The innovations are born from years of dedication and ingenuity, says Craig Shaw, ag innovations committee chair. 

“Innovation is the cornerstone of agriculture in Western Canada and we want to bring that innovation to the attendees at Agri-Trade,” Shaw said in a media release. 

Using a pitch-style format, each finalist will be given five minutes to demonstrate their entry. 

“We look forward to showcasing these finalists along with the rest of the exhibitors at Agri-Trade this year,” said operations manager Krissy Fiddler. “Join us on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 3 p.m. at Agri-Trade, where these finalists will compete for excellence, push- ing the boundaries of what’s possible in agriculture.” 

The top 5 finalists in alphabetical order: 

AGRA GPS 

The firm’s CRG is the first non-John Deere receiver fully compatible with John Deere displays. 

It supports all four satellite systems, comes unlocked with RTK and requires no subscriptions. 

It works with industry standard corrections for RTK and has sub-inch accuracy. In addition, it includes a JD-Bridge, which allows the CRG to enable John Deere displays to autosteer machines from other brands. agragps.com 

Combinesettings.com

This entrant aims to help farmers save time and make more money. It has centralized peer to peer information sharing in the agriculture industry with a custom platform that allows farmers to connect directly, share combine setting data and transfer knowledge 

By verifying users, it gives farmers access to peer-approved settings information quickly, specific to crop, combine type, equipment and geography. 

It all happens “…without scrolling social media or calling seven neighbours and the mechanic.” combinesettings.com 

Ground Truth Ag

Ground Truth Agriculture is building a system that provides real-time grain quality data for the supply chain. The benchtop device combines advanced machine vision tools and lab techniques to conduct grain analysis and provide results. 

With immediate analysis, farmers can make informed decisions on marketing, crop inputs, soil management and inventory optimization. 

This same system is also being designed for future use on the combine to provide precise location- based information and ensure a more thorough grain quality profile. 

Ground Truth Agriculture says the product removes subjectivity and inconsistency from the grad- ing process. groundtruth.ag 

M-MRWS 

From Iran comes a new mechanism and design for an irrigation dripper with a fixed discharge rate and anti- clogging device. 

The M-MRWS is produced by the Danesh Mehvar Artakhe (WaterSuAb) company from Islamic Azad University, Buin Zahra Branch, Incubator Center in the City of Booein Zahra in Iran. 

It says the irrigation dripper can deliver a uniform output in a range from one to 200 Kpa, prevents clogging and allows passage of particles with a diameter of 1500 microns. watersuab.com/en 

Spider Hitch 

Spider Hitch is an innovative solution to tackle an old problem: hooking up headers behind combines. It eliminates the need for a driver to look through dusty mirrors to interpret hand gestures as they try to line up a huge machine to a small hitch. 

As combines and headers get larger and harvesting windows are tight, there’s a need for both speed and safety even with fewer people in the field. A Spider Hitch allows one operator to quickly and safely pull the header toward the combine. 

The self-latching feature works with the winch, operated with either a wireless remote, corded remote or Bluetooth app to get the job done from a safe distance. This eliminates the danger of people working near or under large machinery while in motion. spiderhitch.ca

The post Innovation a focus at Agri-Trade appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Opend Range Ltd. of Daysland was awarded the $20,000 grand prize for its Cowgo Loading System, which turns any cattle liner into a ground load trailer.

[RELATED] Long-haul transport rules not supported by science, says cattle sector

Made of aluminum, the ramp and side panels can be set up by one person in under a minute. The ramp pulls out of a sub-floor and the side panels fold out and attach to the ramp.

Precision AI took home the $5,000 Farmers Choice Award for its Precision Spray Drone System.

It was a good year for Agri-Trade, which mounted a full-scale show this year after having a scaled-down event last year, said officials.

“The sold-out exhibit space was packed with more than 475 booths,” show operations manager Krissy Fiddler said in a release. “Agri-Trade is back post pandemic, stronger than ever.”

Attendance was strong and there was a major contingent of international buyers, the release said.

“We had registered buyers from Ireland, Italy, Germany, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Kenya, the United States and Mexico,” said Rod Bradshaw, chair of the show’s industry advisory committee. “We also had exhibitors from Germany, Hungary and the United States.”

The post Alberta company grabs top prize at Agri-Trade’s innovation contest appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Organizers of the ag equipment expo have been working with counterparts at German ag trade show company IFWexpo to bring manufacturers from that country to Alberta. IFWexpo organizes German Pavilions on behalf of Germany’s ministries of agriculture and economic affairs.

