SFSDC is pleased to announce our speaker line-up for the upcoming Forage Seed Grower Workshop on December 2, 2014 in Nipawin Saskatchewan.

The SFSDC held their annual field day on July 23, 2014 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Farm south of Melfort, SK.

Canada is recognized worldwide as a leading producer, processor and exporter of high-quality seed for a wide range of crops. It is a diverse sector that contributes billions to the Canadian economy and provides jobs for thousands.

The Clover Casebearer Research Project carried out at the University of Alberta was partially funded by Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission for 3 years.

In June 2013, 0.22 lb/ac of foliar EDTA chelated copper was applied at the flag leaf to established timothy (3 locations) and hybrid bromegrass (1 location) on replicated miniplots in the Choiceland, Nipawin, and White Fox SK regions.

Weed control is critical in the establishment year for forages grown for seed production. With that in mind, in the spring of 2013, we initiated a research trial at the Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation near Melfort, SK to identify herbicides that provide adequate weed control while posing acceptable risk of crop damage for selected forage species.

SFSDC has developed a new display banner and revised their information brochure. Working with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the Commission received funding provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative for these two projects.

Nicole Anderson, Oregon State University, provided an overview of the large forage seed industry in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Production of many crops including white clover, annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, red clover and others occurs where they receive 50-80 inches of rainfall and experience only a couple of frosts each year.

David Maxwell, Chair and Ray McVicar, Executive Director provided reports on the Commission’s activities. The Audited Financial Report for 2012-2013 was reviewed and the 2013-2014 Budget was presented by Marcel Enns, Treasurer. Milton & Associates, Regina, SK was appointed as Auditor for 2013-2014.