of hazard out there on the farms is significant.  Farming and ranching can be seen as the most hazardous occupation because it is like having 10 occupations.  You are a heavy equipment operator at one point, a welder at another and then a machinist at the next turn.  Each of these jobs has its own hazards," he noted.

That fact is clearly reflected in the statistics.

"Compare farming and ranching to all other industries in Saskatchewan, like forestry, mining or construction.  There are, on average, 30 fatalities a year in all other industries combined.  There are 18 fatalities a year on average in farming and ranching.  So there are a disproportionate number of farm workers who are being injured.  Safe Saskatchewan is trying to change that," said Moker.

Safe Saskatchewan is led by a consortium of public and private sector founders.  It raises awareness of the unintentional injury epidemic in Saskatchewan, co-ordinates provincial injury prevention initiatives, and supports all organizations and programs undertaking injury prevention in the province.

Other governmental and non-governmental organizations in Saskatchewan have developed programs and resources to prevent injury in the agricultural sector.  Many are members of the Saskatchewan Alliance for Safety and Health in Agriculture (SASHA).  Information on SASHA and its member-organizations can be found at http://www.skfarmsafetyalliance.ca/ or by calling (306) 697-4026.

For more information on Safe Saskatchewan, visit their website at http://www.safesask.com/, or call (306) 757-3197.

For more information, contact;
Gord Moker, Program Co-ordinator
Safe Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 757-3197
E-mail: gmoker@sasksafety.org
Website: http://www.safesask.com/

Cattle use feed most efficiently when the nutrients in the daily rations match their daily requirements, commonly referred to as a "balanced ration."

Producers can't simply "eyeball" feed value, but they sometimes use traditional or "book values" to estimate feed quality against their cows' nutritional needs.

While these guides can be useful, the quality of individual feed supplies can vary widely from the average.  Not knowing the exact nutritional value of feeds can lead to underfeeding or overfeeding, both of which cost money.

In order to help producers deal with these challenges, the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan (FACS) has devoted one of its many "Cattle FACS" fact sheets to the subjects of feed testing and ration balancing.

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

The information on ration balancing suggests that nutrient content of feeds can fluctuate from year to year for many reasons, such as differences in growing conditions, the stage of maturity at which the crops were cut and collected, and the methods of harvest, storage and processing.  Roughage mixtures of unknown proportions, or use of unusual feedstuffs or screenings, increase the need for precise information.  Furthermore, testing for nitrates, moulds, mycotoxins or other anti-nutritive factors can also prevent problems in the cows' diet.

"Feed experts point out that a little time and a few dollars spent planning can mean the difference between satisfactory performance on minimum feed or thin cows, poor calves, low fertility and/or wasted feed resources," Buettner said.  "Adding the vitamin, mineral and protein supplements and grain necessary to meet, but not exceed, nutrient requirements lowers production costs by optimizing performance and feed efficiency."

Producers are advised to talk to a livestock nutritionist for advice on balancing rations to meet the needs of their cattle and using feeds to their best advantage.

"It's important that they use good quality feed from calving to breeding in order to get the cow to cycle and breed back as soon as possible," Buettner stated.

The fact sheet suggests that having their product checked at a feed testing laboratory is the surest way for producers to determine the quality of their feed.  "There are a number of labs in Saskatchewan and across the Prairies that provide a full range of feed testing packages, analyzing things like crude protein, fibre (estimation of energy and intake), minerals and possible toxic substances," she noted.

However, the accuracy of the technical analysis will only be as good as the accuracy of the sampling procedure, so it is important that producers take care in the collection process to ensure that the sample is representative of the entire lot.

"There are recommended procedures for collecting and shipping samples of grain, ground-mixed rations, supplements, hay, silage and water," Buettner said.  "The fact sheet contains a list of guidelines that should give producers a general idea of the common handling requirements, but specific instructions are usually available from the labs themselves, or from the provincial Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377."

FACS is a membership-based, non-profit organization that represents the livestock industry in advancing responsible welfare, care and handling practices in agriculture.  It endeavours to raise producer awareness of the economic and ethical benefits of animal welfare and helps consumers achieve a greater understanding of animal care issues.

More information on the work of the council or the Cattle FACS fact sheet series can be obtained online 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
Website: http://www.facs.sk.ca/

Harvest marks the end of a long season of work for producers, but, for the Agri-ARM network, it is the time when some of the most rewarding aspects of their work begin.

The Agriculture Applied Research Management (Agri-ARM) program is a network of applied research sites focused on increasing per-acre income and provincial gross domestic product from crops.

There are eight Agri-ARM sites located across the province.  Each site has the necessary infrastructure to conduct applied research and demonstration, including a manager responsible for technical issues and a Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) regional crop development specialist to support technology transfer.

Dr. Larry Gutek, SAF's Crop Business Section Manager, says the Agri-ARM sites are involved in numerous research products this year, but the new crop options are always interesting.

"We are looking at the adaptation of potential new crops such as Brassica carinata (Ethiopian mustard), camelina, prairie carnation, oilseed radish, calendula, niger, fibre flax, crambe and kamut wheat." 

Gutek says the field days, held in July, are always very popular and well attended. "The field days are an opportunity for farmers to learn about the performance of new varieties, the latest production technology and opportunities to contract and participate in crop value chains. It is a way for producers to get exposed to some leading edge developments in the bio-products industry," said Gutek.

Agri-ARM has now completed six field seasons of quality applied research and demonstrations to address emerging crop opportunities. The program is designed to help meet SAF's goal of developing a thriving, environmentally sustainable and diversified agricultural industry through working with strong, resourceful agricultural people.

"The salient feature of Agri-ARM is that it is a partnership and a network of folks coming together to do applied research and demonstration on a regional level.  Each site has developed a unique partnership, whether it involves producers, producer groups, universities, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, SAF and/or industry.  Agri-ARM is best described as a network of networks," explains Gutek.

The Agri-ARM network includes:

• Conservation Learning Centre (Prince Albert)
• East Central Research Foundation (Canora)
• Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (Indian Head)
• North East Agricultural Foundation (Melfort)
• Seager Wheeler Farm (Rosthern)
• South East Research Farm (Redvers)
• Western Applied Research Committee (Scott)
• Wheatland Conservation Area Inc. (Swift Current)

For more information, contact:
Larry Gutek, Manager, Crop Business Section
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Telephone:  (306) 933-5568
E-mail: lgutek@agr.gov.sk.ca