Beef industry educates
An education program to build a unified and informed voice for the beef industry has been launched.
Beef Advocacy Canada is an online course to prepare people to talk about the industry as educators or media spokespeople.
Launched by Canada Beef Inc., the two step program teaches producers, industry and consumers more about meat production.
Participants must pass the first level with a grade of 80 percent before moving to the second part, which is more intense and provides information on all aspects of the industry, as well as hot button issues, said Annemarie Pederson of Canada Beef.
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The course comes in an audio or written version online.
The program has been in development since last year and has received funding from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency.
The website is www.beefadvocacy.ca and Twitter is @beefadvocacy.
2013 tax credit open to Alberta canola producers
Alberta canola growers qualify for a 2013 tax credit if they do not request a check-off refund from the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit allows growers to claim the tax credit for the portion of the checkoff that was used to fund eligible research.
The rate is 19.47 percent in Alberta.
For example, an individual grower who paid $100 in checkoffs to the commission last year is eligible to earn a credit of $19.47.
Producers need to file a T2038 (IND). Farm corporations must file form T2SCH31.
For more information, contact commission general manager Ward Toma at 800-551-6652.
Enhancing farm management
Farm Management Canada is receiving $4 million in federal funding over five years to help boost producers’ business skills and expand farm management capacity.
The funding will provide resources and tools through print and online channels and work with industry and provincial-territorial governments in farm business development information and resources.
Monsanto scholarships available
Students from farm families entering post-secondary education in agriculture or related fields are eligible for one of 65 $1,500 entrance scholarships.
The Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship Program is accepting applications for its 2014 program. The scholarship program has awarded more than $1 million to thousands of students during its 24 years. Students have until May 30 to complete an application, which includes an essay and reference letter.
For more information, call 800-667-4944 and online at www.monsanto.ca.
SOS signs introduced
Nature Saskatchewan has released its gate sign for the Stewards of Saskatchewan’s new banner program.
The new sign shows a leopard frog, monarch butterfly, ferruginous hawk, sprague’s pipit and long-billed curlew in a natural rural landscape.
Those with species at risk on their land can participate in the new program. Benefits include recognition through a gate sign, receiving a conservation tool kit, the annual SOS newsletter and species at risk calendar, an invitation to Conservation Awareness Day events and access to funding for species at risk habitat.