“Agri-Trade is going to be the first ever in North America to host a German Pavilion,” said operations manager Krissy Fiddler.

The pavilion, a 50-by-50-foot booth, will be the main feature in the Exhibition Hall and will be staffed by representatives from Germany.

“They are shipping and building a trade show exhibit space from Mexico,” said Fiddler. “It will definitely be ‘eye candy’ for the show this year. It’s really exciting.”

There will also be a sizeable international contingent.

“We have both exhibitors and attendees from all over the world,” she said.

[RELATED] No shortage of innovative ag products at Agri-Trade

In addition to manufacturer reps from Germany, there will also be personnel from Hungary and Czechia (the Czech Republic). A large number of buyers from outside Canada also attend the show, scouting for equipment that farmers in their countries might want to buy.

This year, potential buyers from India, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected, said Fiddler.

“We found with the blocked market with Russia and Ukraine, larger farming countries are looking more to North America to do business. And a lot of pressure is on us that we are doing it right. It’s a big uptake on the international side for Agri-Trade. There’s some big companies that are looking for business opportunities.”

Most of the international delegates are ag business representatives.

“They are looking to work with our (North American) manufacturers and be able to export products to their country,” Fiddler said. “The potential is huge.”

However, getting those folks to Red Deer was a challenge even though pandemic travel restrictions have largely been dropped.

“It has been tough for some of these countries to get visas,” said Fiddler. “They’re backlogged because of COVID.”

What would normally be a month-long process to get a visa has been upwards of four months for some countries, she said.

“We work with our government, the consulate and trade commissioners to do what we can.”

Some of the equipment is also coming from overseas, including some that will be new to North America. The show has attracted international dealers who will be looking for opportunities to market their products in Western Canada and dealers to import them.

So, while some of the equipment coming to the show is not yet available in North America, it is a chance to check it out, Fiddler said.

Some dealers have smaller or shared booths (as is the case in the German Pavilion) so some equipment will be displayed outside. There will also be information on various international products in lieu of actual equipment on display.

During its scaled-down event last year, Agri-Trade had entertainment for the first time, and it was a hit.

Country artist Devin Cooper from Innisfail, who was nominated for three Country Music Alberta awards last year, will play three sets each afternoon from 1 p.m. until closing in the Agri-Centre East Lounge.

“It’s a little area for our attendees to sit back and rest, and enjoy some local talent, ” Fiddler said.

The show runs from Nov. 9-11 and there’s a free app (search for ‘agri-trade expo app’) that lists exhibitors and allows attendees to search for a specific piece of equipment or directions to booths.

“It makes a big difference, if you are only there one day and have a limited amount of time. It really helps you plan your show day out,” Fiddler said.

When the pandemic hit, many thought trade shows would go by the wayside, but that hasn’t been the case for Agri-Trade.

“This year the waiting list became substantial,” she said. “There will always be a need for face-to-face contact for producers to talk to manufacturers and get what they need for products and services.”

The post Global equipment makers take notice of Agri-Trade appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Showcasing some of the latest agricultural technology is at the heart of the AgInnovation contest at Agri-Trade, the annual ag equipment expo in Red Deer.

This is the 14th year for the competition, which culminates with five finalists making five-minute pitches before a live audience and a panel of farmer judges. The winner receives $20,000.

“We had 27 applications this year,” said Krissy Fiddler, Agri-Trade operations manager. “It’s a tough job to narrow it down.”

While applications are taken from all over the world and from any sector of agriculture, “we try to focus on if it will work for Western Canada,” she said.

Some selections for this year’s final have been on the market for a few years, which means they’ve been tested and have data on how well they work.

“It’s nice to have brand new innovations, but it’s also nice to know that it’s proven in what it’s supposed to do,” Fiddler said.

Here are the five finalists:

ATP Nutrition: NutriScan

The company says its hand-held diagnostic soil testing tool called NutriScan can give producers a wide range of soil test data in minutes. The device uses near-infrared sensor and electro-conductivity technology that has been calibrated for North American soils.

Readings are uploaded, via a smartphone app, to a cloud database containing thousands of soil samples, and a report is generated within five minutes. The report details general soil properties, macro and micro nutrients and base saturation.

The NutriScan unit can be purchased for just under $5,000 with a yearly fee of $7,200. Users can take as many tests as they want.

Opend Range Ltd: Cowgo Loading System

Made of aluminum, custom fitted to the liner, and mounted onto the rear of the liner, the load system takes less than a minute to set up, says the Alberta company (see photo at top).

