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Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday October 13, 2020

Oct 13, 2020 | 10:13 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – The Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative will receive $2.1 million for three new community-led projects.

The Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario will receive up to $999,900 to provide culturally relevant agricultural extension and business advisory services in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. The goal is to develop skills among First Nations communities in primary agriculture and to create awareness of the programs services that are available.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada will receive just over $1 million for a three-year pilot project, growing traditional Indigenous plants and foods in a community garden as well as in a year-round winterized greenhouse in Gatineau, Que.

The Wikwemikong Development Commission was provided with $49,500 to plan and design a physical space in Wikwemikong that will support Indigenous agri-tourism. This includes promoting local products and sharing Indigenous agricultural and culinary practices.

Farmers in southern Saskatchewan will be able to recycle unused farm chemicals

The products will be collected at 20 sites across southern Saskatchewan at no cost to farmers.

Cleansfarms western business manager Shane Henderson said farmers can contact their local chemical retailer to find the closest drop-off location.

The material cannot be recycled but can be disposed of safely through high temperature incineration.

Those products can be dropped off from Oct. 26 to 30.

Prairieland Youth Leadership conference in Saskatoon, Sask. is another agricultural event affected by COVID-19.

The February conference that usually attracts fifty 4-H members from clubs around the province has been cancelled but will return in 2022.

The young people participate in several social and competitive activities over a two-day period. At the end of the conference $12,000 in scholarships are awarded.

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF