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Building A Unified Voice for Agriculture: Agriculture Updates, Supports, and News: January 2024

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Building A Unified Voice for Agriculture: Agriculture Updates, Supports, and News: January 2024

Agriculture Updates since November 2023

Headlines

2023 Economic year in review

Headlines in 2022 featured inflation almost daily, and hopes, at the start of 2023, were that inflation would ease enough to convince the Bank of Canada not to raise interest rates and continue with the aggressive rise in interest rates from 2022.

That hope faded. In agriculture, Western drought and Eastern excess moisture compounded a year of lower crop prices and higher feed prices in drought-stricken areas, as the Eastern hog sector faced a perfect storm of margin challenges and the cattle sector saw escalating prices. Read more

Farm mental health survey

AgKnow is conducting a survey of Alberta farmers to help shape mental health support for Alberta farm families. Learn more and participate in the survey

Funding Updates 

Don't forget...

AgriRecovery deadline close midnight January 15, 2024

The governments of Alberta and Canada are providing $165 million to support livestock producers affected by drought and extreme growing conditions. Applications for the 2023 Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance initiative close midnight January 15, 2024.

Benefits will be based on a feed-need calculation for feed costs incurred resulting from lost grazing days for eligible breeding animals on hand as of December 31, 2023. Eligible producers could access up to $150 per head to help maintain the breeding herd in drought regions. Learn more and apply

Drought relief support for livestock producers now open 

Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) will administer the program. Livestock producers who altered their usual grazing practices due to drought conditions for more than 21 days this season can apply for financial support to cover losses incurred to manage and maintain female breeding animals such as cattle, bison, horses, elk, sheep, goats, alpacas, yak, musk ox, deer, water buffalo and llamas. A minimum of 15 animals per type of livestock are required to qualify. Benefits will be based on a feed-need calculation for feed costs incurred from lost grazing days for eligible breeding animals on hand as of Dec. 31, 2023. Eligible producers could access up to $150 per head to help maintain the breeding herd in drought regions. The application deadline is Jan. 15, 2024 and extraordinary costs can be incurred until March 31, 2024. Learn more and apply

Labour Resources

Canada Alberta Jobs Grant: The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their present or future employees for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees. Learn more: https://www.alberta.ca/canada-alberta-job-grant   

Olds College launches new certificate program

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has launched the groundbreaking Indoor Agriculture Certificate program, the first of its kind offered in Canada. Designed to meet the surging demand for skilled professionals in the controlled environment agriculture sector, this 4-month program will equip students with the knowledge and hands-on experience for a fulfilling career in controlled environment agriculture, addressing the growing demand for sustainable and high-tech farming methods. Learn more and apply

Agriculture Job Connector: https://www.alberta.ca/agriculture-job-connector.aspx 

Additional Government & Industry News and Information

Consider shop rates a farm input

Within the agricultural sector, shop rates should be considered a farm input, says Azam Nikzad, provincial market analyst/coordinating researcher with the Alberta government. Over the past decade, Alberta's shop rates have shown a consistent upward trend.

Shop rates refer to the hourly rate a basic shop charges for repairs to farm machinery conducted by a qualified mechanic or an authorized dealer. Read more

Canada Outlook for principal field crops for 2023-2024

Production of all principal field crops is estimated at 89.5 million tonnes in 2023, down 7.5% from 2022 and 2.2% below the 2018-2022 average. The decrease in production can be largely attributed to a reduction in yields due to drought conditions encountered in Western Canada, with regions in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan especially hard hit. In general, crop prices are forecast to remain relatively strong for 2023-2024. The prices for most crops are forecast down year-over-year, however, the prices for durum, oats, lentils, dry beans, chickpeas, and canary seed are projected to increase. At this time, the price forecasts are subject to significant volatility due to the elevated amount of uncertainty in global markets. Learn more and check out all the numbers

2024/2025 CMBTC recommended malting barley varieties

The CMBTC (Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre) recommended list provides producers with an indication of which malting barley varieties have the greatest potential for selection and marketing. Each variety on the recommended list has been tested at the CMBTC and all exhibit good malting characteristics. All varieties on the list are registered with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Learn more

Events, Webinars and Podcasts

Save the Date: Ag-Advocacy Forum - February 21, 2024 9:00-1:30 - Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Grounds. More information to come...

Working Well Workshops: If you have a well on your property, plan to attend a workshop.

FCC Events including Business Plan Boot Camp & Young Farmer Summit: https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/knowledge/events.html

Don't forget: Canada Ag Day is February 13, 2024: https://agriculturemorethanever.ca/cdn-ag-day/

Agri-News online - www.alberta.ca/agri-news.aspx and upcoming events

Other Resources

As always, you can always find more agribusiness resources on our website: https://www.medicinehatchamber.com/agribusiness-resources/    

If you know of someone who may be interested in the work we are doing and might be interested in investing in this work through membership, please feel free to refer them to us. You can also encourage others to subscribe to our agriculture updates through this page. We look forward to continuing our work with you and pushing for our collective priorities on your behalf.

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