A man from Hamiota has been selected to serve on the newly-formed Manitoba Agriculture Research and Innovation Committee.

Dr. Allan Preston will serve a two-year term alongside eight other individuals, including William (Bill) Ashton from Brandon.

The committee was designed to provide analysis and recommendations on strategic investments in agricultural research, according to Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. The group will also review proposals submitted under the five-year Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and provide funding advice."It sounded like something I'd be interested in doing over the next couple of years so I agreed ... and the rest is history as they say," Preston said. "I personally know six of the nine (members) so it won't be too tough of a learning curve."


"The new appointees to the committee all reflect the diversity of the research community and the agricultural sector as a whole," Eichler said in a news release.

The rest of the panel is comprised of four individuals from Winnipeg, one from Carman, another from Fisher Branch, and one from Beausejour.