Recently, there were two big funding announcements with major implications for Canadian wheat growers. Both had significant funding support from SaskWheat and the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC). Saskatchewan field editor Dale Leftwich sat down with Harvey Brooks, executive director for SaskWheat, to talk about the importance of research to farmer led commodity groups. Brooks spoke… Read more »
Tag: Alberta Wheat Commission
Alberta Wheat to launch “FarmCash” cash advance program
There’s new competition coming in the area of farm cash advance administration in Alberta. The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has announced it will be launching its own program called “FarmCash” to administer advances for Alberta farmers and ranchers through the federal government’s Advance Payments Program. Starting September 1, 2018, FarmCash will offer interest-free and low… Read more »
Japan resumes purchases of Canadian wheat
The Japanese government has ended its temporary suspension of Canadian wheat imports, just over a month after pausing purchases from Canada following the confirmation of a handful of unapproved genetically-modified wheat plants found growing in southern Alberta in 2017. The country’s ministry of agriculture issued tenders for 62,957 tonnes of food-quality wheat from Canada on… Read more »
Alberta farm groups voice opposition to honourary degree for David Suzuki
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 »
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 »