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.

SFSDC is pleased to announce the return of three Directors at the recent Annual General Meeting. Morley Doerksen, Garrick SK starts his second term on the Board and is the Vice-Chair. Denton Peifer, Nipawin SK returns to the Board in his second term as Treasurer, and James Silcox, Nipawin SK returns for his third term on the Board. James takes over the role as Chair.

The annual SFSDC Forage Seed Information Session was held in Saskatoon, SK on January 11, 2018. The session included reports on forage seed research and markets as well as the SFSDC 12th Annual General Meeting.

At the annual SFSDC Forage Seed Information Session on January 11, 2018, Mike Scheffel, Managing Director of Policy and Standards at the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) in Ottawa provided the pedigreed forage seed acreage report and an update on the on-going Circular 6 modernization.

At the annual SFSDC Forage Seed Information Session on January 11, 2018, Dr. Dave Grafstrom, University of Minnesota, began the session with an excellent presentation entitled, “Perennial Ryegrass Yields 2,000 lbs/acre by 2020: Reality or Pipedream!” Dave is from Roseau, Minnesota, about a 2 hour drive south of Winnipeg.

The 12th Annual General Meeting of the SFSDC was held in Saskatoon, SK on January 11, 2018. David Maxwell, SFSDC Chair began by introducing the Directors and Advisors of the Commission.