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Building A Unified Voice for Agriculture: Agriculture Updates, Supports, and News: September 2023

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Building A Unified Voice for Agriculture: Agriculture Updates, Supports, and News: September 2023

Agriculture Updates since August, 2023

Headlines

Harvest 2023: things to know this season: AFSC clients may want to learn more about the following items:

  • Harvested Production Report
  • Payment by Declaration
  • Post-harvest advance
  • Variable Price Benefit
  • Quality concerns
  • Abandoned acres
  • Future coverage impacts from losses

Learn more and get all the details

Year in Review Report Highlights Beef Research and Extension Results for 2022-2023

A new report showcases how producer investments in the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off are tackling beef industry priorities while generating maximum value from every research dollar. The Beef Cattle Research Council’s 2022-2023 Year in Review summarizes key activities and outcomes from the past fiscal year.

Farming the Web

Looking to buy or sell products, services or equipment? Check out Farming the Web - the free, not-for-profit agriculture classifieds site that makes it simple to buy and sell locally.
Powered by the Alberta Forage Industry Network, Farming the Web is used by producers, farmers and ranchers to get what they want from the people they trust. Check out Farming the Web

Benefits of Grazing Crops

Grazing cattle on crops has the potential to benefit both the cattle producer and crop grower if done properly. Crop farmers can use cows to positively impact soil health, receive some post-harvest income, or even terminate fall cover crops, receive some post-harvest income, while beef producers can get additional grazing when grass and feed are limited or extend their grazing season into fall and winter. Learn More

A first look at the 2024 crop input market

As the 2023 crop harvest is nearing the halfway point across Canada, attention has already turned to next year. Farm Credit Canada has just released its preliminary estimate for the 2024 crop input market, including issues to monitor for the rest of 2023 and into 2024. Read more


Funding Updates 

AFSC deadline Today!

A reminder of the following AgriStability deadlines: 2022 Supplementary Forms due (without penalty). Learn more about these and other upcoming deadlines

Alberta producers can sign up for AgriStability until September 29. The Government of Alberta and Agriculture Canada reopened the program recognizing that wildfires and extremely dry conditions have affected many farmers and ranchers since the April 30 enrolment deadline. This gives affected producers more time to review and manage the business risks associated with these challenging situations. Learn more

Initial list of Western producers where Livestock Tax Deferral has been authorized 

The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows livestock producers who are forced to sell all or part of their breeding herd due to drought or excess moisture to defer a portion of their income from sales until the following tax year.  The criteria for identifying regions for Livestock Tax Deferral is forage yields of less than 50% of the long-term average caused by drought or excess moisture. Learn more and view the 2023 initial list 

FarmCash open for fall applications

Western Canadian agricultural producers can now apply for a fall FarmCash advance of up to $1 million on field crops, honey or livestock to help them grow. The FarmCash cash advance program opened fall applications on September 1, 2023, allowing agricultural producers to take advantage of marketing flexibility or kick-start planning for the next growing season’s commodity inputs. Producers can apply for up to $1 million and receive the first $350,000 interest-free. Learn more

Alberta Export Expansion Program

This program provides funding support to Alberta small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities, industry associations, Indigenous communities and economic development organizations promoting Alberta exports through outbound international business travel and bringing international buyers to Alberta.

For-profit or municipal applicants may be reimbursed up to 50%, and non-profit applicants up to 75%, on eligible costs. Learn more and apply

Agriculture Labour Task Force Grant Program 

This program supports producers and processors, to help companies recruit, hire, and retain workers in the agriculture and agri-food industry. Two grant streams available. One to improve awareness of related careers and another to support the improvement of HR practices and capacity. Find out more.

Thrive Academy 

A 12-week agri-food tech pre-accelerator program for idea stage entrepreneurs, early-stage startups and researchers looking to commercialize their innovations. Find out more about this immersive program HERE

AgriDiversity Program

The AgriDiversity Program aims to help under-represented groups in Canadian agriculture, including youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities, to fully participate in the sector by helping these groups address the key issues and barriers they often face for sector participation. Apply here.

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.  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   

Additional Government & Industry News and Information

Export tips and trends for Canada’s agriculture and food industry

Canadian agricultural and consumer food products are exported to 190 international countries, generating approximately $83 billion annually. And there’s still plenty of room for growth. Export Development Canada has prepared a blog with bushels of insights if you are in this sector.

Moisture check services

The Canadian Grain Commission offers moisture check services to help companies and producers ensure their moisture meters are functioning properly. This will help to assure customers and clients that grain is being stored within safe moisture limits. It will also help identify potential issues with the moisture meter before it falls out of specification. Learn more

Selling grain through an unlicensed buyer: take these steps first

Producers who are thinking about selling their grain through an unlicensed grain buyer need to consider a variety of factors, especially if they have production insurance through AFSC. Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) defines a licensed buyer as a grain buyer who is licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) as a primary elevator or terminal elevator. AFSC only accepts the receipted grade on sales from buyers who have a primary elevator or a terminal elevator license from the CGC. Learn more about what to know when selling grain to unlicensed buyers.

Harvest Safety 

Harvest is one of the busiest and often most stressful times of the year, which unfortunately means it is also the most dangerous. Keeping oneself and others safe must always take priority over getting the crop into the bin. Don’t cut corners, skip safety protocols or make unsafe ‘just this once’ decisions. Find farm safety resources

Managing grain contracts

Last year, the Canadian Canola Growers Association hosted a virtual session on managing grain contracts with legal professionals to explore verbal agreements, liquidated damages, terminating contracts and act of God clauses. Learn more and watch the recording

Events, Webinars and Podcasts

November 22: Cypress County Ag Connections Conference

November 23: Alberta Chambers of Commerce Ag Forum 

We are thrilled to extend this exclusive invitation to you, as a valued member of our agricultural community, to participate in both the Cypress County Ag Connections Conference and the Alberta Chambers of Commerce  (ACC) Agriculture, Producers & Value Add Ag Industry Forum.

The ACC forum is curated to bring together the most influential minds in Alberta and our region. We have limited registration for an impactful experience allowing you to connect, engage, and build powerful alliances with local chambers, industry, government representatives, and large organizations, all united by a shared vision of progress and success.

Join us at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede grounds in fostering sustained economic prosperity through action-focused discussions that explore the challenges and opportunities facing the agriculture industry in Alberta.

Through your participation in our Industry Forum, our goal is to drive solutions to ensure sustainable economic growth. We hope you can join this Agriculture, Producers & Value Add Ag Industry Forum, where we will embark on an inspiring journey of growth and collaboration, following the Cypress County Ag Connections conference on November 22 – we hope to see you at both events. Register today:

Register for: Agriculture, Producers & Value Add Ag Industry Forum

Register for: Cypress County Ag Connections conference

September 27: Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training in AG webinar - Unique suicide awareness and prevention training designed for peer-to-peer support in the farming and agriculture industry.

October 11: Expanding your local food business: Register for the workshop

October 14: School of Public Policy Simpson Centre: Produce More, Emit Less: Reducing GHG Emissions From Livestock Production

November 22-23: Cypress County Ag Connections Conference 

November 28-30: Agri-Food Innovation Expo

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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