The bottom ramp is installed above the floor in a new sub-floor and slides out when in use. Both the left- and right-side panels fold tight against the outside (back and driver’s side) of the trailer when not in use.

When the side panels are in use, they are securely attached to the ramp, ensuring livestock safety when animals go up and down.

The company says its system makes for quick loading and unloading, and only requires one person to set up.

Prairie Grain Analyzers: PGA Auger Sampler with Integrated Moisture Analyzer

It also says the device gives the user a real time moisture and test weight on the flow, reducing the need for the grain sample to be divided manually.

Results are averaged for each pail, truck or bin on an app and PGA says the readings from its device are more accurate – within 0.3 per cent accuracy versus the three per cent accuracy of traditional moisture cables installed in grain bins.

The auger sampler has an adjustable opening for various sized samples, has a remote on/off switch, and mounts to any auger without the need for modifications.

Precision AI: Precision Spray Drone System

It says the system is able to differentiate weeds instantly, and that spraying only weeds and not bare ground or crop reduces chemical use and reduces water needs by 95 per cent. Using drones also eliminates soil compaction.

The drones can accurately identify weeds while travelling at speeds of more than 45 miles per hour and each drone has a long flight time, Precision AI says.

The system has auto refill capabilities and uses a hive system to charge drones, allowing for a fleet of drones for swarming.

SeedMaster: Ultra SR

The Ultra SR uses the company’s dual-knife opener and Ultra Pro II metering. It is 60 feet wide and has a 735-bushel capacity. The company says it is three times more responsive to uneven terrain, allowing for better manoeuvring, and has a 40-inch rotating disc for heavy trash clearance.

The Ultra SR has no manifolds, allowing direct metering of product into individual air streams. It also has two fans and separate air systems for seed and fertilizer tanks.

The five finalists will give their “perfect pitch” presentations on Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. in the Frontier Room at Westerner Park. Attendees at the presentation will help select the winner of the Farmers’ Choice Award, who will receive a $5,000 prize.

For more info on the contest and on Agri-Trade, which runs from Nov. 9-11, go to agri-trade.com.

The post No shortage of innovative ag products at Agri-Trade appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The exhibit space was sold out and featured “more than 475 booths of the industry’s latest and most comprehensive display of equipment, services and technology,” Agri-Trade said in a release, adding attendees came from across the province and Western Canada.

The winner of the event’s Ag Innovations competition was Grande Prairie grain farmer Vincent Pawluski, inventor of the RcFarmArm (rcfarmarm.ca). The device provides wireless tractor control for stationary PTO work such as augers, baggers, and extractors.

Pawluski won both the $20,000 grand prize and another $5,000 for the Farmer’s Choice Award.

The post Agri-Trade makes welcome return appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

“There are a lot of new innovations; technology has not slowed with the pandemic,” said David Fiddler, Agri-Trade show manager.

This year, the show’s Ag Innovations Award program saw more applicants than it’s ever had. A panel of judges narrowed those down to five finalists, who will compete for a $20,000 grand prize in an event that gives them five minutes to pitch the merits of their product. The competition takes place on Nov. 11 (at 3 p.m.). Attendees in the audience will have the opportunity to vote for the winner of the Farmer’s Choice Award, who will receive $5,000.

The five finalists and their entries are:

Agtron Enterprises: Agtron Legend 260+

Older seeding electronics can be hard to find and expensive to replace.

The Agtron Legend 260+ replaces old air cart electronics and can monitor up to six sensors — fan speed, bin level, meter r.p.m., ground speed, displays seeding rate and blockage. The wiring harness is plug and play, taking little time to set up the monitor.

Cab clutter is reduced, and the farmer has confidence their field is seeded correctly without the dreaded skips and strips, Agtron says.

Founded in a basement in 1982, the company describes itself as “one of Canada’s leaders in agricultural electronics” and now operates out of a 16,000-square-foot facility in Saskatoon.

ClicR Technologies: ClicRweight

Weighing cattle or swine on a conventional scale is time and labour intensive.

The ClicRweight Swine and Bovine solution is billed as a “scaleless weighing system.”

ClicR Technologies says it has created a unique proprietary technology that utilizes 3D digital imagery, cutting-edge software and algorithms to scan and weigh an animal. For cattle, the system is set up in a pole shed with a water trough in it. When a cow, which has a tag in its right ear, comes to get a drink of water, the system scans it and produces a weight.

The Florida company says the system’s estimate of an animal’s weight is within four per cent of its actual weight and that provides average daily gain data instantly 24-7. That information allows producers to improve performance and profitability, it says.

Intelligent Ag Solutions: Recon SpraySense

Blocked nozzles on sprayers can be costly to farmers, reducing yields, potentially causing herbicide-resistance weeds, and wasting chemical. But it is extremely difficult to visually identify flow problems on sprayer nozzles.

Intelligent Ag, headquartered at North Dakota State University, says it spent five years researching various issues with spraying quality in order to produce Recon SpraySense. It allows for real-time monitoring of flow rate and pressure at every nozzle.

It has blockage detection featuring instant notifications of current or emergent flow or pressure problems. It features an iPad app with a user-friendly dashboard that has nozzle-by-nozzle details and preloaded specs for over 8,000 nozzle tips.

Pawlution Ltd.: RCFarm Arm

Climbing up and down into the cab of the tractor to turn on and off a PTO while running an auger may be a thing of the past, says the inventor of the RCFarm Arm.

Invented by Grande Prairie grain farmer Vincent Pawluski, the RCFarm Arm allows for wireless control of a tractor for any stationary PTO work. Overlaying armrest controls and the ignition key, the RCFarm Arm installs quickly with no additional wiring.

Once the modules are secure and plugged into the tractor’s accessory power port, the operator has control of the tractor from wherever they are standing. The controls start and stop the engine, engage or disengage the PTO, and have two hydraulic on/off functions, and four customizable functions.

There is a safety interlock on the PTO engage and engine start controls requiring two buttons to be simultaneously depressed together.

Rodono Industries: ACX-Air Cart Xtend

Most air cart loading augers or conveyers don’t reach under hopper-bottom trailers.

The ACX is a retracting kit that mounts onto existing air cart augers allowing it to extend and swing at the end of the cart loading system. It utilizes factory auger mounts and extends easily under hopper-bottom trailers to unload multiple hoppers without moving the truck, says Rodono Industries, a family-owned manufacturer located in Clive (east of Lacombe).

The ACX Xtend is made up of two parts. One is a hopper/electrical/tube assembly, which is standard to all models. The second, the rail/collector assembly, is specific to the model of air cart.

The kit extends the auger 10 feet and can pivot 80 degrees. There is a mover for switching between hoppers and comes with a remote and manual controls. Currently kits are available for the following carts: JD 1910, Case 3445, and Bourgault 6550.

The kit increases flexibility and decreases time for loading the air cart, Rodono says.

The post Agri-Trade receives record number of Ag Innovations entries appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

“You never know from one day to the next what we were facing for a while, but the (Alberta) government has laid it out pretty clear what we have to do to be able to go forward with an event,” said David Fiddler, the show manager with Agri-Trade.

The event was cancelled last year and in order to proceed this year, the organizers decided it would have to operate under Alberta’s Restrictions Exemption Program.

That means proof of double-vaccination will be required for all attendees over the age of 12, or show proof of a negative COVID test acquired privately within 72 hours. (A rapid COVID test will be offered on site for both exhibitors and attendees at a cost of $40 per test.) Mandatory masks will be required throughout the show, except for in the dining areas or while consuming a beverage.

These hurdles haven’t stopped most exhibitors from participating in this year’s event at Westerner Park in Red Deer from Nov. 10-12, said Fiddler

“It’s become, ‘If we want to do business, this is how we have to go forward,’” he said. “Most (exhibitors) are very accepting of it.”

Visiting with other farmers and exhibitors will still be encouraged at the show.

“Because of the requirements for vaccinations or negative test, social distancing is not required,” Fiddler said.

Event staff have been in touch with local farmers, both in person and through social media, to gather their views, and the event also has a farmer advisory committee.

“Our research (found) farmers and people who come to the show to shop are looking forward to an in-person event (and) looking forward to getting some business done.”

Count central Alberta producer John Kowalchuk among that group even though, he said, COVID “numbers are super high right now.”

“I am a little leery of it, but I am fully vaccinated, and I have no issue showing my vaccine card and wearing my mask,” he said. “I’m willing to follow all these rules so we can continue to do business.”

Kowalchuk said when he attended the “Thanks for Farming Tour” that was held last year around the same time as Agri-Trade, protocols were in place and he felt safe.

It’s better to have events with protocols in place than no in-person events at all, he added.

“I would much rather see it go on with things in place to keep everyone safe than cancelling,” he said. “What I’m worried about is folks not wanting to show vaccine cards or get a test to attend. I’m hoping that doesn’t happen. I want to show my support by showing up.”

Although the pandemic stopped farm shows and events from taking place over the past year and a half, it certainly hasn’t stopped agriculture technology from advancing.

Fiddler said this year’s edition of Agri-Trade will feature a lot of new innovations, especially those from the top five Ag Innovation finalists. Participants can watch them make their “Dragons’ Den”-style pitches before a set of judges on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 11) on the show floor.

“The number of new innovations and changes to the industry that our exhibitors bring every year, there’s always something new,” Fiddler said.

There will also be new exhibitors this year.

“One thing the pandemic has done is cause companies to adjust how they market. Some of our exhibitors have downsized their booths, which has allowed us to go to the waiting list and let in some new companies.”

More dining space has also been created on the show floor to address complaints in past years about a shortage of seating.

This year’s Agri-Trade has a focus on youth. It provides $22,500 for bursaries to students studying agriculture at Lakeland, Olds, and Red Deer colleges, and 4-H members get in free (if they present a valid 4-H membership card).

“We encourage youth, even urban youth, to come out and see the opportunities that employment in agriculture can provide,” said Fiddler.

And although it’s been two years since the last Agri-Trade, attending the event should be a comfortable experience, he added.

“This (the pandemic) is not new, and COVID-19 is not new. I think people have learned to adapt and do business with it. A trip to Agri-Trade is no different than a trip to Costco or Canadian Tire. It’s a shopping experience.”

Tickets are available online (at www.agri-trade.com). Tickets can be purchased at the gate but pre-purchasing will help speed things up, he said.

The post Agri-Trade is ready to get on with business appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

“We’re doing everything we can, and the government has outlined a very clear program about what we must do to keep people safe,” said Agri-Trade show manager David Fiddler. “People have learned to adapt and do business. A trip to Agri-Trade is no different than a trip to the store — it’s a shopping experience. We encourage people to come out and enjoy the show.”

Westerner Park will require proof of vaccination or a recent test for all events, including Agri-Trade and the Canadian Finals Rodeo, the Red Deer organization said.

Both Agri-Trade and Farmfair begin on Nov. 10, so visitors will have to have had their second vaccination two weeks before then while a negative test must “have been obtained within 72 hours,” Agri-Trade’s website states.

“Agri-Trade is working on providing rapid testing on site and will provide updated information once confirmed with details,” it added.

Farmfair said “negative COVID-19 test results will be valid for 72 hours from the time the test was administered.” They must be “privately paid PCR or rapid tests” and not from Alberta Health Services or its subsidiary, Alberta Precision Laboratories.

Proof of vaccination is required for organizations and businesses that are eligible for — and decide to opt into — the province’s Restrictions Exemption Program. Otherwise, they are limited to one-third fire code capacity and people would have to attend as households, keeping two metres away from other households.

Masking will be mandatory save for those under the age of two or for medical reasons. But if it’s the latter,”you must provide a medical exemption letter from an authorized health professional to be exempt from mask wearing,” Farmfair’s website states.

– With files from contributor Jill Burkhardt

The post Vaccination or test needed for Agri-Trade and Farmfair appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

“The FarmTech Foundation looks forward to when we can safely reconvene for… Canada’s premier crop production and farm management conference,” said a statement from the foundation, which is comprised of the provincial wheat, barley, canola and pulse commissions along with the Alberta Seed Growers Association.

However, Agri-Trade Equipment Expo is going ahead in Red Deer on Nov. 11-13.

That organization is “developing a comprehensive COVID-19 operational plan that will exceed Alberta Health Services guidelines,” it said. That will include “revamped floor plans (that) allow for social distancing.”

For more, go to agri-trade.com.

The post FarmTech cancelled, Agri-Trade still a go appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

“We’ve trimmed our spending this year by nine per cent by going through every program that we’ve had within the ministry to find efficiencies,” Devin Dreeshen said in a breakfast speech at Agri-Trade.

“That’s what we’ve been tasked to do — run government like a business. And that’s what we’re committed to do for the next 3-1/2 years of our term.”

The United Conservative Party government will cut overall spending by $1.3 billion — 2.8 per cent — over four years. But the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry will see its budget reduced by 15 per cent over that four-year period as spending falls to $822 million by 2022-23 from the current $967 million.

But Dreeshen played down the impact of such deep cuts, saying a department-wide effort to reduce costs produced tens of millions in savings.

“Governments being governments, there are always efficiencies to find, especially after the last four years where there was a lot of spending and there wasn’t a focus on red tape reduction or running the department like a business,” he said.

“Of the nine per cent cuts that we’re doing this year, it’s mostly just finding efficiencies — if we were to run it like a business, could we get the same outcome but with less spending?

“It took us a long time to find those efficiencies, but I was happy to work with the team and the department to be able to find those efficiencies.”

The department’s head count will fall by 51 positions, with current vacancies going unfilled and the possibility of further staffing reductions in the years ahead, he said.

‘Live within our means’

The spending reduction wasn’t unexpected, said Tom Steve, general manager of Alberta Wheat and Barley.

“It’s not something that we celebrate, but we understand the reasons behind it,” he said.

“Any time you have a government that signals that they’re going into a period of restraint, you’re going to expect some adjustments — a reset, if you will — in the provincial budget across all departments and across all ministries. Agriculture is no different.

“Overall, there was nothing that was really a tremendous surprise.”

Alberta Canola chair John Guelly said his organization appreciates that the government has been working with farm groups, and farmers themselves, to determine priorities.

“Budget cuts are never an easy thing to take, but we have to live within our means,” said Guelly, who farms near Westlock.

“The minister has been great as far as getting together and collaborating before a lot of these decisions are made. So generally speaking, I think things are going as well as can be expected.”

Steve agrees.

“We would be more concerned if there were significant program cuts but really, the core areas of programming in the Agriculture Ministry are related to business risk management programs,” he said. “We don’t see any real change in those, so that’s encouraging to us.”

Program investments

The focus was on funding the right things at the right levels, said Dreeshen.

“We are trying to live within our means,” he told producers at Agri-Trade. “But we’re also funding in very important ways.

“Whether it’s farmer safety nets, whether it’s research, whether it’s irrigation districts or ag societies, we want to make sure that government is actually funding important priorities for our agriculture communities.”

The budget allocates $19.5 million to areas such as the Rural Gas and Electric programs, the Remote Area Heating Allowance, and the Agricultural Society Grant program, as well as youth development programs like 4-H.

There was good news for ag societies, which will have their $11.5 million a year in funding maintained over the next four years.

“That predictability will be locked in for ag societies,” said Dreeshen. “It just shows the importance the government has for ag societies across the province.”

The province will also put $14 million this year into the Irrigation Rehabilitation Program, a cost-shared initiative that helps Alberta’s 13 irrigation districts improve infrastructure and management techniques. Another $10 million will be allocated next year and then $12 million in each of the two following years, for a total of $48 million.

“I think there are lots of key rural infrastructure investments that we’re making, especially in agriculture and forestry,” said Dreeshen.

Trickle-down costs

But some of the other cuts in the provincial budget could have a ripple effect on farmers and other rural Albertans.

The $1.3 billion in savings the government is targeting over the next four years include cuts to education, health care, social programs, and infrastructure — and those cuts won’t be exclusive to urban centres.

That means some rural Albertans could face higher municipal taxes, higher school fees, longer wait times at rural hospitals, and other trickle-down effects from the provincial cost cutting.

“Margins are tight, markets are uncertain, and our prices are lower, so we certainly don’t need our inputs to increase any more than they have already,” said Guelly, citing trade issues as an ongoing challenge.

“There aren’t a lot of farm dollars left when you start talking about these trade issues. All of this has the potential to add to that, so we really hope it’s minimized.”

And while the province scrapped Alberta’s carbon tax in the wake of the election — which Dreeshen called “the largest tax cut in provincial history,” — the $20-a-tonne federal carbon tax will come into effect in Alberta on Jan. 1. The government has also introduced a new tax on large industrial emitters, through the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program.

In some cases, those costs could get passed down to farmers, said Guelly, adding this approach is still preferable to the federal tax.

“Whenever you talk carbon tax, we all end up paying for it,” he said. “Farmers are always transporting stuff, and as soon as you talk transportation, you see nothing but carbon tax dollars going out. Whatever we can do to minimize that is certainly in the best interest of farmers.”

Dreeshen said he expects fiscal restraint by government will create a stronger Alberta economy — one with agriculture playing a central role.

“There are a lot of changes we have to make in the province to get our fiscal house in order,” he said. “At the end of the day, we got elected as a government to increase economic activity and jobs.

“When we see and hear all the negativity that’s happening in our energy sector, agriculture is a bright spot that we have here in the province of Alberta. We want to do everything possible to help our ag sector grow.”

The post Farm leaders say they understand the need for spending restraint appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.