Several organizations that represent grain farmers from across Canada are raising concerns about the federal government’s push to add environmental incentives or criteria to business risk management (BRM) programs, such as crop insurance, AgriStability, or AgriInvest. As part of the negotiations for Canada’s next five-year agricultural policy framework, federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau is urging… Read More

Hosts Shaun Haney and Kelvin Heppner are back for another edition of RealAg Politics, where they discuss the latest in agricultural policy issues. This week we’re doing things a bit differently — instead of one segment, we’re having three, with three different topics and four guests! This week’s guests are : Tom Steve of the… Read More

Much of the oxygen surrounding agriculture in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been used on dairy, but expect wheat to gain increased attention in the coming weeks if some U.S. farm groups get their way. Newly reappointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has mentioned USMCA enforcement and wheat several times in recent speeches, and… Read More

The Alberta Crop Protection Guide — or as it’s more commonly known throughout the province, “The Blue Book” — will now be produced by Alberta Wheat Commission, Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola, and Alberta Pulse Growers, says Erin Tateson, communications manager for Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions in the Grain Exchange newsletter. The four major crop… Read More

Two wheat varieties that were going to be included in the new Seed Variety Use Agreement (SVUA) pilot program in Western Canada have been pulled from the seed royalty trial by SeCan, the company that owns the midge-tolerant varieties. Announced in February as a joint project between the Canadian Plant Technology Agency and Canadian Seed… Read More

Five Prairie wheat and barley groups have “significant concerns” surrounding the Seed Variety Use Agreement pilot project recently announced by the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) and the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA). The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), and the Alberta… Read More

The Alberta Barley Commission and Alberta Wheat Commission recently integrated their management teams, and now, for 2020, they’re looking for direction by members on whether amalgamating the board of directors should also happen. “That would be a combined Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission,” says Tom Steve, general manager of both the commissions. “I think it’s… Read More

Alberta’s Minister of Finance, Travis Toews, donned a pair of old cowboy boots before unveiling Alberta’s latest budget, saying that to him, the boots represent a part of Alberta’s heritage, and “speak to the practical and resilient character of Albertans.” The budget, intended to “end overspending and live within our means,” saw changes to many… Read More

As if this harvest wasn’t already frustrating enough, some farmers are left shaking their head as they leave the elevator. Recently, RealAgriculture’s inbox has been flooded with concerns about elevators checking wheat’s falling number on top of visual inspections for grading. General manager of the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, Tom Steve, says the organization… Read More

A university vice-president has removed herself from the post-secondary institution due to an advertisement that raised many eyebrows throughout Edmonton. As part of its Truth Matters campaign, the University of Alberta launched a wide range of ads that tackled everything from the effects of sexting in a relationship, storing solar energy, climate change, and more…. Read More

The integration between Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley has been extremely successful, says Tom Steve, executive director with the now one-year-old Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission. “We’ve realized cost savings of about $350,000 a year,” Steve says. “A lot is related to salaries for sure, but we have a stronger management team now that’s focussed… Read More

 

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