Released on October 2, 1998
Agriculture and Food Minister Eric Upshall today announced that the
Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) will fund 32 new
projects for a total of $3.1 million.
"Creating opportunities for agriculture and food processing depends on
research," Upshall said. "We are pleased to support research projects
that develop opportunities or help to resolve constraints in
livestock, crops, specialty crops and manure management. All of these
projects play a part in the overall progress of Saskatchewan's
agriculture industry and its continued success in world markets. We
are also pleased to provide $167,500 for projects by Agriculture in
the Classroom Saskatchewan, Inc. announced in mid-September."
The funding includes:
$1.8 million to the University of Saskatchewan for 17 projects;
$592,000 to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for six projects;
$248,000 to the Plant Biotechnology Institute at the National
Research Council in Saskatoon for two projects;
$141,000 to Alberta Research Council and Alberta Environment for
two projects; and,
various funding to organizations such as the Herb and Spice
Association, whose project received $38,000 from ADF.
"ADF funds research projects which demonstrate they will benefit the
Province of Saskatchewan," Upshall said. "That's why ADF has funded
some projects with the federal government and outside of Saskatchewan.
"If an institution outside of Saskatchewan has the ability and
expertise to conduct research into a problem which affects
Saskatchewan producers, there is no point in duplicating those
research resources here. And whenever we see merit in a project
that will benefit this province, ADF tries to provide support.
"To achieve cost efficiencies, Canada and the provinces -- the
Western provinces in particular -- co-operate in various
agricultural research programs. Examples are the Veterinary
Infectious Disease Organization, the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine, the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute
and the Prairie Swine Centre -- all located in Saskatchewan and
all supported in part by funding from other provinces," Upshall
said.
The 32 projects announced today were selected by ADF's board of
directors following a June 1, 1998, application deadline. The
next deadline for applications is Dec. 1, 1998.
Total funding of agricultural research and development by ADF
since its inception in 1985 is over $150 million.
For more information about the projects and funding, contact the
Agriculture Research Branch, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food,
Room 329, 3085 Albert St., Regina, Sask., S4S 0B1, or telephone
(306) 787-6566.
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
Martin Wrubleski
Director, Agriculture Research Branch
Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: (306)787-5960
Attached: a list of the 32 projects, contact names and phone numbers
Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) Approved Projects, Fall 1998
EFFECTS OF ROOT MAGGOTS ON CANOLA SEED YIELDS
-visual ratings of maggot-induced root injury will be correlated with yield losses to aid in determining economic thresholds of root
maggots on canola
Budget: $35,900; Soroka, Julie; Ag & Agri-Food Canada,107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, 956-7294
GENETIC MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FATE ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIAL WEED CONTROL AGENTS
-to create an identification profile and insert unique marker genes into two bacterial agents and three fungal species that are being
pursured as biological control agents of green foxtail, wild oats and Canada thistle
Budget: $121,000; Chen, C.Y.; Ag & Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon Research Centre, Saskatoon, SK, S7N
0X2, 956-7260
EVALUATION OF EGG PARASITES FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF BERTHA ARMYWORM
-to assess the performance of three parasitic wasp species (one naturally occurring and two commercially available) that attack and
destroy eggs of the bertha armyworm
Budget: $118,055; Braun, Linda; Ag & Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, 956-7650
ASSOCIATION OF FUSARIUM SPP. AS ROOT ROT PATHOGENS WITH FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT IN SASKATCHEWAN
-to identify pathogens responsible for root rot of cereals in Saskatchewan, and establish whether Fusarium spp. pathogenic on
roots are also responsible for Fusarium head blight
Budget: $95,640; Fernandez, M.R.; Ag & Agri-Food Canada, Box 1030, Swift Current, SK, S9H 3X2, 773-4621
IMPROVING COLD-TOLERANCE AND SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT IN BRASSICA NAPUS
-to identify, characterize and transfer genes from a rapidly growing cold/tolerant plant species (Thalspi arvense) into Brassica
napus with the goal of creating a more cold/frost tolerant canola
-to transfer a "growth promoting" gene from bacteria into B. napus to enhance early development and seedling establishment
Budget: $130,693; Bate, Nicholas, Ag & Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, 956-7225
BIOPRODUCTS FOR CONTROL OF WEEDS AND PLANT PATHOGENS
-to isolate and elucidate the chemical structures of antifungal and herbicidal natural products produced by two bacteria which are
putative biocontrol agents
-to apply this knowledge to optimize through fermentation the production of bioactive natural products by those two bacteria
Budget: $186,000; Pedras, Soledade; Dep't of Chemistry, U of Sask., 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5C9, 966-4772
IMPROVEMENT AND APPLICATION OF DOUBLE HAPLOID TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CRUCIFEROUS CROPS
-to enhance the microspore culture protocol for the cruciferous crops
-to transfer this protocol to recalcitrant cruciferous crops
-to transfer this technology to other Saskatchewan grown crops (for example, forages, potatoes, hemp)
-to apply this technology in wide crosses to transfer disease, pest or stress tolerance from one species to the canola quality species
-to apply this technology for in vitro selection
-to apply this technology for the development of synthetic seeds
-to distribute this technology and germplasm to the breeding organizations
Budget: $130,000; Keller, Wilf; NRC Plant Biotechnology Inst.; 10 Gymnasium Rd.; Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W9, 975-5569
UPGRADING AND UPDATING HERB AND SPICE GROWERS MANUAL
-to produce a top quality user friendly current industry manual
-to reduce the risk to new entrants of the herb and spice industry
-to relieve pressure for production and marketing information from existing players whom are trying to grow their own businessess
-to develop a teaching tool for university, other post secondary education and high school teachers
Budget: $58,899; Kehler, Connie; Sask Herb & Spice Assoc., Box 60, Belle Plaine, SK, S0G 0G0, 694-4622
DEVELOPMENT OF BRASSICA NAPUS GERMPLASM WITH SEED OIL LOW IN SATURATED FATTY ACIDS
-to develop a microspore mutagenesis system and an in vitro screening method for detecting lines with altered fatty acids profiles
-to screen exotic germplasm for variation in low saturate levels
-to facilitate the distribution of this germplasm into the Canadian canola industry in general with emphasis placed technology and
germplasm transfer to Saskatchewan-based canola breeding organization
Budget: $118,087; MacKenzie, Samuel; NRC Plant Biotechnology Inst., 110 Gymnasium Rd., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W9, 975-5257
DEVELOPMENT OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI AS BIOHERBICIDES FOR CONTROL OF CLEAVERS AND CHICKWEED
-to select superior fungal agents from 20pathogenic fungi of cleavers and 44 of chickweed
- to develop techniques for production of propagules
-to determine optimum conditions and limiting factors for optimized effectiveness
-to quantify field efficacy to assess commercialization potential
Budget: $73,650; Zhang, Wenming; Alta Research Council, PO Bag 4000, Vegreville, AB, T9C 1T4, (403) 632-8206
DEVELOPMENT OF A PREDICTIVE SELECTION TECHNIQUE TO IDENTIFY CANOLA SEED THAT LOSE GERMINABILITY
AND SEEDLING VIGOUR DURING STORAGE
-to develop a rapid and simple screening method to identify varieties of canola whose seed is stable during storage and seed
treatments
Budget: $51,000; Gusta, Lawrence; Crop Development Centre, 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, 966-4974
Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) Approved Projects, Fall 1998 Page 2
A NEW APPROACH ON THE CONTROL OF PRE-HARVEST SPROUTING IN CPS WHITE WHEAT
AND MALTING BARLEY:
THE ROLE OF AQUAPORIN GENES
-to isolate aquaporin genes from CPS white wheat and malting barley in relation to pre-harvest sprouting
-to determine the role of aquaporin genes in regulating pre-harvest sprouting
-to provide molecular assitance to breeding of pre-harvest sprouting resistant CPS white wheat and
malting barley
Budget: $53,500; Gusta, Lawrence; Crop Development Centre, 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8,
966-4974
ESTABLISHMENT OF A MICROSPORE CULTURE PROGRAM TO PRODUCE DOUBLED-HAPLOID
LINES OF PEA AND BARLEY
-to establish a program to adapt published protocols for barley microspore culture to local barley material
so that it can be used to provide doubled-haploid lines for the CDC barley breeding programs
Budget: $294,000; Scoles, Graham; Dep't of Plant Sciences, Uof Sask., 51 Campus Dr., SASKATOON,
SK, S7N 5A8, 966-4957
ETIOLOGY AND INTEGRATED CULTURAL AND CHEMICAL CONTROL OF SEED DECAY,
DAMPING-OFF AND ROOT ROT OF CHICKPEA
-to improve seed emergence, seedling establishment, and seed yield by developing an integrated
chemical and cultural control program for seed decay, damping-off and root rot of chickpea in
