FarmCash advance available
Farmers across Western Canada can apply for a FarmCash advance of up to $1 million and receive the first $250,000 interest-free.
Last June, Agriculture Canada increased the interest-free portion from $100,000 to $250,000 for the 2022-23 program years.
FarmCash is also a cash flow management tool that increases farm purchasing power, acts as a bridge gap, and supports producers facing challenges during the production year, such as veterinary bills and unexpected weather.
FarmCash is available on more than 50 commodities. The interest-bearing portion of a FarmCash advance is subject to the lowest lending rate available across administrators of TD prime minus 0.75 percent.
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Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
Producers can apply online at FarmCashAdvance.com or by mail, fax or phone and receive their funds in three to five days following the start of the new program year in April.
Conservationists recognized
Ducks Unlimited Canada recently recognized farmers who are taking action to preserve natural habitat on their land.
As part of World Wetlands Day held earlier this month, the organization is providing $15.1 million in financial incentives and programming in the coming year, including average payments of $100,000 to landowners who commit to protecting wetlands.
Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to contact DUC or the conservation group of their choice to map out a plan to preserve and restore marshes and ponds.
A new guidebook detailing DUC conservation programs is available at ag.ducks.ca.
Accelerator program participants selected
Fifteen companies have been selected to participate in the Thrive Canada Accelerator program that is designed to improve sustainability, innovation, and technology.
The program helps connect Canadian entrepreneurs to a network of investors, mentors and corporations.
During the three-month program, companies will refine their go-to-market strategy, connect live with investors and mentors and build a foundation for scalable growth.
Companies were selected for their potential to disrupt traditional farming practices, promote industry sustainability and reduce environmental impact while giving farmers the tools to increase yields and productivity.
Participating companies are:
From Alberta — AgGene, AgriPlay Ventures, Annelida Organics, Canadian Rockies Hemp Corp., HempAlta, Knead Technologies, OneCup AI, Pure Life Carbon, Soilgenic.
Other companies are Earthli Plant Powered Superfoods of Nova Scotia, Growcer of Ontario, Highpoint Ag Bedding and Sentire of British Columbia, Nexus Robotics of Quebec and Picketa Systems of New Brunswick,
Smart Farm Network expands
Olds College of Agriculture and Technology announced that the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives Inc. has joined the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network.
Led by Olds College, the network of Smart Farms shares data and expertise to help farmers, industry, and developers better understand, use, and develop smart agricultural technologies.
The network was launched in 2021 and also includes Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm at Langham, Sask., Lakeland College at Vermilion, Alta., and University of Saskatchewan Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence located near Saskatoon.
