Avia Eek's Blog (4)

Innovation Saskatchewan Invests Nearly $460,000 in University of Regina Research Advancing Water, Waste and Antimicrobial Innovation

Innovation Saskatchewan is investing $459,095 in three University of Regina (U of R) research projects through the Innovation & Science Fund (ISF) to advance solutions in water security, environmental sustainability and antimicrobial resistance.   The investments match funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), effectively doubling the resources available to U of R researchers to accelerate their work.   "The U of R is leading research that's making a real impact and helping shape a stronger, more sustainable future for our province," Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Warren Kaeding said. "These investments help ensure Saskatchewan stays at the forefront of innovation and is ready to tackle challenges with solutions developed right here at home."   The projects build on U of R strengths in climate science and population health, advancing Saskatchewan's priority research areas of life sciences, agriculture and energy:  

Enrol now in AgriStability

About AgriStability AgriStability is an important tool to help you manage risks and financial losses due to tariffs, poor yields, low commodity prices, or rising input costs. AgriStability provides support when you experience a large margin decline. AgriStability is delivered by the federal government in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Yukon. Use the Benefit Estimator to help you understand how the program works and how benefits are calculated. Learn more about the AgriStability program or access My AAFC Account to sign in to your account or create a new account. Benefits of participating Provides support when risks are beyond your capacity to manage Offers personalized and affordable coverage Helps you manage your farm during periods of market downturns, falling market prices and rising input costs Protects your farm against drought, flooding, poor yields or other unexpected disasters Can be used to secure financing Prov

WCC/RRC Meeting Update

The Western Canadian Canola/Rapeseed Recommending Committee (WCC/RRC) met in early February to review candidate cultivars and make key decisions that help guide canola and rapeseed variety registration in Western Canada. These meetings play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the canola quality system and ensuring new cultivars entering the market meet established standards. The WCC/RRC is an independent committee comprised of all sectors of the value chain including researchers, industry representatives, farmers, sector experts and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Variety Registration Office as a non-voting observer. Its primary role is to evaluate candidate cultivars against defined quality and performance criteria to determine whether they meet the requirements for canola or rapeseed registration. In addition, on behalf of the WCC/RRC, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) staff coordinate testing and inspection of pre-registration varieties, public blackleg trials at

Manitoba Canola Growers Announces Board Election Results and Executive Appointments

Manitoba Canola Growers is pleased to announce the results of its board elections held this winter, as well as executive appointments made during the organization’s recent reorganization meeting. During the 2025 board election process, three members put their names forward for four available director positions. As a result, Warren Ellis, Jackie Dudgeon MacDonald, and Jay Derkach were all acclaimed to the board. With one seat remaining vacant following the election, Manitoba Canola Growers initiated a board application process, inviting members to submit their names for consideration. The organization was pleased to receive a strong number of qualified candidates. Following a shortlisting process and interviews, the board is pleased to announce that Brad Crammond has been selected to join the board for a four term. “We’re really encouraged by how much interest our members showed and by the strong group of candidates who put their names forward,” said Warren Ellis, Chair. “It’s great

How to cover all the bases with a land rental agreement

It doesn’t make sense to pay to use a piece of land, invest time and effort into raising a crop, and not even have a paper outlining an agreement with the owner. Yet it’s something lawyer James Steele, of Robertson Stromberg LLP, says he sees repeatedly, as well as handshake agreements and handwritten rental deals. Across the country, none of these informal agreements are sufficient if there's a disagreement and the rental matter ends in court. Overall, having a written land rental agreement in place is a critical, yet often neglected, piece of farm business that could save both parties time and money if anything with the rental ever went wrong. Include all the details A rental agreement needs to be longer than a one—to two-page document and include as many details as possible. Steele says he often sees producers show up with an agreement where the term and rate have been determined, but not much else. A rental agreement document must spell out the obligations and consequences, and