Sign up for our free daily newsletter

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday October 21, 2020

Oct 21, 2020 | 10:28 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – Farm Credit Canada Drive Away Hunger campaign will provide 17 million meals for food banks and feeding programs across the country.

The donation comes at a time when many food banks are experiencing drastic declines in volunteers and food donations, as well as increased public demand due to the pandemic.

FCC President and CEO Michael Hoffort said there is a growing number of individuals and families with children, in both urban and rural areas, who are struggling to make ends meet.

“FCC Drive Away Hunger goes a long way each year in putting food on the table for thousands of Canadians,” Hoffort said. “These are difficult times for many, so we need to make a special effort to give what we can to local food banks now and throughout the year.”

The tractor food collection tours and other in-person activities were cancelled. FCC worked with industry partners to collect food and cash donations for Canada’s food banks.

Since 2004, FCC employees, customers and community partners have provided over 83 million meals to food banks in Canada.

Viterra Inc. is expanding its network of grain handing facilities in Saskatchewan.

An elevator, with a storage capacity of 34,000 metric tonnes and a loop track for rail loading, will be built at Biggar, Sask.

President and CEO for Viterra North America Kyle Jeworski said the company has been making targeted investments.

“We’re pleased to be revitalizing our presence in the Biggar area, and making a long-term commitment to our customers through this significant investment,” Jeworski said in a news release.

Construction of the new facility will begin immediately and will be open in early 2022.

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence of has a new interim director.

USask forage breeder Bruce Coulman has been selected to lead LFCE as the international search for a permanent director continues.

Coulman is a leader in the breeding and genetics of perennial forage grasses and annual cereal forages and has developed 22 forage crop cultivars over his 40-year career.

Coulman succeeds LFCE director Kris Ringwall who will retire at the end of October.

LFCE is located near Clavet, Sask. and is dedicated to research, teaching and industry engagement.

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF