6 Follow us on @PrairieFarming Better Farming | November/December 2024 Beyond the Barn OLDS COLLEGE OFFERS INDOOR AG CERTIFICATE A new sustainability program will train more than 225 agronomists in soil-centric land management, potentially bringing conservation agriculture to over 500 Prairie farms by 2029. The first cohort of the Canadian Prairies Trusted Advisor Partnership (TAP) will launch in 2025 at Assiniboine College in Brandon, Man. The program follows the North Dakota TAP program, which started in 2022. The program aims to provide certified crop advisors (CCAs) with further education on sustainability practices, technical training, and soil health. In doing this, the goal is for CCAs to expand their reach to thousands of additional acres and provide farmers with more sustainable options for farm adaptability. In a recent release, Elizabeth Reaves, senior program director of Agriculture & Environment at Sustainable Food Lab, said that “crop advisors, farmers, and companies are excited by this model. “Advisors are an integral part of the support system for farmers and bring logistics-based decision support to soil health implementation.” Reaves said that “with more boots on the ground to help producers mitigate the risks of conservation and maximize its significant upside, we believe that farmers who have been on the fence will come on board. We’re already starting to see this play out in North Dakota TAP, and expect the same in Canada with a made-in-thePrairies program.” According to the Assiniboine College release, “more than 30 independent CCAs have graduated from the unique curriculum, which focuses not only on the principles of soil health, but the logistical considerations, labour needs, and site-specific constraints that pose common barriers to adoption of sustainable agriculture.” BF - Mary Loggan SOIL HEALTH BOOST: NEW CCA PROGRAM GOOD FOR FARMERS The Saskatchewan government is launching a pilot program in five communities to support farmers experiencing wildlife damage. The rural municipalities of Livingstone, Hazel Dell, Kelvington, Bjorkdale, and Leask will participate in the Big Game Management Extended Hunt from Nov. 1 to 10. Each RM will receive 50 antlerless elk licences in addition to what they received during the Big Game Draw. The licences are available through the online Hunting, Angling and Trapping system. “Regardless of population status, deer and elk are attracted to and may congregate in areas with easy access to unprotected agricultural products, especially during severe winters,” Environment Minister Christine Tell said in a Sept. 20 statement. “This hunting opportunity will allow us to mitigate damage from wildlife while also ensuring their populations remain sustainable into the future. An extended hunt is implemented if certain criteria are met, including: Damage by game species (mule deer, white-tailed deer, or elk) to agricultural products has been reported to Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) through wildlife damage claims; and Producers in the RM have exhausted all other preventative measures or agree to implement preventative measures. Wildlife can cause significant damage to farm fields. By March 31, 2024, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) received 3,091 big game claims and paid $27.9 million in compensation, an SCIC document says. As of March 31 of the previous year, SCIC received 2,412 big game claims and paid $25.8 million in compensation. “One thing that has grown is the deer and elk population. They’re decimating feed stacks. In my area, hay – if you can get it – is $200 a bale, delivered. The deer are moving in and taking their share first and what’s left they urinate on and defecate on, and destroy it,” Larry Grant, the reeve of the RM of Val Marie, said during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention in 2023. BF - Diego Flammini EXTENDED HUNT HELPS SASK. FARMS Tracy Miller photo
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