Blog

Apr 26

Farmers are lacking PPE as they head into seeding the 2020 crop

Posted on Apr 26 By: Victoria Decker

Effective immediately the agriculture and food sector, as a recognized essential service, can submit PPE orders directly to the Logistics Section of Municipal Affairs’ Alberta Emergency Management Agency’s Provincial Operations Centre (AEMA-POC) for procurement on their behalf.  Agriculture and Food Sector Industry 3-Step Order Process: Prior to placing an order, review the Government of Alberta PPE Guideline document to ensure that

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Apr 25

Class 1 Testing, Training and Licensing

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

Motor vehicle documents that expire between March 17, 2020 through to May 15, 2020 are hereby extended, and remain subsisting and valid until midnight on May 15, 2020. This exemption applies to the following motor vehicle documents: Operator’s licences; Certificates of registration (including registrations obtained through International Registration Plan (IRP); Licence plates; Operating Authority Certificates;

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Apr 25

Market Impacts: Weather takes the driver seat on market pricing

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

As the season progresses, the primary driver for commodity markets is switching from concerns regarding COVID-19 to concerns regarding spring weather. USDA crop progress report for the week showed winter wheat crop good to excellent crop condition drop to 57% from 62% the previous week. Markets are watching spring precipitation in Europe, the Black Sea

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Apr 25

COVID-19 protocols allowing grain elevators and terminals to continue operations

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

Elevators remain operating under COVID-19 protocols and grain deliveries appear to be occurring with minimal delays. The WGEA reported that there have been 3 suspected COVID-19 situations to date. One case in Ontario and 2 in Vancouver. All cases have been handled according to guidelines and no significant closures of operations have been reported. 

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Apr 25

Transportation network continues to operate healthily

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

Rail The Agriculture Transport Coalition (ATC) reported that railways supplied 93% of hopper cars ordered by Canadian grain elevators in week 36, an increase over the 84% supplied last week. Order fulfillment in Alberta increased week over week, with CP remaining unchanged in week 36 at 98%, and CN increasing to 86% in week 36

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Apr 25

Application deadline for AgriStablity extended to July 3, 2020; Commissions remain in contact with AFSC to ensure expedited claims into upcoming seeding season

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

Continues to urge farmers to be in touch with their local offices with their plans for any unharvested acres. Have been implementing their expedited process for pre-harvest inspections and it is reportedly going smoothly. Roughly 50% of wildlife claims have been processed to date. AgriStability deadline has been extended to July 3, 2020.

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Apr 25

Child care, schooling and seeding – a difficult balance for essential farm workers

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

For many, the balance between field work during seeding and schooling and child care will be a difficult one to strike. The Government of Alberta has allowed essential workers to have access to child care services operating under specific terms and conditions. Select licenced child care centres have reopened as of April 23, 2020 with a limited

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Apr 25

Child care, schooling and seeding – a difficult balance for essential farm workers

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

For many, the balance between field work during seeding and schooling and child care will be a difficult one to strike. The Government of Alberta has allowed essential workers to have access to child care services operating under specific terms and conditions. Select licenced child care centres have reopened as of April 23, 2020 with a limited

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Apr 25

USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Announced

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

On April 19th the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that they would be rolling out $19 billion dollars of financial assistance for farmers impacted by additional costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement from USDA provided a high-level overview of the program, while further comments from Senator John Hoeven of the Senate

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Apr 25

Minister Dreeshen on AFSC Changes, Beef Set-aside and AgriRecovery

Posted on Apr 25 By: Victoria Decker

On his weekly call with Alberta farm groups on Friday April 24, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen discussed further changes at the Alberta Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). Minister Dreeshen announced that an interim CEO, Jerry Bouma, is in place and a search is underway for a new CEO. A week earlier, the minister

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