Ag Policy & Your Farm Webinar Series

FEBRUARY 23 at 11:00am - CCGA: Your Policy Team Behind the Scenes

Impactful policy development and government advocacy often take months and years and include many moving pieces. Join members of Canadian Canola Growers Association’s policy development team for an update on CCGA’s seven key policy areas. Put faces and names to the experts that work on important policy files that directly impact your farm, like environmental policies, trade, railway performance, business risk management, and more.

This webinar series is brought to you in partnership with the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Alberta Canola, SaskCanola, and Manitoba Canola Growers Association.

Neil Blue: Canola Price Seasonality

Seasonal price patterns are one factor to consider when developing a marketing plan and analyzing a market.

“Many factors influence commodity prices,” says Neil Blue, provincial crops market analyst with the Alberta government. “The main price determining factors for most commodities are supply and demand.”

Factors affecting the availability of crop or of a competing crop in the largest production areas together with demand for those crops have the greatest influence on a crop’s price.

Multiple Resistant Kochia Continues to Spread in Alberta

Kochia with resistance to glyphosate was found at 78% of sites sampled, with 44% of sites exhibiting fluroxypyr resistance, and 28% with dicamba resistance. Triple resistance to Group 2 ALS inhibitors, Group 9 glyphosate, and one of the Group 4 synthetic auxins was found at 45% of the sites.

Kochia was found to be the most abundant weed species in the Mixed Grassland ecoregion of Alberta in a weed survey conducted in 2017. An even greater challenge has been the development of not only herbicide resistance, but multiple herbicide resistance in kochia on the Prairies.

Farm Financial Fluency Course - Space is Limited

The Farm Financial Fluency Training Program will be delivered by Farm Management Canada and MNP and take place over three sessions,

• March 7 from 9-11am MST
• March 8 from 9-11am MST
• March 9 from 9-11am MST

Your registration applies to all three sessions.

Through the Farm Financial Fluency training program, you will learn:

• Why financial reporting is important and to whom
• Key differences between types of financial reporting and who uses what
• Different farm business structures and their impact on financial reporting
• How to interpret your financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow)
• Financial ratios and how to use ratios to analyze risk
• How to spot potential financial issues and opportunities
• Tools and resources available to manage financial risk

This program is sponsored by Alberta Canola, SaskCanola and the Manitoba Canola Growers.

The 2023 BlueBook is available for pre-order 

Four of Alberta’s crop commissions – Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola, Alberta Pulse Growers, and the Alberta Wheat Commission – have launched the 2023 advance ordering system for Alberta’s Crop Protection Guide, otherwise known as the Blue Book. 

Alberta farmers, agronomists, and agriculture retailers can get ahead of the busy growing season by placing their 2023 Blue Book orders at albertabluebook.com with shipping at the beginning of March.

Tax Credit for the 2022 Tax Year Available to Canola Farmers in Alberta 

Canola growers in Alberta that do not request a refund of their check off from the Alberta Canola Producers Commission qualify for a tax credit for the 2022 tax year. 

The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit allows canola growers to claim the tax credit for that portion of the check off paid that was used to fund qualifying research. 

“The tax credit is an additional benefit for growers who contribute check-off on canola”, says Alan Hampton a farmer from Rowley, Alberta and the Chair of Alberta Canola’s research committee. “Farmers are funding research looking for ways to better grow canola. This includes research into agronomic issues such as blackleg and clubroot disease management, and the monitoring of insect pests for susceptibility and resistance to insecticides. The SR&ED tax credit allows farmers to capture some of that investment back at tax time.” 

The tax credit rate for canola producers in Alberta for 2022 is 20.93 percent.  

For example, for an individual grower that paid $1000.00 in check off to the Alberta Canola in 2022, $209.30 is eligible to earn the tax credit. 

Coming Events in February & March

Ag Policy & Your Farm – CCGA: Your Policy Team Behind the Scenes
Thursday, February 23 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Online, Webinar

Join members of Canadian Canola Growers Association’s policy development team for an update on CCGA’s seven key policy areas. Put faces and names to the experts that work on important policy files that directly impact your farm, like environmental policies, trade, railway performance, business risk management, and more.

Bridging the Gap – Farm Transition Workshop
Monday, February 27 @ 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Lethbridge, Alberta
This Farm Management Canada workshop is uniquely designed to engage multiple generations working together on the family farm in meaningful discussions to better understand each others’ concerns and considerations for the future of the farm. Farms of all sizes & commodities are welcome.

Understanding Hedging Grains
Monday, February 27 - Tuesday, February 28
Lethbridge, Alberta

Led by experienced instructors Jonathan Driedger, Leftfield Commodity Research, David Derwin, PI Financial, and Neil Blue, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, this two-day course will increase your confidence in navigating the world of hedging grains.

Farm Financial Fluency Training Program
Tuesday, March 7 - Thursday, March 9
Online, Webinar

Alberta Canola, SaskCanola and Manitoba Canola Growers, in partnership with Farm Management Canada, are pleased to offer registered canola growers the opportunity to sign up for a Farm Financial Fluency training program. Space is limited.

Virtual FCC Women Entrepreneurs Summit
Wednesday, March 8 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Online, Webinar
Join us for the FCC Women Entrepreneurs Summit virtual event – free for anyone involved in agriculture and food. Gain insights and strategies to build wealth with guest speaker Pattie Lovett-Reid.

Ag Policy & Your Farm – Biofuels in Canada, A Generational Shift on the Horizon
Tuesday, March 14 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Online, Webinar

Join Steve Pratte, Canadian Canola Growers Association’s Senior Manager, Transportation and Biofuel Policy, as he examines Canada’s recent Clean Fuel Regulations and uncovers what impact it will have on all parts of the biofuel supply chain, from farmers to renewable fuel producers.

FCC – Review, revisit, repeat: Keeping your farm transition plan alive
Tuesday, March 14 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Online, Webinar

Join FCC from July 2022 to March 2023 for a series of 9 virtual monthly events focused on different aspects of the farm transition process hosted by FCC Business Advisors and transition experts.

FCC Farmland Values Report
Wednesday, March 15 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Online, Webinar

The FCC Farmland Values Report is being released on March 13. It looks at Canada’s regional land value trends in price per acre. Join J.P. Gervais, FCC Chief Economist, for an overview of the report’s key findings, followed by a Q&A. 


Ag Policy & Your Farm – Your Voice in Ottawa
Thursday, March 16 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Online, Webinar

Join Dave Carey, CCGA’s Vice President of Government & Industry Relations, and hear how influencing ag policy requires more strategy and collaboration than ever before. Recognized as one of the most active lobby organizations, learn how CCGA brings your voice to the forefront of ag policy in Ottawa.

2023 Pesticide Applicator Workshop
Thursday, March 23 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Online, Webinar

Your virtual opportunity to get CCA credits from the comfort of your home returns, March 23! Join Farming Smarter for a full day of engaging and educating topics that will help you prepare your farm for the 2023 season!