Cory Knutt

Updates are coming to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Official Grain Grading Guide this crop year, following consultation with sector stakeholders through the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee.

“The Canadian Grain Commission is working with stakeholders to implement evidence-based solutions that maximize returns for producers and help grow the Canadian grain industry,” Doug Chorney, Chief Commissioner.

These are the highlights of some of the upcoming changes.

Mildew standards for eastern and western red wheats

On Monday, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of up to $2.1 million for three organizations to support development opportunities for Canadian youth in agriculture.

"Canadian youth are the future of our sector. These three projects provide our next generation of farmers with opportunities to learn and develop their leadership skills. As they move toward their full potential, they are supporting the vitality of agriculture for future generations to come," said Bibeau.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank has released its five-year strategic plan.

Musu Taylor Lewis is director of resources and public engagement.

Canola seeding is still a couple of weeks away in most parts of the province.

Justine Cornelsen is agronomic and regulatory services manager with BrettYoung Seeds.

Assiniboine Community College and Roquette are collaborating to develop and deliver Chemical Engineering Technology Diploma and Food Science Diploma programs to domestic and international prospective students in Canada.

These are the first programs of their kind in Manitoba, with the Food Science Diploma being the first in the Prairies. The goal of these new programs is to ensure an adequate workforce for the evolving plant-protein processing and food and beverage manufacturing sectors.

Assiniboine Community College and Roquette are collaborating to develop and deliver Chemical Engineering Technology Diploma and Food Science Diploma programs to domestic and international prospective students in Canada.

These are the first programs of their kind in Manitoba, with the Food Science Diploma being the first in the Prairies. The goal of these new programs is to ensure an adequate workforce for the evolving plant-protein processing and food and beverage manufacturing sectors.

On Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to nearly $4.4 million, over two years, to support three industry organizations in their efforts to grow Canada’s grain exports.

“Canadian grain producers are a key link in global food security. Today’s investment will help industry organizations build new relationships in international markets so we can continue to feed a growing global population,” said Bibeau.

On Monday, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture met to discuss key areas of interest for Canada’s agriculture sector. The meeting was a precursor in the lead up to the Annual Conference in July.

Areas discussed included progress on the Next Agricultural Policy Framework (NPF), the successor to the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which expires on March 31, 2023. Ongoing exchanges will set the stage for the upcoming Multilateral Framework Agreement (MFA) signing, which will see the realization of the Guelph Statement.

Cleanfarms is encouraging farmers to return even more empty single use jugs than last year.

“And that is no easy challenge,” said Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen. “In 2021, Canadian farmers returned more than 6.2 million small empty containers, up 12.5% over the year before. Farmers are doing a great job which means we’re closing in on 80% of the containers in the marketplace. But we’re not stopping there. We’re going after 100%.”

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has some tips for farmers before they hit the road this spring with large machinery.

Rob Gobeil is an Agricultural Health and Safety Specialist.