In this Issue
Vol. 1 No. 1
Spring 1991

How We Got Started

On June 13 and 14, 1990, Saskatoon was the site of a very interesting and exciting workshop on Farm Surface Water Quality. For the first time, farmers, researchers, government and industry professionals from across the prairie provinces met to discuss and learn about common surface water quality problems. The theme of the workshop was "Working together to improve farm surface water quality".

The sponsors of the workshop recognized the following needs and concerns:

• the growing concerns of rural people about water supply and especially water quality
• the need for improved communication, training and information sharing between technical people across the prairies
• the shortage of technical people in government agencies to provide answers about water supply and quality
• the vital roles that research, industry and extension people play in providing answers, equipment and appropriate solutions to address these concerns
• the need for further research work, water testing and monitoring.

The workshop participants wholeheartedly endorsed our workshop theme. The participants recommended a newsletter be developed to inform the rural public and technical people across the prairies. This was the start of PRAIRIE WATER NEWS.

PRAIRIE WATER NEWS is an excellent example of people working together. The articles are written by concerned farmers, researchers, industry and government extension people from across the prairies. Since the workshop, in addition to the newsletter, a number of joint efforts have already been started or are in the planning and development stages. A comprehensive set of recommendations developed at the Saskatoon workshop will continue to guide our future efforts. We will revisit these goals regularly to ensure that efforts are directed to current needs. Feedback to us from the readers is not only welcome but invited so that we keep addressing priorities of the rural community.