Saskatchewan and Alberta
Budget: $67,500; Hwang, Sheao-Fang; Alberta Environmental Centre, Box 8330, Edmonton, AB, T6H
5X2, (403) 632-8228
"NORTHERN VIGOUR" POTENTIAL IN MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
-to determine if the "northern vigour" phenomenon exists in selected medicinal and aromatic crops of
considerable commercial interest in Saskatchewan
-the marker and/or active compounds are known for the plants selected in this study and will be used as
an index of the potential enhanced concentration under Saskatchewan conditions
Budget: $84,800; Tanino, Karen; Dep't of Plant Sciences, U of Sask., 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK,
S7N 5A8, 966-8617
THE UTILIZATION OF BLOOD PLASMA PROTEIN AS A HIGH-INTENSIFY FLAVOURING AGENT
-to determine the utility of blood protein for the production of high-intensity process flavours difference
protein sources (beef, vegetable) will be compared to determine the viability of incorporating
animal-based process induced compounds into food products for the purpose of enhancing consumer
acceptability
Budget: $82,780; Fedeniuk, R.W., U of Sask., 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, 966-5040
EVALUATION OF SASKATCHEWAN HERBS AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF NATURAL
ANTIOXIDANTS IN MEAT PRODUCERS
-to evaluate/screen a number of indigenous Saskatchewan herbs for their potential as asource of natural
antioxidants by classical and more recently available chemical techniques and to use the herbs or their
ethanolic extracts in processed meat products as a means of prolonging their shelf-life
Budget: $79,000; Pegg, Ron; SK Food Product Innovation, 51 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8,
966-2680
PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FUEL LUBRICITY ADDITIVES FROM VARIOUS VEGETABLE OILS
-to create an economical efficient continuous process for producing fuel lubricity additives
from various vegetable oils and to test the derivatives produced for their qualities as fuel lubricity additives
-to design practical add-on equipment to make fuel lubricity additives on site at existing oilseed crushing
plants which are currently not operating at capacity or for use by local farmers
cooperatives and so forth
Budget: $78,000; Dalai, Ajay Kumar, Chemical Engineering, U of Sask., 110 Science Place, Saskatoon,
SK, 966-4771
DOMESTIC FRUIT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
-to expand and support the development of domestic fruit cultivars development
-to focus on development of key crops and build on previously funded work; dwarf cherries, apples
on dwarfing rootstock, raspberry, black currant,cherry plum and observe other fruit for the fruit and
nursery industries
-to support and link with the ongoing fruit quality/processing evaluation activities of the Native Fruit
Development Program as well as coordinate any postharvest fruit work with Dr.Shika Agblor
-to test market Sask-grown domestic fruit cultivars generated from this program; the Saskatoon Co-op has
a policy to support local producers the University will discuss with the Co-op, a means by which
selections and released cultivars can be test-marketed
Budget: $120,000; Tanino, Karen; Dep't of Plant Sciences, U of Sask., 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK,
S7N 5A8, 966-8617
MAXIMIZING ROOT DEVELOPMENT FOR ENHANCED SURVIVAL AND ESTABLISHMENT OF
NEWLY-TRANSPLANTED SASKATOONS
-to determine the effects of propagation method, post-propagation environment, transplanting method
and date, and soil management method on root development, survival, growth, vigour, and precocity of
fruiting of saskatoons
-the information derived from this activity is important to the successful propagation of plant material, the
establishment of orchards with minimal plant loss, and the management of growth and development so as
to maximize plant vigour and yield at an earlier age, thus reducing costs of production
Budget: $105,000; St. Pierre, Richard; Dep't of Plant Sciences, U of Sask., Saskatoon, 966-5867
NORTHERN VIGOUR OF STRAWBERRY CROWNS: ECONOMIC (PRODUCTION AND MARKETING)
FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS
AND BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMERCIALIZATION
-to provide the economic and business component to complement the northern vigour project underway in
the Dept of Horticulture Science under the direction of Karen Tanino
Budget: $25,000; Storey, Gary; Dep't of Ag Economics, U of Sask., Saskatoon, 966-4020
Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) Approved Projects, Fall 1998 Page 3
INFLUENCE OF HOG MANURE APPLICATION ON WATER QUALITY AND SOIL PRODUCTIVITY
-to measure the presence and accummulation of nutrients and potential pollutants in soils, in runoff waters
and in groundwaters
-to provide recommendations that reduce the occurrence or accumulation of environmental or
health-related pollutants in waters
