Funding supports communities
The federal government is giving $1.1 million to the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association as part of its new Local Investment Solutions initiative.
Village Wellth, a Calgary-based tech company, has also joined as a partner to provide technical support.
The funding will help communities work together to attract new investment and create businesses that meet the needs of local communities across Alberta and British Columbia.
The association’s initiatives provide technical support to co-operatives, and other local groups.
Using a shared services approach, groups can access a range of expertise including legal, accounting, business and investment consultants, with specific economic development and co-operative expertise at reduced cost.
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Saskatchewan amends farm land ownership regulations
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board can no longer own Saskatchewan farmland.
Feds fund beef exports
About $3.6 million in federal funding is intended to ensure the beef industry has the resources to seize new export opportunities.
The funding will help boost beef and veal exports globally through initiatives that build trust in the beef sector, which help producers become more competitive.
This project will also support training and e-learning activities at the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence, which will help increase knowledge around the advantages of Canadian beef and promote public trust in beef products.
In 2021, Canada exported 508 million kilograms of beef to international markets, valued at $4.47 billion.
BCCA elects directors
The British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association has completed election in Zones 2, 4, 6 and Vancouver Island.
The results for Zone 2 (central) are:
- directors — Alex Kulchar and Wilf Larsen
- environmental stewardship committee — Wayne Ray
- land stewardship committee — Jeff Taylor
- beef production and innovation committee — Brian Adams
- public affairs and education committee — Jennifer Roberts
The results for Zone 4 (Cariboo) are:
- directors — Ken Ilnicki and Cheryl Monical
- environmental stewardship committee — Ken Ilnicki
- land stewardship committee — Cheryl Monical
- beef production and innovation committee — Cordy Cox
- public affairs and education committee — Ricky Seelhof
The results for Zone 6 (Okanagan) are:
- directors — Werner Stump and Brian Thomas
- environmental stewardship committee — Brett Squair
- land stewardship committee — Doug Fossen
- beef production and innovation committee — Nick Bapty
- public affairs and education committee — Cassie Marchand
The results for Vancouver Island (ex-officio) are:
- director — Brad Chappell
- environmental stewardship committee — Graeme Fowler
- land stewardship committee — Graeme Fowler
- beef production and innovation committee — Patrick Whittaker
- public affairs and education committee — Mary-Jane Douglas
Influential women named
Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture announced this year’s recipients of its recognition program.
In its third year, the recognition program honours and highlights the work women do across the agriculture industry.
Karen Schuett, co-founder and chief executive officer of Livestock Water Recycling, was named to the program in 2020.
Schuett’s Calgary-based ag tech company has developed a manure treatment innovation of lagoon-free food.
Recipients include:
- Valerie Carney, lead, Poultry Innovation Partnership, Alberta
- Lisa Mumm, owner, Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds, Saskatchewan
- Mary Ruth McDonald, professor/research program director, University of Guelph, Ontario
- Christine Noronha, research scientist, Agriculture Canada, Prince Edward Island
- Lana Shaw, manager, Southeast Research Farm, Saskatchewan
- Karen Tanino, professor, University of Saskatchewan
- Heather Watson, executive director, Farm Management Canada, Ontario
- Karen Schuett , LWR co-founder and chief executive officer, Alberta
B.C. funds farmers markets
The British Columbia Farmers’ Market Expansion Program is reopening with an additional $142,500 available to eligible farmers markets that did not receive funding in the first round.
Each successful applicant can receive up to $15,000.
In its first round of funding, the program provided $475,000 to 57 B.C. farmers markets.
Program funding can be used for:
- signage and merchandising
- merchandising racks and display stands for promotional materials
- storage and transportation
- power and operations
The program is accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is fully allocated.
To apply, go to surveymonkey.com/r/fmexpansion.
AgriStability deadline extended
The AgriStability enrollment deadline for the 2022 program year has been extended to June 30.
It will enable the program to help more farmers manage the impact of challenges facing many operations.
For quicker support, farmers experiencing losses can apply for interim payments under AgriStability.
More information is at the AgriStability website.
