Tag: RJ Sigurdson

The Alberta government is preparing to lift its suspension of the loan program offered by Canada’s largest cattle feeder association. Alberta Ag Minister RJ Sigurdson issued an order on January 27th, 2025, prohibiting the Picture Butte Feeder Co-op (PBFC) from issuing new loans under the Alberta government’s Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee program. The order was… Read More

The Alberta government has proposed updates to the current Agricultural Operations Practices Act through Bill 44. If implemented, the government says that it would reduce waste and allow farmers to supplement current fertilizer programs with organic materials. While biodigesters already operate within the province, the current regulations lack clarity on the management of organic material,… Read More

The Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame, now with a permanent installation at the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin, has inducted three new members, including Dr. Kee Jim. The Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame inducts up to three Albertans every two years. The 2024 inductees are being honoured for their advocacy, leadership and pioneering spirit in advancing… Read More

Bill C-293, the Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness Act, was proposed back in 2022 and reached the second reading stage in the Senate this week. As it has progressed through Parliament, the private member’s bill has been gaining more attention from producer groups and the general public on social media. The bill has garnered attention due… Read More

Agriculture ministers from seven out of ten provinces are calling on the federal government to immediately reverse changes to the capital gains tax that they say are hurting farmers and the agriculture sector. As of June 25, the annual capital gains inclusion rate – the taxable portion of a capital gain, such as the sale… Read More

Over the past 20 years, the number of young and middle-aged producers in agriculture has seen steep declines, while the number of farmers over 55 has increased. Alberta hopes to reverse that trend and it’s starting with changes to Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC)’s Next Generation Loan Program (Next Gen). Alberta is expanding eligibility and… Read More

The implementation of a grocery sector code of conduct, improvements to AgriRecovery, capital gains tax changes, and food security in Canada’s north were among the topics discussed by agriculture ministers from across Canada in Whitehorse this week. Ministers representing the federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments traveled to the Yukon capital for their annual FPT… Read More

The federal government, along with the provincial governments of Alberta, B.C., and Saskatchewan, have announced a total commitment of $365 million for AgriRecovery programs to help livestock producers affected by drought and wildfires this past summer. The awaited AgriRecovery funding, application details and timelines were announced on Friday, Oct 20. The total federal commitment to… Read More

Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) has announced a $833,000 investment into clubroot research. Together, RDAR, the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, and the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission awarded $1.25 million to Dr. Stephen Strelkov, professor of plant pathology at the University of Alberta, to lead an expert team in: breeding resistance into new crop varieties developing… Read More

The Alberta and federal governments have decided to reopen the 2023 AgriStability program to help producers affected by drought and wildfires since the original April 30 enrolment deadline. Farmers and ranchers can now sign up for AgriStability through Alberta’s Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) until September 29. “Our government has listened to farmers and ranchers… Read More