Farmer Investment Into Research Pays Off

Feb 10, 2016

The Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) is committing to a new five-year research support agreement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

WGRF will invest more than $21 million to support AAFC's western wheat and barley breeding programs until 2020.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay was in Saskatoon for the announcement.

"It's so important that we have the collaboration between the Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the farmers, and everybody involved in the industry - so that we come up with the right programs," he said. "That's how this was established in the '90s - it's vitally important."

The money will go towards research into wheat and barley diseases; insect resistance; environmental stresses, like drought and flooding; and developing genetic markers for plant breeding selection.

Source : PortageOnline

Video: Sow Welfare and Group Housing Systems - Dr. Laya Alves

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Translating welfare requirements into daily farm routines without compromising economic sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges faced by producers globally today."

Meet the guest: Dr. Laya Alves / laya-kannan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on animal welfare in pig production, including pain management, euthanasia, and economic decision making. Her work integrates welfare science with practical farm management and sustainability. She collaborates globally to develop applied tools for producers.