National Forum on Seed
Technical Working Session
Placement of Forages in the New Three-Part Variety Registration System
Tuesday March 30, 2010
Fairmont Hotel
Winnipeg, Manitoba
You are invited to participate in a technical working session of the
National Forum on Seed, to discuss, debate and inform on the placement of
forage crops in the new 3-part variety registration system. The session
will be held on Tuesday March 30 at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg. This
session will be used by the Variety Registration office of the CFIA as part
of the consultative process required when a regulatory amendment is being
considered.
If you are interested in attending, please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QF97259
Alberta Forage Manual Now Available
The newly revised Alberta Forage Manual is now available from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. The updated information and the numerous colour photos and illustrations identifying different crop species, diseases and insects as well as photos explaining forage activities will provide comprehensive information on a range of forage topics for producers. The fully illustrated manual covers a wide range of the forage industry and has over tripled in size from the previously available manual.
Read more here.
A UNITED VOICE FOR
FORAGES IN ALBERTA
ALBERTA, March 2, 2009 - After more than a year of meeting with key forage industry stakeholders and collaborating with producers, a new organization has been established which will represent an estimated 30,000 individuals involved in forages in Alberta.
The Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN), through its various member-driven committees, will establish a productive dialogue amongst producers, industry representatives and various levels of government. It is the goal of the fledgling network to bring issues of importance regarding economic and environmental impact of forages to the attention of funding bodies and policy-makers throughout the province.
During its inaugural Annual General Meeting on February 27, 2009, stakeholders gathered to discuss topics of concern to the industry and to elect the network's first board of directors. Leading the team as chair will be Doug Wray, a rancher from southern Alberta who has long been behind the charge to give forages the profile he feels it needs and deserves.
"The forage industry has a significant impact on the economy in Alberta. Forage producers in this province manage more than eleven million hectares of land in forage, managed range and bush," said Wray. "It is our goal to bring together representatives from across a very diverse industry, and create awareness of the importance of forages for producers and consumers alike."
The hub for AFIN members will be its website, soon to be launched at www.albertaforages.ca. The website will include information on forage news and events, will host a discussion board that gives members an opportunity to discuss and collaborate on emerging issues, and will provide links to organizations providing leading-edge forage research and extension. Membership in AFIN is open to anyone involved in forages - producers, industry representatives, post-secondary institutions and local agricultural/forage associations.
"By coming together under one banner, we can elevate the profile of forages in Alberta and bring attention to the need for expanded research and extension," said Wray. "It is time for the forage industry to be heard."
For more information, please contact:
Doug Wray Grant Lastiwka
Chair Forage Program Manager
Alberta Forage Industry Network Agricultural Research and Extension
Council of Alberta Council of Alberta
Ph: (403) 935-4642 Ph: (403) 227-6392
Cell: (403) 850-7643 Cell: (403)-350-6394
dlwray@hotmail.com lastiwka@areca.ab.ca
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