Food and beverage funding
The federal and Ontario governments are investing $1.58 million in 27 projects in the food and beverage processing sector across southern Ontario.
The funding is expected to increase production for small businesses by replacing manual processing and quality assurance with automated and robotic visual inspection equipment.
Manitoba crop investments
Manitoba’s crop sector is expecting to see a $2.27 investment from the federal government.
This includes support to the Canadian Special Crops Association to promote Canada’s pulse and special crops.
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Going beyond “Resistant” on crop seed labels
Variety resistance is getting more specific on crop disease pathogens, but that information must be conveyed in a way that actually helps producers make rotation decisions.
Funding will help pay for marketing activities, such as farm tours, advocacy, market research, product promotion, education and events.
Federal funding will also help Cereals Canada develop new promotional material for their Keep it Clean campaign, as well as international market development such as new crop missions for wheat.
The federal and provincial governments are also investing more than $1.6 million of joint provincial-territorial funding for eight research projects.
Young entrepreneur loan
The Young Entrepreneur Loan is available for people younger than 40 who need financing for agricultural retail, manufacturing or food processing.
The funds can be used to buy or pay for improvements to an agricultural-related business or buying shares in an agriculture or agri-food related business. For more information, contact 855-230-6821.
Canola growers election
A new executive was recently elected for the Manitoba Canola Growers Association.
Chuck Fossay from Starbuck was re-elected president, Clayton Harder of Narol was re-elected vice-president, Brian Chorney from East Selkirk was re-elected secretary and Curtis McRae of St. Andrews was elected treasurer.
Brian Chorney will represent MCGA on the Canola Council of Canada board of directors. Clayton Harder and Jack Froese will represent MCGA on the Canadian Canola Growers Association board of directors and Chuck Fossay will represent MCGA on the Keystone Agricultural Producers board of directors.
Wildfire season begins
March 1 marks the beginning of wildfire season in Alberta and recent trends show the fires are starting earlier in the spring.
More than 60 percent of the wildfires last year were caused by human activity.
More than 1.5 million acres burned last year as a result of 1,338 wildfires, which included the Horse River wildfire that spread into Fort McMurray.
The new Forest and Prairie Protection Act increases penalties for abandoning campfires or burning during fire bans. It also improves the government’s ability to restrict higher risk activities, such as fireworks and incendiary targets during hazardous fire conditions.
Fire permits will be required for any burning, outside of campfires, in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta, which will allow firefighters time to address any winter burning before the spring.
Free fire permits can be obtained by calling 310-0000.
