Provincial Specialists Helping To Achieve Producer Goals!

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Provincial SpecialistsHelping To Achieve
Producer Goals!

• Venkata Vakulabharanam P.Ag
• Provincial Specialist Oilseed Crops
• Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
• Flax Day 2009
• Saskatoon

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Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture- Overview

• Agri-Business Development Branch
• AKC, CASS,4-H
• Agriculture Research Branch
• ADF, Agri-Value, SRP
• Communications Branch
• Fact sheets, Agri-view
• Crop Development Branch
• Provincial Specialists, Development specialists,
  Crop Protection Lab
• Financial Programs Branch
• Grant and rebate programs, Livestock program,
  Farm Stress

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Ministry Overview

• Inspection and Regulatory Management Branch
• Ag operations, Animal health, Regulatory services
• Irrigation Development Branch
• Irrigation development, Engineering, Research
• Lands Branch
• Lands Admin., Crown land, Community pastures
• Livestock Development Branch
• Livestock services
• Market Development and Food
• Policy Branch
• Crop reports, business risk management, economic
  and commodity analysis

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Specialists who are they?

• Crop Development Specialist
• Saskatoon, North Battleford, PA, Swift Current,
  Yorkton, Weyburn
• Provincial Crop Specialists
• Mostly in Regina.
• Currently 9 specialists for different crop areas
• Provincial Specialists
• Located in Regina
• Weed control, insect pests, plant diseases, soils

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Where do Specialists Fit
Ministry
Industry
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Oilseed Specialist Primary Objective

• To identify development opportunities in the
  oilseed sector
• Determine and resolve impediments to development
  of such opportunities
• Flax Canada 2015
• Mustard 21
• Canola Growing Great 2015

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Oilseed Specialist Services to Industry

• Obtain and interpret research results on oilseed
  crop production
• Develop and Deliver educational and technology
  transfer programs/materials
• Agri-view articles
• Crop Production News Articles
• Fact Sheets
• Production manuals
• Oral Presentations

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Oilseed Specialist Services to Industry

• Ministry contact for and provide technical advice
  to industry groups in oilseed sector
• Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
• Saskatchewan Mustard Development Commission
• Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission
• Saskatchewan Sunflower Committee

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Oilseed Specialist Services

• Represent the Province, Ministry and Producers at
  provincial and National Meetings
• Vote on issues when needed
• PGDC variety meetings
• Minor use priority meetings
• Provide updated information to Ministry officials
  on oilseed crop production
• Briefings, evaluation of oilseed related issues,
  facilitate meetings with producer groups
• Ministry contact for other agencies like Canadian
  Grain Commission
• Represent the Ministry and oilseed industry in
  meetings with foreign delegates

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Oilseed Specialist Research Priorities

• Provide Technical Advice to funding agencies
• Within the Ministry ADF, Agri-Value, SRP
• Outside the Ministry ACAAFS, SCDC
• Role in aligning research activities and oilseed
  crop issues
• Obtaining feedback from producer groups/industry
• Through maintaining contact with research
  facilities
• Provide feedback to funding agencies

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Oilseed Specialist Farm Calls

• Provide Technical Advice on crop production
  issues to producers
• Calls received directly from producers
• Calls forwarded by Agriculture Knowledge Centre
• Maintain professional expertise
• Attend conferences and seminars
• Review professional journals and materials

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Oilseed Specialist Flax Producers
Tomorrows Opportunities (FC 2015)
Provincial Specialist
Todays limitations

• Agronomic constraints
• Plant Breeding constraints
• Processing constraints
• Marketing constraints

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• Provincial Specialists
• Click or Call
• Producers Bottom line is their Primary Interest!
• venkata.vakulabharanam_at_gov.sk.ca
• Telephone [phone]
• Glenn Payne Crop Bioproducts Specialist
• glenn.payne_at_gov.sk.ca
• Telephone (306) 798 - 0944