Funding for Clubroot Initiatives
Res #: 3-18M
Number: 3
Year: 2018
Midterm: Yes
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
WHEREAS recent changes to the agricultural programs administered by SARM resulted in reductions in funding to key ag programs such as rat and beaver control, and the invasive plant control program;
WHEREAS these programs provided valuable resources to rural municipalities and loss of funding can impact the continued efforts of these RMs;
WHEREAS clubroot is of concern and is a crop specific pest;
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to require clubroot initiatives to be funded from the canola check off through Sask Canola and restore funding to the previous ag programs as in 2017
Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
September 26, 2022
Clubroot is a declared pest in Saskatchewan under The Pest Control Act. To minimize the impact of clubroot on Saskatchewan’s canola industry and individual producers, it is important that we take a consistent, proactive, and science-based approach to clubroot management in the province.
Under The Pest Control Act, Rural Municipalities (RMs) have the authority to undertake prevention and enforcement measures related to the spread and control of clubroot. Plant Health Officers have been contracted by SARM as part of the Plant Health Network. They have been trained in clubroot identification, surveillance, and management to assist RMs in fulfilling their duties related to clubroot management and the control of other regulated crop pests under The Pest Control Act and The Weed Control Act.
SaskCanola is already a significant partner with the Ministry of Agriculture on activities related to clubroot management, education, and awareness. In 2018 and 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture led an extensive clubroot survey to increase our understanding of the distribution of clubroot in high-risk RMs in the province. A five-pronged approach has been implemented for clubroot monitoring in the province since 2020, which includes in-field surveillance in high-risk areas of the province, continued monitoring for clubroot through the general canola disease survey, follow–up on fields identified as clubroot positives, on–farm soil testing (free for producers and industry agrologists), and raising awareness to increase external reporting. SaskCanola has also provided significant financial support for this initiative.
The Honourable David Marit – Minister of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture