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

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

Community Chamber

Agriculture Updates since July 2024

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Celebrating the 292  Agricultural Societies Across Alberta!
On September 21, we honor the incredible impact of Alberta’s Agricultural Societies, each working tirelessly to enhance the quality of life in their communities. These societies, often led by dedicated volunteers, are the unsung heroes behind the fairs, events, and facilities that bring us all together. Learn More

Canadian Beef Industry Overcomes Challenges to Achieve Many Five-Year Goals
The Canadian beef industry has just released a Status Update of its 2020-24 National Beef Strategy outlining many goals attained while overcoming challenges in the industry over the past two years. Find the Report Here.

Unwanted Pesticides and Old Livestock/Equine Medications Collection: October 21-25
Farmers in southern Alberta can safely dispose of unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides and livestock/equine medications at no charge from October 21 to 25 at Agro Plus Solutions in Cypress County and South Country Co-op in Brooks. Learn more and check out dates, times and places.

Producer Survey on Digital Agriculture
The Simpson Centre is working to make digital agriculture technology and data more accessible and transparent, and producer experience is crucial. Producers are asked to share their views in a 15-minute survey and help shape the future of farming. Take the survey here

2024 Cropping Alternatives (Crop Budget Planning) Now Available Online
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation has released the 2024 Cropping Alternatives (Crop Budget Planning), an essential resource for farmers.
This annual Crop Budget Planning is tailored to specific soil zones and covers a broad range of dryland and irrigated crops and forages. It includes estimated costs and returns for the 2024 growing season, which can be customized to reflect the unique production, pricing and cost factors of individual farming operations. More Here

Results of the Inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey
Insight into the 2023 Canadian Calf Crop
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), in collaboration with Canfax Research Services and regional representatives, recently took a snapshot of production practices that have been adopted by cow-calf producers across the country, as well as performance measures of their herds. More Here

Funding Updates 

On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) Re-opens for a Limited Number of Applications
After reviewing and approving more than 1,000 applications, RDAR recently announced the re-opening of the 2024 OFCAF program for an additional intake of 150 funding applications. The new intake will fulfill RDAR’s commitment to distributing all available OFCAF funds to Alberta producers, enabling them to adopt impactful, sustainable changes on their farms and ranches. More Here, ARGO online application system

Funding Opportunities
Curious which funding stream is right for you?
RDAR currently has two opportunities open to access funding:
•    Accelerating Agricultural Innovations 2.0
•    Producer Research and Evaluation Program
Learn more about RDAR funding opportunities here

Grant Funding for Alberta Producers
Alberta producers, processors and organizations who are looking to secure funding for an upcoming project through Sustainable CAP should be mindful of where they are getting information. Learn More Here

New Sustainable Agricultural Partnership program
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership has launched a new program called the On-Farm Efficiency Program (OFEP). OFEP was created by combining the past Farm Technology Program and Efficient Grain Handling Program, along with some new opportunities that were selected in response to industry feedback collected in the fall of 2023. The intent of the On-Farm Efficiency Program is to support producers in achieving environmental benefits by improving the efficient use of agricultural inputs. The Program funds primary producers to carry out projects that optimize the use of inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides and energy. When inputs reach their targets with precision, it is a win-win for producers and the environment: producers save money, fewer inputs are applied off-target, and fewer emissions are released to the atmosphere. This program has four Streams. An applicant may apply to any or all of the Program Streams:

  • Smart Farm Technology
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Farm Security
  • Efficient Grain Handling

The program opened for applications on August 14, 2024 and funding is retroactive to April 1, 2023. Eligible expenses are funded at a cost-share rate of 50%. The funding maximum per applicant is $150,000 over the duration of the Program (2023-2028). The maximum funding per Stream over the duration of the Program is: $50,000 for Smart Farm Technology, $50,000 for Energy Efficiency, $2,000 for Farm Security, and $100,000 for Efficient Grain Handling. For some Eligible Items, there is a maximum grant stated in the Funding List. 

While on the Sustainable CAP website go to the bottom of the home page, enter your email, and click ‘send’ to start receiving regular Sustainable CAP updates. Please visit the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership page for program information, including how to apply. 

Agriculture Labour Task Force Grant Program 
This grant supports producers and processors recruit, hire, and retain workers in the agriculture and agri-food industry. Two grant streams are available. One to improve awareness of related careers and another to support improving HR practices and capacity. Find out more.

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. Find out more.

4 Key Details to Know About Venture Capital Funding
What food and beverage processors need to know about accessing funds through venture capital funding. Learn More

Producer Research and Evaluation Program
RDAR's Producer Research and Evaluation Program (PREP) was created to support on-farm research allowing producers to evaluate emerging technologies, products and production practices. On-farm research will support new strategies to be tested within unique farm conditions and to support decision making with data advancing profitability, competitiveness and sustainability.
The maximum total funding available for PREP is $1 million in 2024 Learn more about RDAR funding

Sowing Seeds of Success for Future Farmers
Agriculture is essential to Alberta’s history, economy and future prosperity. Over the past 20 years, the number of young and middle-aged producers in agriculture has seen steep declines, while the number of farmers over 55 has increased. The province is aiming to help reverse that trend with changes to Agriculture Financial Services Corporation’s Next Generation Loan program (Next Gen). More Here

Enhancing the Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program  
The governments of Alberta and Canada are enhancing the Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program with a $1.9 million investment to support Alberta Beef Producers. Last year, beef was Alberta's largest agri-food export at $3.9 billion, making up 22 per cent of the province’s total. Under this initiative, farmers and ranchers can receive up to $5,000 for expenses that align their operations with VBP+ certification guidelines. Learn more 

