Cattle producers are pleased with the changes to the Livestock Tax Defferal program
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is pleased with the changes the federal government has made to the Livestock Tax Deferral (LTD) program.
Changes included adding a buffer zone to tthe LTD designated regions and RM's to ensure impacted producers will be eligible.
This year's program includes some areas in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with the majority of Alberta listed under the program.
Doug Roxburgh is a CCA director and vice-chair of Alberta Beef with a cow-calf operation at Rimbey.
APAS report shows farmers are getting less while consumers are paying more
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has released its 2024 Farmers and Food Prices Report.
The APAS report shows a concerning trend: farmers are receiving lower prices for their commodities, while consumers are paying more at the grocery store.
President Ian Boxall says the disparity between the farmer's portion and retail prices highlights a broken system that fails both producers and consumers.
LFCE Summer Field Day goes tomorrow at Clavet
Cattle producers from across the province have a chance to learn more about the work being done at the University of Saskatchewan's Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).
LFCE's annual summer field day runs tomorrow at Clavet, with registration running from 8 to 9 a.m., followed by a full day of activity.
Participants will have the opportunity to visit field plots and animal sites to see the latest in research activities, from forage development and grazing management to environmental sustainability, animal health, growth, and productivity.
2024 Livestock Tax Deferral regions and new buffer zone areas announced
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has announced an early list of Livestock Tax Deferral regions for 2024.
This year, the Government has streamlined the process to identify regions earlier in the growing season, and has included a new buffer zone adjacent to the designated regions to capture impacted producers that may be on the edge of affected areas.
This year, the majority of Alberta falls into either the designated or buffered designated regions.
A potential strike at Canada's borders has been averted
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) have reached tentative agreements with the Treasury Board and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
A media release from PSAC notes that the agreement, representing over 9000 CBSA members was reached after nine days of around-the-clock negotiations.
The new four-year agreement running until June 2026 includes a total compounded wage increase of 15.7 per cent, enhanced protections relative to technological changes, and better shift scheduling and leave provisions.
Cargill Case Ready workers union asks for secondary picketing at all Wal-Mart, Sobeys and Loblaw locations in Alberta
The numbers are in Cargill Case Ready workers (members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 401) have voted 100 per cent in favor of a strike.
The Calgary based plant produces counter ready meat from Cargill's beef plant at High River cutting, weighing and packaging it for retail.
Key issues in the negotiations focus around income security, overtime and a lack of guaranteed hours.
The union - UFCW Local 401 - has applied to the Provincial Government for secondary picketing at every Wal-Mart, Sobeys and Loblaws location in Alberta.
'Cattle associations urge Federal Government to pause capital gain changes'
The Canadian Cattle Association and Canadian Cattle Youth Council are concerned with Ottawa's plans to push through capital gains changes.
The proposed changes would see the lifetime capital gains exemption increase from $1 million to $1.25 million, while the capital gains tax, which is paid after that, change from 50 per cent to 67 per cent.
Canadian Cattle Youth Council President Scott Gerbrandt says they are concerned about the proposed increase and what it could mean for family farms.
Saskatchewan Marshals Service Update
The province originally announced plans for the Saskatchewan Marshals Service in November 2022, with legislation laying the foundation for the new police service being introduced on November 7, 2023.
Chief Marshal Rob Cameron was hired a few weeks later and comes to the job with an extensive career in law enforcement.
Following his retirement from the RCMP, he served as the province's executive director of policing and, in 2019, was appointed as the assistant deputy minister for policing and community safety services.
Cattle producers are running out of time to purchase calf insurance
Cattle producers across the Prairies still have time to purchase calf insurance under the Livestock Price Insurance program.
The program allows producers to manage their risk by providing protection against unexpected drops in prices over a defined period of time.
Saskatchewan's program coordinator, Jodie Griffin, says the calf price insurance deadline is Thursday, June 13th for producers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
She notes they've seen a lot of interest in the calf program and strong interest in the feeder program as well.
Canada is investing into the cattle industry's future
The cattle industry is taking a page out of science fiction with the government of Canada investing just over 1 and a half million dollars to help improve genetic evaluation tools for Canadian beef and dairy cattle. In a release,
"Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $1,627,270 to the Canadian Angus Association (CAA), through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, to help improve genetic evaluation tools for Canadian beef and dairy cattle."