Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers remain concerned about federal emissions reduction targets and whether they’ll remain voluntary. Lots of producers are worried about Ottawa’s goal of reducing fertilizer-related greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, and that’s reflected in the “What We Heard” report recently issued by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, said Shannon Sereda, senior manager of government […] Read more
Farmers worried emissions targets will become mandatory
Ag minister vows they won’t but AgCanada survey finds producers remain ‘very concerned’
Government funds mental health
Reading Time: < 1 minute Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced $168,440 in funding for the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing during the inaugural National Symposium on Agricultural Mental Health in early March. The mission of this new not-for-profit organization is to lead research and roll out initiatives in collaboration with community organizations across the country to address […] Read more
Cash advance window for farmers now open
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers can now apply for cash advances for the 2023 growing season. Producers can get up to $1 million with the first $250,000 interest-free. The latter is worth more this year because interest rates are so much higher, note administrators of the Advance Payments Program. “With rising interest rates, the savings a farmer can realize […] Read more
Round 2 of climate grants opening
Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications for the second round of grants from the On Farm Climate Action Fund open today. RDAR, the agency delivering most of Alberta’s share of the $200-million federal program, has posted new resources on its website. They include an updated seven-page FAQ document that answers common questions on eligibility, applying, receiving funding, and general program […] Read more
Lethbridge College gets $2-million for ag research facility
Reading Time: < 1 minute Lethbridge College has been given $2-million by Ottawa to complete a new research facility and lab. The Agriculture Research Innovation Facility is housed in what was called the Farm Stewardship Centre when it was operated by the provincial agriculture ministry. It was acquired by the college in 2022. It will be home to seven research […] Read more
Round 2 of climate funding set to start
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers will again be able to apply for grants from the On-Farm Climate Action Fund. More than 700 applications were received from Alberta producers during the first round of funding last year by RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research), which is administering most of Alberta’s share of the $200 million federal program. Farms can get up […] Read more
Program targets worker shortage, promotes careers in ag
Reading Time: < 1 minute The province and Ottawa are giving $2.5 million to Ag for Life so the non-profit can promote ag careers and help companies with recruitment and worker retention. Best known for its classroom education program, Ag for Life will distribute two types of grants aimed at helping reduce a labour shortage in the ag and food […] Read more
Many farmers – but not all – are cashing in on interest-free loans
With the first $250,000 interest-free, producers can save big with a cash advance
Reading Time: 4 minutes There may not be such a thing as free cash, but an interest-free loan of up to a quarter-million dollars may be the closest thing to it. Administrators of the federal Advance Payments Program say they’ve seen a big jump in applications since the interest-free portion of the loan was increased to $250,000 (from $100,000 […] Read more
Take advantage of cash advances, says expert
Right now, producers can get a loan of up to $250,000 interest free
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers who aren’t getting cash advances to reduce their interest expenses should take another look at the federal program, says a provincial crops market analyst. The Advance Payments Program, as its formally called, has been expanded over the years and now covers a wider range of farming operations but “many producers do not take advantage […] Read more
Federal climate cash gets a welcome from producers here
Many farmers had rotational grazing, cover crops or nitrogen management on their to-do list
Reading Time: 3 minutes Federal climate cash is flowing out the door and being put to work on rotational grazing, cover cropping or nitrogen management projects on Alberta farms. “We’ve been out on a couple of farms to see projects and talk to people,” said Fiona Briody, program manager for RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research). “There are just really […] Read more
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