Reading Time: 2 minutes The provincial government has launched a mobile-friendly tool that will allow cereal producers to measure their fusarium head blight risk. “Fusarium became a huge issue in Alberta last year,” said Brian Kennedy, grower relations and extension co-ordinator at Alberta Wheat Commission, which also worked on the tool. “It’s been sneaking up on the province for […] Read more
Fusarium risk map launched in Alberta
Available on weatherdata.ca, the information is a tool to help producers decide whether fungicide is needed
Looking to earn bragging rights as the best wheat grower?
Applications must be submitted by July 1
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat Commission is holding a fun contest to find the “most productive wheat grower” in the province. There are separate categories for dryland and irrigated farms, and entrants must grow a registered class/variety that falls under the Canadian Grain Commission western standards (CWRS, CWHWS, CWAD, CWRW, CWSWS, CWES, CPSW, CPSR, CNHR, or CWSP). The […] Read more
Ottawa still considering eliminating deferred grain cash tickets
Alberta crop commissions say federal finance officials don’t understand the serious impact of eliminating the tax break
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa is extending the public consultations on the “potential elimination” of deferred grain cash tickets by two months. But Alberta farm leaders say federal finance officials have “little understanding” of the importance of the income tax break and “the far-reaching implications if farmers were to lose access to this tool.” “We believe that the government […] Read more
Spreading the word about wheat
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Wheat Commission has launched its first consumer marketing campaign: ‘Life’s Simple Ingredient.’ “Our campaign is designed to make people feel good about eating wheat,” said general manager Tom Steve. The campaign aims to persuade Alberta’s urban public that the consumption of wheat is an essential component in nourishing their families. It features nutritionists, […] 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
Alberta farm groups want provincial action on unharvested crops
A coalition of Alberta farm groups calling itself “Team Alberta” is meeting with the province’s agriculture minister and representatives from the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) on Wednesday seeking immediate action regarding approximately one million unharvested acres still sitting in farmers’ fields. They are recommending that farmers in the hardest hit areas of Alberta be […] Read more
Alberta Wheat fighting to keep tax deferral
Ottawa is missing the point when it says grain farmers shouldn’t get a special tax break, says Alberta Wheat chair Kevin Auch
Reading Time: 3 minutes A tax break for grain farmers that Ottawa is considering taking away is deserved and benefits the entire grain sector, says the chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission. “I guess we are asking for special tax treatment but it’s because of our special circumstances,” said Kevin Auch. Following its recent budget, the federal government said […] Read more
The Big Wreck: One million unharvested acres
The financial hit will be huge and getting rid of those damaged crops could delay seeding and put this year’s crop at risk
Reading Time: 4 minutes [Updated: March 20, 2017] Ed Tollefson is worried he won’t be able to get 700 acres of snow-buried crop off his field before seeding this year. And the Valleyview-area farmer is not alone. Alberta producers have reported 967,569 unharvested acres to Agricultural Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) — a massive area that would have cost those […] Read more
Cereal commissions launch mentorship program
Registration deadline for AdvancingAg Future Leaders is March 13
Reading Time: < 1 minute The province’s two main cereal groups are launching their version of a mentorship program that has already been a proven success in the beef sector. “The AdvancingAg Future Leaders program is about fostering a strong network of future agriculture leaders for a progressive and vibrant cropping industry in Alberta,” Kevin Bender, vice-chair of the Alberta […] Read more
Wheat checkoff to drop in August 2017
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat Commission is lowering the wheat levy by nine cents per tonne as part of a move to a single wheat checkoff. If approved by the province, the combined checkoff will drop to $1.09 in August. The single checkoff will combine the wheat commission’s current levy with the Western Canadian Deduction, which will end […] Read more
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