-to provide recommendations as to application rates based upon soil productivity on a landform basis, and
to establish a protocol for long term monitoring
Budget: $321,140; Maule, Charles; Engineering, Ag Bioresource, U of Sask., 57 Campus Dr, Saskatoon,
966-5306
OPEN ACCESS AND THE VIABILITY OF SHORTLINE RAILWAYS
-to examine the economic viability of short line railways in the west central region of Saskatchewan, this
will include an examination of the effects of mainline rate structures and will examine both private and
public costs from both short run and long run cost perspectives
Budget: $25,400; Stabler, Jack; Dep't of Ag Economics, U of Sask, 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, 966-4008
MACHINERY CO-OPERATIVES: NEW MODELS FOR SASKATCHEWAN
-to determine the applicability of the CUMA model to Saskatchewan agriculture; and assess the potential
impact of similar machinery co-operatives on the machinery and equipment costs of Saskatchewan
farmers
Budget: $25,900; Fulton, Murray E.; Dep't of Ag Economics, u of Sask., Saskatoon, 966-8507
AITC SPECIAL PROJECTS OPERATION PLAN 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
-to offer special projects to assist Saskatchewan learners in the K to 12 system to increase their
awareness and understanding of the complexities and importance of agriculture by: providing up-to-date,
factual resource materials which reflect Saskatchewan agriculture and agri-food production for use in
Sask.'s K to 12 educational system, creating strategic alliances between education and agriculture
(communications/awareness building)
Budget: $167,500; Johnson, Barbara; Ag in the Classroom, 3735 Thatcher Ave., Saskatoon, S7L 6H2,
933-5224
IMPROVEMENT OF ALFALFA PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF "TANNIN
ALFALFA"
-to purify a key enzyme of condensed tannin biosynthesis
-to characterize transgenic alfalfa with additional flavonoid genes
-to improve alfalfa forage quality by isolating genes for condensed tannin production and to transfer them
into alfalfa foliage
Budget: $90,900; Gruber, Dr. Margaret Y.; Ag&Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Dr., Saskatoon, S7N 0X2,
956-7263
CHEMICAL STUDIES OF ORGANIC TRACE METAL SUPPLEMENTS
-to investigate the chemistry behind these problems, using laboratory measurements on simplified 'model
systems', mathematical predictions of how the metal distributes between binding agents, and
spectroscopic analysis of actual bovine-derived samples
Budget: $95,000; Reid, Steve; Dep't of Chemistry, U of Sask., 110 Science Pl., Saskatoon, S7N 5C9,
966-4673
THE INCIDENCE OF SAVAGING AND OTHER TYPES OF MORTALITY IN FIRST AND SECOND
PARITY PIGS,
AND THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON SAVAGING
-to record the incidence of savaging behaviour and other causes of piglet mortality in first and second
parity sows housed on new, large pig operations in Saskatchewan
-to test the effects of some environmental variables on the incidence of savaging behaviour
Budget: $38,225; Gonyou, Harold; Prairie Swine Centre Inc., Box 21057, -- 8th St. E, Saskatoon, S7H
5N9, 477-7452
THE APPLICATION OF BIOLUMINESCENT AND GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEINS
TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK AND EVALUATE VIABILITY OF PROBIOTIC FLORA IN PIG AND
POULTY
-to develop a plasmid-based approach using bioluminescent (BL) and green fluorescent protein (GFP)
technology to detect and evaluate probiotic microflora in gastrointestinal environments
-to use BL and GFP technologies to study factors that affect the level, location and persistence of
intestinal colonization by various probiotic strains
Budget: $100,000; Bautista, D.A.; U of Sask., 51 Campus Dr., SyN 5B5, 966-7804
DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIVERSAL ASSAY FOR MEASURING IMMUNOGLOBULIN LEVELS IN
CATTLE AND GAME-FARMED ANIMALS
-to develop a rapid and inexpensive laboratory test for determining the levels of immunoglobulin in the
serum of cattle and game-farmed animals, an additional goal is to design a test that can be used on site
on farms and in veterinary clinics
Budget: $46,200; Haines, Debbie; Veterinary Diagnostic Services, U of Sask., 52 Campus dr., Saskatoon,
S7N 5B4, 966-7245
HYDRAULIC AGITATION OF AN EARTHEN MANURE STORAGE
-to determine if hydraulically agitating an earthen manure storage (EMS) can be done economically under
Saskatchewan conditions
Budget: $30,000; Lyschynski, Darrell; Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, Box 1150, Humboldt, SK.,
S0K 2A0, 682-5033
EARTHEN MANURE STORAGE DESIGN FOR EFFECTIVE SOLID SEPARATION
-to investigate and test different methods to optimize the two cell Earthen Manure Storage (EMS) concept
Budget: $70,000; Lyschynski, Darrell; Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, Box 1150, Humboldt, SK.,
S0K 2A0, 682-5033
Number of Projects: 32
Total Approved: $3,118,769
