Headlines

Cypress County to Host Agriculture Conference
The first Cypress County Ag Connections Conference Presented by MNP will take place November 22, 2023. The producer-focused event aims to support the growth, diversification, and sustainability of the agriculture industry in the region, through innovation and education. The event will feature over 15 ag-focused speakers discussing topics relevant to beef and crop producers. Learn more

Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) 2024 Calendar Contest: Submit your favourite photos from life on your farm or ranch for a chance to be featured in the inaugural calendar that will be shared with parliamentarians as well as in other CCA communications activities. As well the CCA is in search of video content to help share their story about the environmental benefits of raising cattle in Canada. Learn more

Canada expands Taiwan market for Canadian beef: Agriculture Canada announced Canada has regained market access to Taiwan for Canadian beef and beef products from animals over-thirty-months of age. This regained access will offer an opportunity to expand Canadian beef exports to Taiwan and diversify export markets in the Indo-Pacific region, while contributing to global food security, benefiting global consumers with access to high-quality beef products. Read more

EDC: Growing Canada's agri-food potential
There’s no doubt that agriculture and agri-food is big business in Canada. For the past decade, we’ve ranked as the world’s fifth-largest exporter of agriculture commodities and the 11th-largest provider of agri-food. Agri-food accounts for about 7% of our gross domestic product (GDP) and 2.1 million Canadian jobs. Watch the video and find out how Canada can get a bigger slice of the global agri-food market.

AFSC announces changes to low yield allowances for poor crops 
AFSC is adjusting the low yield allowance for 2023 to encourage farmers to put more poor-quality crops towards livestock feed. For 2023, AFSC is doubling the low yield threshold to allow for additional cereal or pulse crops to be salvaged for livestock feed. This adjustment enables producers to act swiftly to salvage crops for livestock feed rather than watch their fields deteriorate further, and risk harvesting nothing. Learn more

Yield estimation calculator can help producers make preharvest decisions
AFSC clients with annual crop insurance can use the yield estimation calculator to help determine potential yields and make decisions on when to harvest or preharvest a crop. The yield estimation calculator is easy to use, and producers can have an estimated yield in a few simple steps. Learn more and check out the calculator

$12 Million Federal Investment to Drive Environmental, Economic and social Sustainability in Canada's Beef Sector
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is welcoming more than $12 million in funding from the Government of Canada for Canada’s Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership – AgriScience Program. The AgriScience Cluster funding will bolster the Canadian beef sector’s environmental and economic sustainability and resilience as the sector adapts to changing climates and evolving marketplaces. Alberta beef producer and BCRC Chair Craig Lehr said the results from this AgriScience Cluster will benefit farmers, ranchers, processors, retailers and consumers, as well as the broader Canadian population. Read more here

Canadian Food Inspection Agency launches consultation on origin labelling of imported foods contested territories
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched a consultation with consumers and other interested stakeholders to obtain feedback on how to label the origin of imported food from contested territories. The CFIA would like to hear from you. Canadians and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to read the consultation document and provide feedback on this question: "For food products from contested territories, would having the geographic region or territory where the food product was produced noted on the label help clarify where the product came from so that the label is not considered "false or misleading" under Canadian labelling regulations?" Learn more  |  Share your feedback

Funding Updates 

• Rural Communities Foundation grant: For the fifth year, the UFA Rural Communities Foundation is offering up to $100,000 to ensure rural Alberta remains strong. In the first 4 years, the $400,000 has helped 16 communities complete projects. Groups who are eligible to apply include registered charities under the Canada Revenue Agency, registered non-profit organizations who are registered with either their provincial or municipal government and community service co-operatives. The application deadline is August 31, 2023. Learn more
  
  
• Beefing up access to capital for livestock producers
  Amendments to the Feeder Associations Guarantee Regulation give feeder association members more options to purchase and market livestock and to generate better cash flow for their operations. The changes raise individual and joint membership loan limits, excluding advances, to $3 million from $2 million. Learn more

Labour Resources

1. Agriculture Job Connector: https://www.alberta.ca/agriculture-job-connector.aspx 
   
2. Chamber Agriculture Labour survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019AgribusinessLabour
3. Riipen Rural Roots, a collaborative program in partnership with Alberta-based Rural Development Network, Portage College, Mount Royal University, Medicine Hat College, and MacEwan University. The focus of this new program is to connect rural businesses and non-profits across Canada with post-secondary learners to advance their labour market and workforce skills through short-term virtual WIL projects. Read more
4.  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

Additional Government & Industry News and Information 

• New Prairie Nutrient Removal Calculator: 
  Two University of Saskatchewan soil scientists put the finishing touches on a new Prairie Nutrient Removal Calculator—an online tool that provides a critical piece of information to help make on-farm fertilizer decisions. It’s not a new concept, but the calculator is fueled by new, local data collected from commercial farms in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Read more and check out the new calculator
  
  
• Developing a grazing plan: make the most of the forage you have available:
  Developing a grazing plan is an important first step to ensure effective grazing management on an operation, and it can help save producers on their cost of production in the long run. A grazing plan that matches animal numbers to predicted forage yields is something that should be done prior to animal turn out. Read the article from BCRC
  
  
• Facing drought? Six things beef producers can focus on:
  This summer producers across the country are experiencing extreme dry conditions, drought and wildfires. While the elements themselves cannot be managed, there are 6 decisions that can be made on-farm to reduce the impact of dry conditions. Learn more
  
  
• Food processing program engagement - industry:
  Olds College is exploring the development of a Food Processing program focused on the processing, packaging, regulatory, marketing, and business development components of plant-based food production. The program would also include a dedicated work integrated learning component, providing students with an opportunity to benefit from experiential learning in industry, in addition to making connections to support their future entry into the workforce.
  As part of the development process, the College is seeking industry input around program demand, delivery model, curriculum, skills, competencies, and overall program design to ensure the program will meet the needs of industry.
  Learn more and participate in the survey
  
  
• Do More Agriculture Foundation releases new study on strengthening support and mental health advocacy:
  This project evaluated Do More’s overall contribution and impact, presented recommendations for the next steps, and identified a critical path forward, all with the important lens of serving traditionally underrepresented groups in the Canadian agricultural sector. Learn more read the recommendations

Events, Webinars and Podcasts

July 26-29: Medicine Hat Stampede - Come out and show your western spirit!

August 1-2: The Dish presented by AFSC - An informative session that will provide producers with insights/ advice to help them thrive

August 14-17: Canadian Beef Industry Conference - Registration Now Open

August 19-20: Open Farms Days - Year of the Bison

August 21: Automation & Digital Agriculture Specialist Program - Prepare highly skilled workers by giving them the tools to identify, manage, and implement technological solutions across the agri-food value chain.