Several sections of the Commission's formal rules of operation have been amended as recommended by the government oversight body, the Agri-Food Council. Changes align the Commission’s rules with other producer organizations operating under the Agri-Food Act. The most recent version, 60/2021 of Chapter A-15.21 Reg 3 (effective June 29, 2005) approved by the government of Saskatchewan is available on-line https://www.canlii.org.

SFSDC’s 16th AGM was attended by 64 participants, including 24 registered growers. The virtual meeting was organized using Zoom Webinar video conferencing system, and the online polling platform, Slido, was used for voting. Sixteen registered producers voted on all motions, meeting regulatory requirements for quorum.

Health Canada has completed the re-evaluation of lambda-cyhalothrin. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada has determined that continued registration of products containing lambda-cyhalothrin is acceptable with additional risk mitigation measures.

Using grower levy and industry in-kind contributions, the SFSDC contracted forage seed research trials. Preliminary results of the multi-year trials are now available for the following research projects: companion cropping oat with perennial ryegrass, companion cropping canola with perennial ryegrass, spring applied herbicides for use on red and alsike clover grown for seed production, and annual ryegrass.

Thank-you to the forage seed buyers for your support of the process and levy collection from 46 species (37 grasses, 9 legumes), keeping accurate records of this diversity of crop types – this is not a simple task when compared to single commodity levy groups.

The SFSDC held the 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Saskatoon, SK on January 11, 2021. Using Zoom and the tech support from the AV Team at Prairieland Park Saskatoon, 114 individuals attended the AGM and the Forages Market Outlook presentation by David McGregor, Imperial Seeds.

The annual forage seed field tour and barbecue were held at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Research Farm near Melfort, SK, on July 25th, 2019. The SFSDC, the Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation (NARF), and AAFC-Melfort hosted the event.

The annual Grower Information Session and Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on January 14th, 2020. Thanks to all those who attended our event despite the near record-breaking cold temperature. Special thanks to the following volunteers who helped out with set-up and registration: Lana Haight, Livestock and Forages Centre of Excellence, Marianne Possberg, Saskatchewan Cattleman’s Association, and Shannon McArton, Saskatchewan Forage Council.

The 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the SFSDC was held at Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SK on January 14, 2020. James Silcox, SFSDC Chair, began by introducing the Board of Directors and Board Advisors.

On January 14, 2020 federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie Claude Bibeau and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit announced more than $11 million in funding for 47 crop-related research projects through Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) and the Strategic Field Program (SFP).

The Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission (SFSDC) is excited to have a new Executive Director, Jo-Anne Relf-Eckstein. As part of the transition, a big thank you is extended to Ray McVicar for his wonderful coaching, and efficient administration system, which has served the Saskatchewan forage seed producers for many years.

The reports from the 2018 Forage Seed Research program are now available on this website. Reports include research on crop rotations with red and alsike clover, alternate row planting with meadow bromegrass, annual ryegrass fertility, and the ongoing red clover management project at the U of S that includes control of lesser clover leaf weevil.

The Forage Seed Information Session was held in Saskatoon, SK on January 17, 2019. The session included reports on forage seed research and markets as well as the 13th Annual General Meeting of SFSDC. Calvin Yoder, Forage Seed Crops Agrologist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in Spirit River AB provided an excellent talk on forage seed production and research.

The 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the SFSDC was held in Saskatoon, SK on January 17, 2019. James Silcox, SFSDC Chair began by introducing the Board of Directors, Advisors and guests.

On January 17, 2019 federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit announced more than $5.5 million in funding for 34 livestock and forage-related research. Three new forage seed research projects were included in the funding announcement from ADF.

The annual forage seed field tour and barbecue was held on July 26, 2018 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Research Farm near Melfort, SK. The tour was hosted by SFSDC, the Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation (NARF), and AAFC Melfort and there were over thirty people in attendance.

The 2018 Forage Seed Research Plot Tour and Barbecue will be held on Thursday July 26, 2018 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Research Farm, located 2.5 km south of Melfort SK on Highway #6. This will be an excellent opportunity to look at the forage crop research being done at the Melfort station and to visit with other forage seed producers.

Early weed control and good crop establishment are two of the most important requirements in successful forage seed production. Producers are looking to find the most effective method for planting forage seed crops while controlling early emerging weeds.

This is an excellent resource published by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada that will assist growers in identifying field crop and forage pest. It includes pictures of the pest at various stages, hosts, life cycle, description & pictures of feeding damage, monitoring/scouting, economic threshold and management options.

Ag-Vision Seeds of Carrot River, SK has been sold to Crop Production Services (CPS) of Loveland, Colorado. For more details, please contact CPS Carrot River at (306) 768-3335.