By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Thursday April 8, 2021

Apr 8, 2021 | 9:57 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — Farmers will have another way to access support from Saskatchewan Agriculture specialists.

Starting this spring, service will be available through AGvisorPRO.

Saskatchewan Agriculture minister David Marit said the ministry is continually looking for tools that can provide unbiased, science-based agricultural information.

“The past year has shown the importance of innovation and finding new ways to reach our producers,” Marit said in a news release. “I look forward to seeing how this pilot project provides Saskatchewan’s producers and agri-businesses with a new way to connect with their local regional specialists.”

Producers can download the AGvisorPRO app for iOS or Android to their smartphone, iPad or desktop. A farmer taps in a few words to outline the question they are dealing with and an algorithm will match them to an independent, industry or ministry expert.

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The pilot will launch this spring and run through the summer.

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Nutrien has announced six sustainability commitments for 2030 that address four key areas.

The 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report includes a focus on feeding the planet sustainably, supporting environment and climate action, driving inclusive agriculture, and helping to meet the United Nations’ Zero Hunger Sustainable Development Goal.

President and CEO Chuck Magro said Nutrien is focused on meeting the United Nations’ Zero Hunger Sustainable Development Goal in the coming decade by helping growers increase food production in a sustainable manner.

Nutrien provides crop inputs and services around the world.

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Health experts advocating for migrant farm workers say COVID-19 vaccines must be offered with accessibility in mind.

Ontario is preparing to vaccinate more workers during the current phase of its vaccine rollout and some health units have started offering shots.

Workers raised concerns about early vaccination pilots that lacked advance notice and did not provide everyone with consent forms.

Experts added workers must be free from reprisal if they choose not to take a vaccine and must receive information about vaccinations in their own languages.

The Migrant Worker Health Expert Working Group also called for workers to have consultations with health-care providers ahead of vaccinations.

Roughly 20,000 farm workers are employed in Ontario annually and more than 1,780 tested positive for COVID-19 last year.

The province said it wants to offer vaccines to workers arriving at the airport, but advocates believe that plan could cause confusion.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW