Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
The Alberta government has announced a one-time grant of $3.2 million in the Seeds of Innovation: Investing in Agri-Research Grant.
The grant was divvied up amongst 12 applied research associations in the province to upgrade equipment, facilities and infrastructure. One of those research groups included in the funding is SARDA Ag Research, located in the M.D. of Smoky River, just outside Donnelly.
“We applied for it jointly through an initiative with all 12 groups asking for increase in core funding and to help us with capital,” explains SARDA executive director Vance Yaremko.
“The core funding came first and then the capital came two years later,” he adds.
The funding is meant to help improve agricultural research and thus Alberta producers’ competitiveness. SARDA and the other research associations provide information to farmers and ranchers regarding best farming techniques, as evaluated through their research endeavours.
SARDA Ag Research received approximately $344,000. It is money that will be used to build a cold storage facility at their new location.
“This money helps with creating some capacity, in this case it protects our equipment that is very expensive, and it helps with security to have our stuff under lock and key,” Yaremko explains.
“It was a non-matching grant, so it was very helpful. It hugely helps us out because we have aging vehicles and other equipment. Our capital reserve can now be used to replace machinery instead of paying for our storage facility,” he adds.
Yaremko says this is Phase 2 of their building plans, with the new office and workspace already completed. The cold storage is expected to be erected in August.
In a news release, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson commended the work of all research facilities.
“Our government is committed to free and unbiased research,” Sigurdson says.
“Applied research associations play a vital role in supporting farmers and ranchers with top-notch research that helps improve and advance agriculture. This funding helps ensure associations can concentrate on providing research and extension to help our producers adopt new technologies and practices and improve their competitiveness.”
The 12 research associations receiving funding include SARDA Ag Research, Farming Forward, Peace Country Beef and Forage Association, North Peace Applied Research Association, Mackenzie Applied Research Association, Lakeland Agricultural Research Association, Gateway Research Organization, Foothills Forage and Grazing Association, Farming Smarter Association, Chinook Applied Research Association, Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association, and Battle River Research Group Society.