It's feeding time for cattle at our Goodale farm. Photo: Lana Haight
It's feeding time for cattle at our Goodale farm. Photo: Lana Haight

UPDATE: June 23 LFCE Summer Field Day presented by Canadian Western Agribition postponed

The LFCE’s second annual summer field day for producers was scheduled for June 23. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have postponed the field day.

We are especially excited about this year’s event. Canadian Western Agribition is onboard as a major sponsor

A committee with representatives from the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture has held a couple of planning meetings and has already lined up speakers for the day. Once the restriction on large gatherings is lifted by the Government of Saskatchewan, the committee will continue with its plans and will reschedule the 2020 LFCE Summer Field Day presented by Canadian Western Agribition.

The field day might look different than originally planned, but we will still provide opportunities for producers as well as industry and government folks to learn about the latest research at the LFCE and to network with one another.

When social gatherings are allowed, the organizing committee will take precautions to ensure the safety of the everyone who attends the field day.

If you have questions, please contact the LFCE’s outreach and engagement specialist, Lana Haight, at lana.haight@usask.ca.

Posted March 24, 2020

UPDATE: LFCE closed to public, operations continue, planned research under review

The University of Saskatchewan is implemented additional measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.

USask Vice-President Research has determined that effective Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., the university is suspending all but essential on-campus and field-site research, scholarly work, and creative activities. Activities deemed essential are:

  • Research related to COVID-19;
  • Research that is part of essential clinical care activities; and
  • Ongoing research involving animal care and maintenance of breeding colonies as well as ongoing research involving plants and other living organisms (though these researchers must develop contingency plans in case this research activity is adversely impacted in the days ahead).

Researchers who think they have exceptional circumstances requiring on-campus or field-site activity, including those with projects planned for the LFCE, were asked to complete applications and direct their requests to their dean, who will work with the Vice-President Research to make a joint determination.

At present, three research projects are being conducted at the LFCE. These research projects are nearing completion and will be finished according to the original schedule.

Posted March 19, 2020

LFCE closed to public, operations and research continue

The University of Saskatchewan has implemented several measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. While many of these measures don’t impact the day-to-day operations at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence, some of them do.

  • The Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit, including the feedlot, the Forage Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit and Goodale Farm are closed to the public until further notice. If you need to contact the LFCE, please email our director at kris.ringwall@usask.ca

  • We continue to operate the facility, feeding and caring for the animals and preparing for calving.

  • Researchers continue to have access to the centre in order to conduct research. This includes faculty and grad students.

  • All tours and events have been cancelled.

  • We continue to plan the summer field day, scheduled for June 23, with the understanding that it may be cancelled if large crowds are still prohibited from gathering. 

For updates from the University of Saskatchewan, go to https://updates.usask.ca/.