Farmer Rancher November 30

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Thursday, November 30, 2017   North Battleford, Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s fossil record shows that today’s prairie was not always the perfect home for flowing fields of grain and pastures of cattle. Our province was home to both carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs, including meat-eaters like Tyrannosaurus rex, horned dinosaurs like Triceratops, and duck-billed dinosaurs.

Saskatchewan’s newest emblem, the Provincial Fossil

Tyrannosaurus rex is Saskatchewan’s Provincial Fossil. Photo by Neil Fisher

The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced legislation to amend The Provincial Emblems and Honours Act, adding the Tyrannosaurus rex as Saskatchewan’s Provincial Fossil. In 2016, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum’s Saskatchewan Fossil Campaign held a video contest for schools, an exhibit and an in-person vote at the RSM, and an online poll allowing anyone across the province to vote for one of seven provincial fossil candidates. The results were announced in May of 2016, showing massive support for the T.rex. “The Royal Saskatchewan Museum’s campaign to choose a provincial fossil saw many from across the province learn more about Saskatchewan’s rich fossil

official

history,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Gene Makowsky said. “Thanks to the leadership of the RSM, the Bill introduced … will see Saskatchewan as the only jurisdiction to have the Tyrannosaurus rex as its official fossil.” The Saskatchewan Fossil Campaign and exhibit resulted in an increase in visitation, website traffic and social media engagement, and led to the RSM receiving the Gil Carduner Marketing Award at the 2016 Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence. Dinosaur-themed activities, events and a special exhibit were featured for the month of November. Fossil Favourites from Across Canada is a national travelling exhibition featuring some of Canada’s most impressive, famous and significant fossils.

In June 1994, palaeontologists began excavating the T. rex, one of the largest known carnivorous dinosaurs, from exposed bedrock along the Frenchman River Valley near Eastend. Over 6,000 people visited the excavation site during 1994. The 65-million-year old skeleton is the first T. rex found in Saskatchewan, and was named Scotty. Battlefords Publishing file photo

The exhibit, which centres around a replica of Scotty the T.rex’s skull, is on display at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum until the

end of January 2018. The RSM, located at 2445 Albert Street in Regina, is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

To see Scotty the T.rex in person, the T.rex Discovery Centre in Eastend opens in May of 2018 for the summer season.

Visit www.royalsaskmuseum.ca or call 306787-2815 for information about events and exhibits. Admission is by donation.

Canadian livestock genetics going worldwide More Canadian livestock will be raised outside of Canada using prized Canadian genetics, says Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Farmers around the world demand Canada’s superior livestock breeds so they can raise cows and goats that produce more milk, and sheep, which pro-

duce more meat, for example. Budget 2017 identifies agriculture as a key growth industry, and targets investments that will help the sector build on its competitive strengths and chart Canada’s path to prosperity. A $3 million federal investment to the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association (CLGA) will help ex-

porters develop and expand new markets for Canadian livestock genetics. Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, Lawrence MacAulay made the announcement in November, along with the Member of Parliament for Markham-Thornhill Mary Ng at the 95th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, where Canada’s top

livestock breeders compete. The focus of the project will be on exports of dairy, sheep and goat genetics, which in 2016 generated exports of over $150 million dollars. The CLGA is looking to increase those exports to over $200 million through trade missions, training and promotion.

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Farmer Rancher November 30 by Battlefords News Optimist - Issuu