Four Alberta crop commissions that collaborate under the “Team Alberta” banner are speaking out against the University of Alberta’s decision to grant an honourary degree to David Suzuki. The chairs of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, Alberta Wheat Commission, Alberta Pulse Growers, and Alberta Barley sent an open letter to U of A president Dr…. Read more »
Tag: Alberta Wheat Commission
Transport minister accepts Senate’s grain-related amendments to Bill C-49
The scoop: Transport Minister Marc Garneau has decided to accept the Senate’s main grain-related amendments to Bill C-49 — the government’s long-awaited transportation legislation. Farm groups are applauding the minister’s decision, while urging MPs and Senators to agree on the amendments and to pass the bill before the summer break. The story: Farm groups are… Read more »
New study to look at health outcomes of consuming grains-based foods
Producer groups from both eastern and western Canada are partnering on a research project with the University of Saskatchewan looking to provide information to consumers on consumption of foods made from both whole and enriched non-whole grains. Led by Hassan Vatanparast of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and School of Public Health,… Read more »
Five more CWRS varieties to be moved to new wheat class due to lower gluten strength
The Canadian Grain Commission has announced it is moving five more Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat varieties to the new Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR) wheat class due to these varieties not meeting gluten requirements for Western Canada’s flagship CWRS class. After hearing concerns about gluten strength from customers, the Grain Commission tightened the… Read more »
Alberta wheat and barley groups moving ahead under shared management
Having shared office space and administrative staff since 2013, the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley Commission are moving ahead under shared management. “This is a next logical step in our relationship,” explains Tom Steve, general manager of Alberta Wheat, and now, Alberta Barley. The move to shared management, which was announced at FarmTech in… Read more »
Canadian Wheat Research Coalition announces first executive
The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) announced today that it has elected its first executive. The inaugural executive is as follows: Chair: Terry Young, a farmer from Lacombe, Alberta, and director with the Alberta Wheat Commission. Vice-Chair: Laura Reiter, a farmer from Radisson, SK, and director with the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission. Secretary/Treasurer: Cale Jefferies,… Read more »
Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley announce trial management amalgamation
Alberta Barley this morning announced the appointment of Tom Steve as general manager, a role he will take on in addition to his current role as general manager of the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC). “Our board saw this as an excellent opportunity to leverage the strong working relationship we have with the Alberta Wheat Commission,”… Read more »
Wheat School: A new tool for assessing fusarium head blight risk
Fusarium, fusarium, fusarium. It’s certainly on many minds right now, with fungicide season underway and all too fresh memories of fusarium-infected grain from 2016 Since you can’t really scout for the disease, we have to use models, such as the brand new risk tool launched by the Alberta Wheat Commission and the Alberta Climate Information… Read more »
Alberta Wheat Commission launches consumer marketing campaign
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has launched a new consumer-focused marketing strategy, titled “Life’s Simple Ingredients.” The main goal of this project is to help consumers understand where their food comes from, and to shed a positive light on wheat so they can feel good about what they are eating. Victoria Russell, interim communications manager for… Read more »
New rail bill yet to be introduced
Update, May 12: A bill entitled “An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts” was added to the House of Commons notice paper on Friday, May 12, meaning it could be introduced as early as Tuesday, May 16. A spring… Read more »
Alberta Crop Commissions Meeting With Minister & AFSC on Unharvested Acres
Another late snowfall is making a tough situation worse, especially in central and northern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Much of Western Canada has received a fresh layer of snow in the last day or two, just as fields in some areas were starting to dry up after snow and rain during the Easter weekend…. Read more »
Poll: Do You Use Deferred Cash Tickets To Manage Taxes?
The federal government is proposing the elimination of deferred cash purchase tickets for grain sales — a tool used by farmers to manage cash flow for tax purposes from one year to the next. When delivering a listed grain (such as wheat, oats, barley, rye, flaxseed, or canola), producers have long had the option of asking… Read more »
Alberta Wheat Commission Announces Board Additions
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) welcomes new faces to its board of directors and regional representatives following a call for nominations in Regions 1 and 5 and three regional representatives. Joining the AWC board of directors in Region 1 is Jason Saunders, from Taber. Gary Stanford, from Magrath, will return to the AWC Board. In Region… Read more »
Growing Markets for CPS, Soft White Wheat — an Alberta Wheat Commission Update
The Alberta Wheat Commission was formally created on August 1st, 2012, the same day the Canadian Wheat Board was stripped of its single desk selling authority for wheat and barley in Western Canada. Since then, AWC has become heavily involved in funding wheat research and market development, as well as serving as a voice for… Read more »
Transportation Act Recommendations Seen as a Mix of Positives, Red Flags and Vague Wording
Back in the winter of 2013-14 when Western Canada’s grain industry was bogged down in a massive rail backlog, the upcoming review of the Canada Transportation Act was viewed as an opportunity to improve the way the rail system moves grain. The review process began in May of 2014 and the final report written by… Read more »