By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday August 11, 2020

Aug 11, 2020 | 11:08 AM

SASKATCHEWAN – Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame has announced its 2020 slate of inductees.

James Halford from Indian Head, Sask. pioneered zero tillage farming. An agricultural economist, farmer and entrepreneur, Jim’s Vale Farms invented, manufactured and marketed the ConservaPak seeder in the 1980s that was eventually sold to John Deere.

Renowned plant breeder Dr. Bryan Harvey developed more than 60 varieties of barley throughout his 50-year research career. At the University of Saskatchewan, his research developed two-row malting barley including Harrington barley that became the dominant variety across the Prairies for more than 20 years. Harvey lives in Saskatoon, Sask.

Agribusiness leader Jay Bradshaw began his 36-year career in Canadian agriculture with a sales territory in Saskatchewan. He saw Cyanamid through the successful acquisition by BASF before joining Syngenta Canada, serving as president until his retirement in 2018. Jay was involved in several collaborative initiatives in the industry including GrowCanada – a coalition of national stakeholders to advance agricultural innovation and sustainability, and CleanFarms – a successful agricultural container recycling program. Bradshaw lives in Guelph, Ont.

Douglas Hedley is an expert on Canadian agricultural policy. He was involved in every major policy decision the federal government made in the agri-food sector from the late 1980s until his retirement as Assistant Deputy Minister. Douglas was instrumental in working with the provinces and agricultural industry groups to set policy that became the Agricultural Policy Framework. After retirement, Douglas served as executive director of the Association of Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. He makes his home in Nepean, Ont.

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The inductees will be recognized in 2021, as the induction ceremony scheduled for Toronto in November has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

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Researchers have found a lack of wild bees and managed honeybees is limiting pollination and yields for certain crops on farms in British Columbia and across the United States.

The study published in the Royal Society’s journal Biological Sciences used data from more than 130 farms to assess the pollination of crop flowers and yield for apples, highbush blueberries, sweet and tart cherries, almonds, pumpkins, and watermelon.

Of those crops, the study found five frequently showed evidence of pollinator limitation, suggesting the protection of wild bees and greater investment in honeybee colonies is likely to boost yields.

It notes that crops dependent on pollinators generate more than $50-billion each year in the U-S and declining bee populations raise concerns about food security in years to come.

University of Manitoba assistant professor Kyle Bobiwash said global demand for crops that are dependent on pollinators has increased, while the development of those crops often cuts into bee habitat.

Bobiwash says the study shows the importance of protecting and enhancing habitat for wild bees.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF