a) Develop new annual and perennial grass and legume varieties with improved stand longevity, quality, yield, salinity tolerance, and adaptability (e.g. flood and drought resistance) through traditional and/or advanced plant breeding techniques.
b) Quantify varietal and species differences in the ability of grasses, legumes and annual forages to maintain nutritional quality throughout the grazing season and in extended stockpiled or swath grazing systems to help inform producers’ seed selection decisions.
c) Investigate and refine regionally appropriate methods of combining native, tame (annual and perennial) species and extended winter grazing practices to lengthen the grazing season and reduce winter feeding costs, while meeting animal requirements.
d) Identify and develop methods to control noxious weeds throughout the province, including but not limited to leafy spurge, burdock, absinthe, and scentless chamomile.
e) Determine economic benefits of cover cropping and intercropping throughout different regions of Saskatchewan.
f) Identify or develop improved grazing and range management strategies that optimize forage and beef production from native range, tame perennial pastures, and/or annual/perennial mixtures; along with agronomic and economic benefits.
g) Develop and/or expand feed and forage qualities within common crops in western Canada.
h) Develop new feed grain varieties with improved feed grain energy yield per acre, N and water use efficiency.
i) Identify, evaluate and calculate the cost effectiveness of alternative / by-product energy feeds, considering impacts on animal performance, health, product quality, and nutrient management.
j) Develop feeding strategies to optimize animal performance, nutritional value and cost of gain (e.g. ideal forage inclusion rates, grain processing/blending, high moisture corn, wheat, etc.).
k) Find or develop forages with greater environmental resilience, including drought, heat stress, salinity, early/late frost, etc.
l) Quantify the link between forage type and its genetic quality/quantity.
m) Qualify satellite or drone imagery to measure forage biomass and its characteristics for management and insurance purposes.
n) Note feed quality to weight conversion, in a herd of cattle on pasture.