Supporting Genomics Innovation in Alberta
New funding from the province will support cutting-edge genomics research in health, agriculture and environmental technology. The province is investing $15 million over three years into Genome Alberta, a not-for-profit research funding organization working toward a better future through genomic innovation. Read More Here

Protecting Communities from Drought and Floods
Drought and floods can damage homes and businesses, disrupt critical infrastructure and, in extreme scenarios, pose a serious threat to public safety. In recent years, the impacts of drought and flooding have been felt across Alberta. More Here - Drought and Flood Protection Program

Labour Resources

Empowering Agriculture Professionals: Unveiling Issue #5 of AgriWorkforce Matters
"It’s that time of year when the hustling and bustling of the season is in full force. Many of you will have finished seeding and started to think about the inputs required to make your crop grow. Others might be hitting the tail end of lambing season and devoting some extra TLC to newborns. Whatever tasks are keeping you occupied, I want to recognize how vitally important your work is to our country’s economic future. Without you, we cannot put food on the table for families here at home and abroad."  -  Jennifer Wright, Executive Director Read it Here

2024 Survey of Compensation Practices in Canadian Agriculture - Executive Summary Report
Across Canada, the highly competitive nature of the talent marketplace has made it an increasingly difficult landscape for agricultural producers to navigate. This salary survey and human resource benchmarking initiative equips producers with relevant and practical data resources to better compete in today’s workplace. More Here

Free Counselling Sessions
Farming is 24-7-365, but you don't have to handle it alone. Get support from AgKnow's farm-informed counsellors and get up to four free counselling sessions. This program covers counselling sessions for farmers, their families, farm employees, veterinarians and registered veterinarian technicians. Learn more and book a counselling session.

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
Growing Opportunities through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is available. Visit the SWPP Application Page and complete the online application form. If you'd like to learn more about SWPP, including eligibility criteria and detailed program information, please visit the website. For any questions or additional information, reach out to Megan Lockhart at mlockhart@cahrc-ccrha.ca. 

Phase 2 of the Recognized Employer Pilot under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Employers are now able to submit applications for positions on Service Canada’s Phase 2 Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) occupations list. These 84 occupations are in high-demand and show shortage conditions based on the Canadian Occupational Projection System assessment of recent labour market conditions (2019-2021). The deadline to submit applications to become a recognized employer is September 16, 2024, however recognized employers will continue to have access to simplified applications for the 84 designated occupations until the end of the pilot on December 31, 2026. If you have questions on the REP, please visit Canada.ca or contact the Employer Contact Centre. 

Health and Safety on Alberta Farms and Ranches
A guide to rights and obligations for farmers and workers under Alberta's OHS legislation. Provides information about hazard identification and control, incident reporting and investigations.https://ohs-bstore.labour.alberta.ca/bp029 

AgSafe FarmSafe Plan Learning Program Launched
This is a free, self-paced learning program that introduces Alberta producers to health and safety fundamentals and explains how to apply this information to their specific operations. It was designed for both family farms and farms with employees. It will walk you through creating a farm-specific health and safety program, explain why these elements are needed, and support you in putting your farm’s health and safety program into action. Learn more and register.

If you have farm-specific health and safety questions or require support relating to health and safety on your farm, please contact AgSafe Alberta at info@agsafeab.ca.   You may be eligible for onsite farm visits and up to 10 hours of advisor support at no cost!

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  

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

We were pleased to launch our partnership with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council at our Ag-Forum on February 21. For anyone interested in the HR toolkit, please use this QR code to gain access to the free HR Toolkit offered during the program.


Additional Government & Industry News and Information

Improve Your Bottom Line Through the Power of Feed Testing
Now that cattle feed is harvested or being harvested, it’s time to start thinking about testing that feed. While visual assessment can help separate good-quality feed from poor-quality feed, it is not going to help you determine the energy and protein content. Only a feed test can accurately provide this information. More Here

Producer Survey on Digital Agriculture

The Simpson Centre is working to make digital agriculture technology and data more accessible and transparent, and producer experience is crucial. Producers are asked to share their views in a 15-minute survey and help shape the future of farming.The survey is to understand how crop and livestock producers perceive digital technologies, their concerns about data ownership and privacy, and their willingness to share data with industry and government stakeholders. Learn more and participate in the survey

New Grain Grading Changes Now in Effect
A number of grain grading changes went into effect on August 1 for the 2024-2025 crop year. Read more. See the Full List Here

The Results Are In--Good Beef Starts with Good Forage
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) funds a variety of research projects on animal health and welfare, environmental sustainability, forage and grasslands, feed efficiency, food safety, beef quality and more. Results Here

3 Ways to Create Personal Income from a Farm Corporation
Running your farming operation as a corporation is increasingly common, so it’s important to understand how this structure affects your personal spending for plans like retirement and wind-down of your farming career. Methods used decades ago will not have the same success in today’s complex tax system. Understanding that a corporation is only a tax deferral is key to reducing your overall business and personal taxes. Paying the low corporate tax rates on the business is important to enabling your operation to reinvest larger after-tax profits on equipment, land or livestock. Learn more.

Insect Scouting Tips
A reminder from the Canola Council of Canada to scout fields weekly, checking both high and low in the canopy and inspecting all plant parts, including roots. When insect pest numbers approach action threshold levels, sample more frequently. Find the Guide Here

New Sclerotinia Risk Assessment Tool
Growers and agronomists looking for help in making sclerotinia spray decisions this summer now have access to a new online tool from the Canola Council of Canada. The sclerotinia risk assessment tool offers both a recommendation about whether or not to spray a canola crop (at 20%-50% flower) based on several inputs from the user, along with an opportunity to assess the spray decision by rating sclerotinia severity at maturity (30%-60% seed colour change). More Here and Find the Assessment Tool Here

Events, Webinars and Podcasts

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

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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