Issues & Updates

International Trade Agreements Affecting Barley

October 27, 2010 - WTO Doha round

The Canadian Agri-Trade Alliance (CAFTA) encourages the Canadian government to press for a resolution of the WTO Doha round trade negotiations in 2011.

click here for full document

July 8, 2010 - US Producers react with anger to Canadian-Columbia Free Trade Agreement

During the G-20 Summit in Toronto, President Obama announced his intention to set a November deadline for removing outstanding obstacles...

click here for full document

June 30, 2010 - Canada - Columbia Free Trade Agreement

Legislation to implement Canada's free trade agreement with Colombia has received Royal Assent...

click here for full document

May 14, 2010 - Canada - Panama Free Trade Agreement
Canada and Panama signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) along with parallel agreements on the environment and labour cooperation.

click here for full document

For more information on the Agreement, click here.

For more information on agriculture specific gains, click here.

Grain Growers of Canada

The Alberta Barley Commission is a member of the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC).  GGC is a national organization comprised of major grain, pulse and oilseed commodity groups from across the country.  GGC tackles a number of national policy development issues. For current GGC activities and initiatives, click here.

Bill C-474

Apr. 9, 2010 – Canadian Government response to ABC’s letter on Bill C-474

Thank you for your correspondence regarding Bill C-474.  Our Government has always said that farmers are best positioned to make decisions on what is best for their business and that is why industry must continue to work with producers to evaluate any new products…
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Apr. 7, 2010 – Letter on Bill C-474
The Alberta Barley Commission, representing over 17,000 successful farmers, is asking you to defeat Bill C-474 at second reading.  This legislation would put Canadian farmers at an economic disadvantage vis-à-vis our US and South American competitors going forward by discouraging future investment in research and innovation here in Canada…
click here for full document

Wetlands Protocol and Migratory Bird Issues

Incidental Take, Migratory Birds Update - May 2011

March 11, 2010 - This discussion document provides decision points regarding definitions and delineation of wetlands and wetland loss. The wetland is defined to include both the wetland basin and margin. The upland is the area contributing run-off to the wetland. And, wetland loss involves
degradation of the wetland and/or upland.

click here for the full document

March 11, 2010 - The discussion document provides discussion points pertaining to quantification of net GHG removals in conserved and restored wetlands. Canada’s National Inventory Report does not provide a method to complete this quantification, so the emphasis is on compilation and interpretation of scientific evidence relevant to the seasonal or semi-permanent wetlands on mineral soil of the Prairie Pothole Region.

click here for the full document

Leveraging Research Investments

June 23, 2009 - ACIDF response

Thank you for your letter of June 12th, and the request for funding to match the new tripartite agreement in support of FCDC...

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June 12, 2009 - Letter to the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund (ACIDF) requesting matching for investments at the Lacombe Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC).

click here for the full document  

Carbon Offsets

Jun. 11, 2008 - Minister Ritz's response

Thank you for your letter...

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May 1, 2008 – Letter on carbon offsets to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
On behalf of the Alberta Barley Commission (ABC), I would like to offer the following comments in response to the Federal Government’s Offset System announcements, released in March 2008...
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Crop Sector Environment Strategy

Feb. 5, 2008 – Response on wetland policy from Alberta Minister of Environment
Thank you for your e-mail dated January 17, 2008, and a copy of the letter, regarding the timing of the Alberta Water Council’s (AWC) Wetland Policy consultation process...
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Jan. 20, 2008 – Letter on “Focus on Healthy Living Discussions” to the Minister of Health from Canada Grains Council and Grain Growers of Canada
The Canada Grains Council and Grain Growers of Canada once again held a joint conference in Ottawa in November of 2007. A significant portion of the program was allocated to subject matter and speakers pertaining to regulatory modernization...
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Jan. 14, 2008 – Letter on wetland policy to Wetland Policy project team co-chair
Earlier this year, agricultural organizations across Alberta were invited to participate in the Alberta Water Council’s “wetlands policy consultation” by submitting workbooks and attending public consultation sessions. The results of these consultations...
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Regional Variety Trials

Feb. 25, 2009 - The Provincial Government announces that Agriculture and Rural Development staff will continue to work in partnership with the Agricultural Research and Extension Council and the private sector to ensure that RVT work continues...

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World Trade Organization

April 19-20, 2010 – Cairns Group Communiqué

A copy of the communiqué adopted today by the Cairns Group at the conclusion of the ministerial meeting in Uruguay. In particular, please note the reference in the communiqué to Canada’s offer to host the next ministerial meeting of the Cairns Group in 2011.
click here for full document

International Trade Agreements Affecting Barley

October 27, 2010 - WTO Doha round

The Canadian Agri-Trade Alliance (CAFTA) encourages the Canadian government to press for a resolution of the WTO Doha round trade negotiations in 2011.

click here for full document

July 8, 2010 - US Producers react with anger to Canadian-Columbia Free Trade Agreement

During the G-20 Summit in Toronto, President Obama announced his intention to set a November deadline for removing outstanding obstacles...

click here for full document

June 30, 2010 - Canada - Columbia Free Trade Agreement

Legislation to implement Canada's free trade agreement with Colombia has received Royal Assent...

click here for full document

May 14, 2010 - Canada - Panama Free Trade Agreement
Canada and Panama signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) along with parallel agreements on the environment and labour cooperation.

click here for full document

For more information on the Agreement, click here.

For more information on agrriculture specific gains, click here.

Barley Research Funding

November 1, 2010 - Farmers for Investment in Agriculture( FIA) letter to federal Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agrifood, to undertake a thorough study on research and innovation in our sector as your immediate priority.

click here for full document

Canadian Grain Commission

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is the federal regulator of Canada's grain handling industry. It is the official certifier of Canadian grain. CGC is also Canada's scientific research organization on grain quality. CGC certifies the quality, safety and weight of Canadian grain that is delivered to domestic and export markets,

For more information on CGC, please visit their website.

The following memorandum to the trade can be found on the CGC website.

• 2010-01: Fusarium tolerances
• 2010-02: Changes to the OGGG - August 1, 2010
• 2010-03: Excreta in grain - August 1, 2010
• 2010-04: Upcoming Variety
• 2010-05: Split Pea Grade Schedules - August 1, 2010
• 2010-06: Moisture shrinkage - August 1, 2010