Manitoba Bulletin – Canola Digest

Soil Science Prof Recognized with 2020 Canola Award of Excellence

U of M professor Don Flaten received the Manitoba Canola Growers 2020 Canola Award of Excellence. “I’m very grateful to receive the Canola Award of Excellence,” says Flaten. “The award indicates that I might have helped the canola industry, and that’s the purpose of my job.”

Each year the Manitoba Canola Growers recognize an individual who has made a contribution to the growth of the canola industry with the Canola Award of Excellence. Don Flaten, professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba, was recognized with the 2020 Canola Award of Excellence at the CropConnect Banquet in Winnipeg in February.

Throughout his career, Flaten has taught soil fertility courses educating a large number of both diploma and degree agriculture graduates. His soil fertility and crop nutrition management research has spanned a number of crops, working collaboratively with others. For example, in canola specifically Flaten and collaborators have looked at canola fertilization with novel fertilizers and combined fertilizers looking at toxicity risks and the crop response.

“Don is a brilliant, talented and enthusiastic researcher and educator,” says Cynthia Grant, recipient of the 2019 Canola Award of Excellence. “I have always admired not just his scientific contributions, but also his dedication in supporting his students and colleagues. Don is one of the kindest and most unselfish people I have ever met. It has been a privilege and a pleasure working with him through the years.”

In addition to research and teaching, another important aspect of Flaten’s job is the extension work he is involved in. This includes working on events like the Manitoba Agronomists Conference, speaking at Manitoba Ag Days and Soil Fertility meetings, and delivering the annual soil fertility refresher course to former students.

“I’m very grateful to receive the Canola Award of Excellence,” says Flaten. “The award indicates that I might have helped the canola industry, and that’s the purpose of my job. It’s to help others whether its students or members of the industry through teaching, research or extension. My goals is to help others and if this help has been recognized as a positive thing than I’m delighted.”

Flaten earned his B.Sc. (Ag.) at the University of Saskatchewan and his Ph.D. at the University of Manitoba and began his career as a district agriculturist for Alberta Agriculture. Next, he became the provincial soil specialist for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture before joining the University of Manitoba faculty.

Flaten grew up wintering in Saskatoon and summering on the farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. He is now full time teaching in the research department of soil science at the University of Manitoba and will retire later this year.

Manitoba Canola Growers would like to thank Dr. Don Flaten for his contributions to the sustained growth and prosperity of Manitoba’s canola industry.