The Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission (SFSDC) Annual Meeting and Trade Show will be held Tuesday, December 03, 2026 at the Community Hall in Carrot River (3240 - 3rd Avenue, Carrot River, SK).
Note: We will make all attempts to keep to the scheduled start times; however, due to weather conditions and speaker travel, the schedule is subject to change as needed for the safety of our guests and growers.
Photos from this year’s field work. Click for larger images.
SFSDC Annual Meeting and Trade Show Agenda
December 3rd, 2026
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Registration & Farmer’s Breakfast
Registration and sign-up for the new text message system
Meet & Greet with fellow growers and industry
Breakfast: pancakes, sausage, personal quiche, fruit, coffee
8:30 am – 9:00 am
Opening Comments & Introductions
Welcome by SFSDC Chair & Board of Directors
Introductions of Trade Table exhibitors
Call for resolutions from registered producers
Morning Session Moderator: Hilary Luchinski
9:00 am – 9:45 am
Growing New Possibilities: From Plant Breeding to Weed Control
Research for Tomorrow - exploring new opportunities for conventional and organic forage seed producers
Join researchers for updates on two important projects supported by Saskatchewan's Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).
Dr. Bill Biligetu, University of Saskatchewan, will discuss progress in developing improved hybrid bromegrass, clover, crested wheatgrass and sainfoin varieties, and what these breeding efforts could mean for future forage seed production.
Dr. John Stavrinides, University of Regin will discuss Biological Control of Canada Thistle will explore research into biological approaches to managing one of the most persistent and challenging weeds in perennial seed production.
Together, these projects highlight how research can support new production opportunities, improve crop management and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Saskatchewan's forage seed sector.
9:45 am -10:15 am
Coffee / Tea Break & Talk-Time
Sign up for the new text message system
10:15 am – 11:15 am
Morning Session
Forage & Turf Seed Market Dynamics
Speaker: TBD
Harvest: Every Viable Seed Counts: From Harvest Losses to Marketable Yield
From swathing to combining, protecting yield, quality and profitability
Innovation in harvest equipment a leading AGM topic identified by Saskatchewan forage seed growers in our recent text survey. This practical session will explore equipment innovations, producer experiences and techniques for identifying and reducing losses throughout harvest.
MacDon will be a featured contributor, highlighting rotary disc cutting technology with its grass seed attachment and draper headers for forage and turf seed crops. Drawing on producer experiences with these technologies, we'll explore how equipment selection, swath formation and harvest timing can influence seed recovery.
The discussion will also examine combine performance, equipment settings and methods for measuring harvest losses, bringing together technology and practical field experience to help growers make informed harvesting decisions.
Harvest losses don't end at the field edge
The conversation continues on Friday, December 4, at the Forage Seed Dockage Workshop, presented by 20/20 Seed Labs. This hands-on workshop will help producers better understand dockage assessments, seed quality and how the material delivered to the cleaning plant ultimately influences the value of their crop.
15 min Stretch break, organize voting paddles
Last call for AGM registrations, voting paddles and resolutions
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
21st SFSDC Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Call to order and introductions of the Board of Directors
Reports to growers:
Chair’s report on our strategic path forward
Auditor’s report (live-stream presentation) and 2025-2026 financial statement
Executive Director report on levy and grant-funded activities
Presentation of the 2026–2027 budget
Motions to accept reports; discussion and vote
Resolutions from registered producers (motion, discussion, vote)
New business
Appointment of auditor for 2026–2027
Adjournment of AGM
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Afternoon Session
Nitrogen: What Pays, What Stays & What Gets Away?
Balancing fertilizer economics, crop nutrient demand and nitrogen losses in a changing climate.
This panel brings together decades of Prairie soil science including nutrient management, greenhouse gas emissions research in forage seed fields, and producer-led on-farm experiments supported by Farmers for Climate Solutions, agronomists and industry partners (https://farmersforclimatesolutions.ca/).
What Pays and What Stays? Dr. Rigas Karamanos brings the 5th R view - based on his extensive knowledge of Prairie soils, fertilizer management, and enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizers and economics of fertilizer prices.
What Gets Away? Nitrogen losses, including N₂O emissions, and how management practices might reduce those losses without compromising profitability. Dr. Shannon Brown, University of Saskatchewan, Soil Science department, explains how we measure emissions and first results of our fall 2026 On Farm Trials.
Taryn Dickson connects all three questions from the view of producers' desire to be part of the solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to our fertilizer practices. Farmers for Climate Solutions' investment in producer-led on-farm experiments, N management practices, training of early-career agronomists, and practical knowledge transfer.
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
From Research to Reality: What's Working, What's Changing & What's Next?
An SFSDC roundup of research results, production challenges and industry priorities.
We'll wrap up the Forum with a series of short, practical updates on SFSDC research and initiatives that matter to forage and turf seed growers.
Topics include results from our On-Farm Trials investigating plant growth regulators and fertilizer management and our small plot trials on wild oat control; lessons from our early-season true armyworm monitoring program; progress on the Canadian Forage Seed Project to preserve public forage seed genetics; and SFSDC's policy analysis of Saskatchewan's forage seed crop insurance coverage.
Concluding comments
What have we learned, what challenges remain, and where should we focus our efforts next?
Registration
https://cropweek.com/event/sask-forage-seed/
Fee: $40/person includes meals. NO FEE producers who paid check-off in the last 2 years.
Donations to cover speaker travel, audio visual and venue expenses would be appreciated.
TRADE SHOW
Trade Tables Available: $250.00 (includes one meal). Meals for registered producers no charge. All others cost recovery. For more information and to book a booth at the trade fair, saskforageseed.com, 306-341-1347, office@saskforageseed.com.
December 4th, 2026 - Dockage Workshop
20/20 Seed Labs Inc. and SFSDC present a Dockage & Seed Grading Workshop. An introduction to clovers and grasses.
Download the Dockage Workshop PDF or view the image below for more information.
TO REGISTER: Use the QR code in the PDF or image, or use the Eventbrite link below.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/dockage-seed-grading-of-grasses-clovers-tickets-2003088587888
