By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Friday August 19, 2022

Aug 19, 2022 | 2:20 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — Research centres at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have been awarded nearly $170 million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)’s Major Science Initiatives (MSI) fund.

This includes the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) that will receive $53.9 million

Director and CEO, Volker Gerdts, said VIDO is a global leader in infectious disease research, and vaccine development. The facilities are being expanded to include vaccine manufacturing, new animal housing and upgrading to containment level 4 in order to study new and re-emerging infectious diseases.

“This funding provides critical support to operate VIDO, one of Canada’s leading research organizations focused on emerging infectious diseases of humans and animals. This helps ensure Canada’s preparedness by enabling Canadian scientists access to world-class containment infrastructure,” Gerdts said.

The federal government is investing more than $628 million to support 19 research infrastructure projects at 14 institutions over the next three to six years, including those at USask.

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Early and sporadic storms produced significant hail damage across parts of Western Canada in the first week of August.

The Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA) member companies are investigating more than 1,800 claims of crop damage during the reporting period.

One storm produced softball size hail near Alberta’s Innsfail community.

CCHA president, Scott McQueen, of Palliser Insurance, said some parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan saw complete crop devastation.

“Corn crops chopped down to a foot tall, canola plants turned into sticks, cereal crops completely decimated,” he said. “Aug. 1 was the most potent day of the week in terms of claim numbers and claim damage.”

Rick Omelchenko, of Ag Direct Hail Insurance, said adjusters are working hard to stay ahead of the combines and continuous storm activity.

“Please leave adequate check strips for our adjusters to make an accurate assessment. If you have any questions call your insurers to be sure,” he said.

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A Canadian specialty pulse and oat miller has announced a major step forward for its sustainability program with the creation of a Sustainability Advisory Panel.

Avena Foods co-chair, Margaret Hughes, said the panel is comprised of farmers, civil society organizations, researchers, and food and beverage companies. The group will review Avena’s sustainability initiatives, provide suggestions for the program, and identify new opportunities.

“A primary goal of this panel is to increase the rigor and legitimacy of Avena’s sustainability program,” Hughes said. “We hope to do this by fostering partnerships amongst the value chain, affirming the value that all contributors bring to sustainability initiatives and developing a shared understanding and approach to sustainability on the Canadian Prairies — from the farm to processing to customer.”

Hughes and Mike Gallais, also of Avena, will co-chair the panel. Other members include Jean-Marc Bertrand with Danone Canada; Todd DeKryger with Nestle North America; Lynnell Olson of Seed Source; Julia Person with Bob’s Red Mill; Lana Shaw with the South East Research Farm; and Markus Weber of Field to Market Canada.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW