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Agriculture Roundup for Monday July 6, 2020

Jul 6, 2020 | 10:26 AM

More than 100 rural bridges in Saskatchewan will be replaced the next four years.

The provincial government announced $31.5 million in funding will be directed to rural bridge improvements.

There are roughly 1,500 bridges in rural Saskatchewan, and many were built in the 1960s and 1970s and are at a point where the bridge needs to be replaced.

Some rural bridge projects are currently going through the federal approval process, so work can begin this construction season. Another intake for additional RM bridge projects is currently open and will close on July 19.

Project applications can be made online through SARM’s website.

An Agri-Food Hub will be built in Lethbridge, Alta.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenny announced $27.8 Million for Lethbridge Exhibition Park as part of the facilities’ redevelopment project.

The location already houses food processing companies like Cavendish Farms which opened a new $430 million frozen potato processing plant last year.

Kenny said the project will also provide applied learning opportunities for culinary students from Lethbridge College.

The $27.8 million investment is part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan and will serve as an anchor for the growth of Alberta’s value-added food sector.

Ontario’s emergency management agency (EMO) has been deployed to Windsor-Essex to help address a large COVID-19 farm outbreak.

Premier Doug Ford said EMO will co-ordinate care and housing for the 191 workers on one farm who tested positive for the virus over the weekend.

He said the agency is also working with the Canadian Red Cross, farmers and local health officials as they respond to the outbreak.

Ford also apologized for criticizing migrant workers during his briefing Thursday, when he said they were hiding from efforts to retest them for COVID-19.

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: AliceMcF