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Mentoring the next generation of ag leaders

A program that encourages youth involvement in agriculture is accepting new applicants.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is looking for participants in its APAS Young Leaders (AYL) program.

Formerly known as the Youth Leadership and Mentorship Program, AYL offers producers in Saskatchewan between the ages of 18 and 40 the opportunity to experience and learn about farm policy from the grassroots to the federal level in an engaging and supportive environment.

APAS President and past participant Ian Boxall said the program is a great way for young farmers to grow their network and learn the importance of agriculture policy and its impacts on farm operations.

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Designing a Robotic Berry Picker

Video: Designing a Robotic Berry Picker


Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.