This chapter has three contributions. The first one examines farming systems (FSR) extension in the USA, drawing attention to two cycles of FSR in extension in the country, first in the 1920s and 1930s when extension agents first sought to address the farm as a whole and latterly, since the 1980s with participatory approaches growing stronger and farmers becoming more concerned about the sustainability of their systems. The second contribution tracks the role of FSR in the evolution of the extension services in Chile. Farming systems development for policy formulation is described in the last contribution.

While on a trip to Nemeiben. (Sucker) Lake, northwest of Lac la Ronge, in early June, the writer col¬ lected a sample of Rcibbin's Pondweed, Potamogeton robbinsii Oakes. Its identification was later verified by Dr. G. F. Ledingham of Regina College. This pondweed has not previously been reported for Saskatchewan, but has been found in the northeastern states, Great Lakes region and Pacific northwest below our border. This pondweed is a completely submerged plant. It is best recog¬ nized by its stiff, dark green, tworanked. linear to lanceolate-shaped leaves that flank the stem, becoming crowded toward the end of the branch. These leaves are up to 2% inches long and 3/16 of an inch wide. The edges are finely serrate. Apparently it seldom produces fruit (seeds) and it is therefore of little value to waterfowl. In our northern lakes it might have some value to fish populations.

The aocompanyinig pictures were taken about ten years ago but I thought they might be of interesit to show that beavers do cut down big trees. This tree, still standing in the first picture which wais taken in October, is 22 inches in diameter. The second pioture was taken on June 1 of the followinig year. Notice that the bark has been removed all the way from where the boy sits to the top of the tree. All the bi'anches and at least twelve feet of the top of the tree have been removed and carried away. These pictures were taken along Mystic Creek at Wekach Lake in Saskatchewan.