By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday October 12, 2021

Oct 12, 2021 | 10:33 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — One of the most destructive and rapidly spreading invasive species on the continent has been found for the first time in a Canadian national park.

Parks Canada is confirming that wild pigs are now regularly present in Elk Island National Park east of Edmonton.

The pigs were brought to Canada in the 1990’s as a farm diversification strategy. Some escaped, and scientists say they’re now in half of Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities and 28 Alberta counties.

Ryan Brook at the University of Saskatchewan said the pigs are highly destructive to both native wildlife and their habitat.

A Parks Canada spokesperson said the agency is hoping to work with the Alberta government’s pig removal program to get the animals out of Elk Island Park.

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ATB Financial and 4-H Alberta will continue their collaboration to provide money management skills to youth in the province.

The ATB Financial Confidence Workshops launched in the fall of 2020, inviting 4-H Alberta members of all ages to take a closer look at the different aspects of their finances and financial activities.

ATB and 4-H Alberta recognized the importance of setting up youth for success by teaching them important life skills and help them grow their fiscal knowledge base as well as their confidence.

The next webinar series will launch on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. and will focus on the basics of credit.

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Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan Youth Leadership and Mentorship Program (YLMP) has its newest participants.

The program gives Saskatchewan producers between the ages of 18 and 40 the opportunity to learn about agricultural policies, lobbying, and networking skills. Participants are matched up with a farm leader over the age of 40 in a mentee-mentor relationship.

APAS vice-president Ian Boxall said the YLMP has made a positive impact on Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry and APAS.

“APAS has five board members, including myself, who have gone through the program, so it’s been essential for the succession of our association,” Boxall said.

The 2021-22 mentorship participants include Glen Munholland of Strasbourg, Cody Tataryn of Ituna, Brett Spray from Preeceville, Sarah Leguee of Weyburn, and Madison Englot of Montmartre.

Boxall, a current mentor, said the skills he developed in the program have been critical in his agricultural career.

“The biggest takeaway for me was the work that people did on behalf of Canadian and Saskatchewan producers, and I was unaware of that before I went through the program,” Boxall said. “Going through the program showed me how good policy lobbying could positively change policies for producers.”

The program has been in existence since 2014.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW