Reading Time: 3 minutes The current state of Canada’s barley industry is grim. “Barley’s piece of the pie is shrinking,” said Shannon Sereda, manager of market development and policy for Alberta Barley. “It’s no longer in a dominant position like it once was in Western Canada.” Barley acres across the Prairies have been in a long-term decline, Sereda said […] Read more
Bold new plan aims to generate some new love for barley
New action plan targets seven million barley acres and yields of 95 bushels per acre by 2028
Checkoff tax credits available for farmers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley advises farmers that 17 per cent of their 2017 checkoff payment is eligible for the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit. Farmers must include Form T661 with their tax return along with either Form T2SCH31 (incorporated businesses) or Form T2038 (individuals). Farmers can learn more about the SR&ED program by visiting […] Read more
Wheat and barley groups merge management
The two organizations will have their own boards but are slimming down their administration costs
Reading Time: 2 minutes The trial went well, so the boards of Alberta Barley and the Alberta Wheat Commission have decided to permanently merge the management ranks of the organizations. “The ultimate goal of this exercise is to provide more value to you as producers,” Tom Steve told attendees at Alberta Wheat’s AGM at FarmTech. “We will continue to […] Read more
Jason Lenz continues as Alberta Barley chair
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley’s board of directors has re-elected Jason Lenz as chair and Dave Bishop as vice-chair. Lenz has been with Alberta Barley since becoming a delegate in 2009 and farms 2,500 acres of canola, wheat, barley, and fababeans near Bentley and also has a small cow-calf herd. Bishop, who farms near Barons, has been a […] Read more
Alberta wheat, barley groups test merged management
Already sharing an office and support staff, the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley are taking the next step by sharing a manager. The two grower commissions announced Wednesday that the AWC’s general manager Tom Steve will now serve also as Alberta Barley’s general manager, replacing Rob Davies. With Steve on board, the two commissions’ […] Read more
Have your say on new national food policy
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta farmers are being urged to participate in online consultations on the federal government’s new national food policy. “We are pleased to see the federal government engaging with stakeholders across the food industry,” said Jason Lenz, Alberta Barley chair. “The input of farmers in particular will add perspective to this complex policy objective.” Ottawa is […] Read more
Get the lowdown on grain grading
Workshop in Olds on July 27
Reading Time: < 1 minute [UPDATED: July 24, 2017]*: The Making the Grade workshop will be held at Olds College on July 27. Producers will participate in hands-on grading workshops for barley, canola, wheat, and pulses. Speakers from the Canadian Grains Commission, Cigi, and the Canola Council of Canada will guide participants through the details of grading parameters and practices. As […] Read more
Prairie wheat, barley commissions’ single checkoffs set
The post-deregulation era of Prairie grain research and market development funding is cleared to begin, as the three Prairie provinces’ wheat and barley commissions have set new single checkoffs on Prairie wheat and barley, all starting Aug. 1. The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) on Wednesday announced that when the Western Canadian Deduction […] Read more
Crop commissions launch new mentorship program
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley are launching a mentorship program to develop future leaders in the industry. The AdvancingAg Future Leaders Program, which held a “meet-and-greet” earlier this month in Red Deer, pairs selected mentees with an agricultural industry leader who will share their knowledge and expertise based on similar interests and career goals over […] Read more
Grain commission proposes 24 per cent cut to major user fees
But Alberta Barley wants fees eliminated for a year while Alberta Wheat wants better testing at elevators
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission will cut its two major user fees Aug. 1 — but an Alberta farm group says it needs to do more to whittle down a massive surplus accumulated over the last three years. If implemented, the combined fees for officially inspecting and weighing ships exporting Canadian grain will drop by 44 […] Read more
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