RRC News: The Round-Up November 24th

– The Canadian Western Agribition is wrapping up today for another year in Regina, with several announcements made during the week-long event.   The CWA will be collaborating with Farmfair next year to work together on  international marketing and promotional activities to attract international buyers to both shows.  CWA will take place on Nov.  11-16th, while Farmfair in Edmonton will take place on Nov.  3rd – 10th.

The CWA handed out its annual $1,000 dollar scholarships.  This year’s recipients are:

Chelsey Briere of Mankota, SK
Coll Fitzpatrick of Wood Mountain, SK
Callie Gibson of Fir Mountain, SK
Dakota Jackson of Sedley, SK
Megan Turton of Carnduff, SK
Amy Tweedie of Delisle, SK

The Canadian Western Agribition is joining the Cattlmen’s Young Leaders (CYL) as a future mentor  for the youth mentorship
program of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA).  The CWA is one of the first agriculture events to sign on to this newly launched category. (Future Mentors)

— The potash industry expected to push Saskatchewan past Alberta for fastest growing provincial economy as early as next year. The Conference Board of Canada says capital expenditures in Sask. are rising quickly and it should allow them to beat out Alberta in both 2013 and 2014.  Agriculture commodity prices played a huge role in Manitoba’s growth jumping 2.5 per cent in 2012, growth in that province is expected to be about 2 per cent for the next two years.

— Alberta Farm Animal Care has launched a new information leadership program.  AFAC Executive Director Lorna Baird tells Rural Roots Canada their program will keep producers connected.  Chairman Heini Hihli agrees saying this provide producers on the ground with the know how on the latest and greatest in animal care.  To sign up click here.

— Farmers who sold grain to Coaldale, Alberta based Newco Grain Ltd. have been compensated by the Canadian Grain Commission.   The Commission’s Payment Protection Program were able to get 95% of what they were owed from the company, which was licensed up until May 11th of this year.

— The Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association wants the Canadian Dairy Commission to do more to bring down the cost of dairy products.  The CRFA wants the commission to bring dairy prices to a more competitive level, while ensuring a fair return to producers and introduce a distinct class of cheese pricing for the restaurant industry, as has been done for other sectors.  The CRFA claims it can help sell more dairy products if the commission can work to lower the cost.  Canada’s restaurant industry purchases $2.5 billion a year in Canadian dairy products.

—   John Deere is keeping up with the times introducing a new mobile Farm Manager App this week.   The new app, which is compatible with the IPad and IPhone, is designed help producers access and manage information, maps and reports.  These include field maps, historical reports, GPS tracking, field navigation and soil sampling grids it will also connect to the customers’ Apex farm management software. The new app is a part of John Deere’s FarmSight strategy.

—  The Egg Farmers of Ontario have named  Jim & Joannette Van Hemert of Ingersoll as the winners of the 2012 New Entrant Quota Loan Pool program (NEQLP).