On behalf of the Continuing Committee of the International Rangeland Congress, we are happy to invite you to the X International Rangeland Congress – IRC2016 Canada, which will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during 17-22 July 2016.
Saskatoon is centrally located in the Canadian portion of the Northern Great Plains grasslands of North America.  It is the largest city in Saskatchewan with a population of 284,000.  Its population and economic growth ranks it as one of the top cities in Canada due, in part, to world-class agricultural and biotechnological research.  Saskatoon has a modern airport that offers frequent daily connections to major airline hubs in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.  It is also located on the TransCanada Highway for easy ground transportation.
Rangelands are important for Canada, and in particular to the agricultural economy of Saskatchewan, which has almost 5 million ha of native grass rangelands, about 2 million ha of introduced hay, and 1.6 million ha of perennial pasture crops out of a total of nearly 26 million ha of agricultural land.  The livestock industries, which include beef, dairy, sheep, buffalo, and exotic or game livestock, depend on rangelands and perennial grasslands for the base of their feed resources.
The Congress will take place at the Teacher’s Credit Union Place (TCUP), which is a world-class convention centre located in downtown Saskatoon and within walking distance to 10 hotels.  The South Saskatchewan River flows through Saskatoon and provides a beautiful park with trails for recreation just a few blocks from downtown.  Exciting, informative Pre-Congress and Mid-Congress tours will showcase Saskatchewan rangelands and pastures, Canadians and their culture, and the spirit of Canada.
Saskatchewan’s numerous lakes offer some of the best fishing in the world.  In addition, the stunningly beautiful, rugged Canadian Rocky Mountains are only a 7-hour drive from Saskatoon.  We look forward to seeing you in Saskatoon in July 2016.
Gabriel Oliva
President of the IRC Continuing Committee