Prepared by Maher Jabado
Peatmoss usage in dairy farms
CANADA - The Government of Canada is investing
in research to help farmers in Newfoundland
and Labrador find a new, more affordable
and more readily available source of bedding
for dairy cows.
"Our Government knows that agriculture is the backbone of Canada's economy and so we are doing everything in our power to help farmers by funding studies that could improve their bottom line," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, who made the announcement on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
"In this case, we are exploring opportunities
to use Newfoundland and Labrador's abundant
peat moss supply as a more affordable and
potentially healthier alternative to traditional
bedding materials such as sawdust that are
becoming more expensive and difficult to
find."
Peat moss can hold up to 12 times its own
weight in liquid and can absorb about four
times more ammonia than some traditional
bedding, all of which may contribute to better
air quality for workers and cows.
This eight-month project will determine if
peat moss can meet the industry's standards
for dairy cow bedding and whether it could
be economically viable in the province.
"The cost and availability of bedding
material are major concerns for dairy farmers
across the province," said Robert Walsh,
President of Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland
and Labrador. "This project will give
us the resources to investigate the very
promising qualities of peat moss as a bedding
source."
The Government of Canada is investing $203,000
in this research through Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture
and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program, a federal
funding program designed to support projects
that will benefit the production and processing
sector, bolster the industry's capacity to
address current and emerging issues and position
the agriculture and agri-food industry to
seize new market opportunities. ACAAF is
delivered in the province by the Newfoundland
and Labrador Agri-Adapt Council Inc.
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