Back forty newsletter december 2016 web

SARDA

Back FortY Mission: To Facilitate the

transfer of unbiased ideas and information between research institutions, industry and agriuclutur al producers.

YEAR END ISSUE

December 2016

Celebrating 30 Years

by Shelleen Gerbig, P.Ag., Extension Coordinator

A

s SARDA’s logo has evolved and been refined, so has the organization. On April 29, 1986, SARDA was incorporated as a non-profit group directed by agricultural producers in the Municipal District of Smoky

River. Their goal was to field test new technologies and practices, speed up the flow of ideas between industry, research and farmers through demonstrations, displays, seminars and workshops. This goal remains front and foremost

IN THIS ISSUE Celbrating 30 Years Direcotors Wanted Regional Variety Testing Trials 2016 Upcoming Events Changes to mildew visual guides, standards Northern Sunrise County Vegetation Control Program National Environmental Farm Plan Steering Committee Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Safety Training Feeting the Cash Crunch Agricultural Trade Show

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DECEMBER, 2016 In 1994, the MD of Big Lakes ASB and the Big Meadows Soil Conservation Group joined and SARDA became responsible for the administration of the Environmental Programs in the MD of Big Lakes , the Big Meadows Soil Conservation Group area and the MD

in all SARDA endeavors even today.

The first general annual meeting of the Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association was held February 12th, 1986 at the Falher Arena Hall . Approximately 40 members attended the meeting and were updated on SARDA activities, the financial situation, and the operation.

The First Board included Paul Germain, Lucien Houle, Marcel Cloutier, Gaston Mencke, Andre Berube, Andre Gauthier, Gabe Turcotte, Marcel Lussier, Henri Paul Blanchette, Leo Nolette and Victor Begin. Marven Nakanechny (local DA), Rosemary Biggs (Regional Trade and Tourism), an ASB Representative and Betty Alexandre (Agricultural Fieldman) were recognized as advisors to the Board.

Rene Labbe was hired in March 1987 as the first manager.

SARDA. The Board structure was updated to ensure the four municipalities had representation on the Board in addition to the nine producers that complete the full Board compliment. Of the nine producer members SARDA strives to have at least one producer from each municipality sit on the Board. This structure is still current today.

Our Municipal support continues to grow. The County of Grande Prairie producers have been receiving the Back Forty newsletters since April 2012 in exchange for financial support to produce, print and distribute the newsletters. In 2016, the County increased its level of financial support.

of Smoky River.

Northern Sunrise County, previously known as the MD 131, also joined in 1994, formalizing the municipal cooperation.

In 2006, the MD of Greenview joined

SARDA’s contribution to the community has been immeasurable. Over the 30 years, SARDA has accomplished over 1200 trial years and field tested more than 4000 varieties of crop throughout the south Peace Region. Variety trials have always been included in

DECEMBER, 2016 SARDA’s list of yearly projects.

Other projects have included many notable trials, which have influenced the agricultural practices of local producers.

Soil Rippers, chain dikers, tillage trials, no-till drill trials, chem-fallow practices, fertility trials, long term crop rotation trials, manure injection trials, wood ash trials, triploid grass carp, dugout water quality demonstrations, advanced agronomy, faba beans, industrial hemp, silver carp, new product trials, pest monitoring, pesticide application trials, hail and water quality testing are included in SARDA’s illustrious list of trials.

Page 3 great dedication and willingness to attend training sessions and share experiences with other producers and research associations. In addition, industry, commissions, provincial

During the years, SARDA has been blessed with strong support from the government and fellow researchers, prairie-wide, have shown strong support by contributing funding, supplying contract work and collaborating farming community through Board Members/Directors, and a stable employee contingent.

During the 30 years, there has only been 5 managers and staff has stayed in SARDA’s employment for an average of 5 years. SARDA has been able to hire and maintain highly qualified and experienced staff.

Staff and board have shown

on different research trials.

Since 1988, SARDA has been the driving force

behind the Smoky River Agricultural Trade Show.

This trade show has become one of the premier events in the Peace Region, drawing in agriculture exhibitors from Canada wide, bringing in almost 5000 participants and visitors during the three day show. It provides a much needed opportunity for producers to view new products, talk to industry professionals and brings a tremendous boost to the local economy.

Extension has always been important in SARDA’s programs. SARDA has hosted many speakers and experts to help producers get the information they need to make

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In conjunction with the website, everyone is encouraged to join our email

informed decisions on their farms. Extension events have included tours, barbeques, cropwalks, field schools, workshops and seminars.

In addition, SARDA has a long history of publishing its research, newsletters and articles of interest.

In May 2013, SARDA launched its own webpage, www.sarda. ca. The website allows SARDA to publish interesting articles, reports, SARDA publications, upcoming events, information about SARDA, its staff and links to other organizations and sources of information. The information is readily available to anyone who visits the site. It is continually evolving to better meet the needs of producers.

notification service managed through Mail Chimp. SARDA staff send notifications of events, website postings, and articles of interest to subscribers which includes members, collaborators, partners, industry professionals, and producers Prairie wide.

SARDA ‘s Annual Report has been completed each year. It has evolved from a traditional business report including financials, chairman reports, and coordinator reports with a small portion devoted to research results, to a 150+ page document that is devoted almost entirely to SARDA

research results. These reports were initially available to the membership only but are now available online to everyone.

SARDA’s first newsletter, the Back Forty was published in 1991. Since then, SARDA has published 75 issues. Today, SARDA publishes 6 newsletter each year and sends out 5500 copies of each issue.

Congratulations to everyone that has been involved with SARDA and best wishes for many successes in the future.

More Information SARDA AG RESEARCH 780-837-2900

www.sarda.ca

DECEMBER, 2016

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Directors Wanted Audrey Gall, Chairman, SARDA

Wanted: Passionate Dedicated Entrepreneurial Agricultural Producers to be the voice for unbiased Agricultural research.

SARDA Ag Research is a Notfor-Profit organization which celebrated 30 years of service to Agricultural Producers in 2016. With the new year behind us, our focus is our up-coming Annual General meeting and Tradeshow.

Of the thirteen (13) Directors on the Board, nine (9) are agricultural producers and four (4) are representatives appointed by their respective municipal councils. Each year at the Annual General meeting (AGM) three directors are elected to the Board for a three year term. Supported by and operating in five Municipalities in the Peace Region, the Board is held accountable to the membership through its Policies.

In 2017 we will require four (4) agricultural producer Directors rather than three as a result of a vacancy in 2016. Our Board is strongest when our Directors originate from within each of the Municipalities we serve (MD Smoky River, Big Lakes County, Northern Sunrise County, MD of Greenview and County of Grande Prairie) but is still effective if we have

not achieved equilibrium distribution.

SARDA Ag Research has four committees, who, depending on their purpose, may meet up to 4 times per year and the full board meets approximately 4-5 times per year.

As members of the Board, Directors have four responsibilities: 1. to establish the guiding principles and policies for

the organization; 2. to delegate responsibility and authority to those who are responsible for enacting the principles and policies; 3. to monitor compliance with those guiding principles and policies; 4. to ensure that staff, and board alike are held accountable for their performance.

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Operating under the Policy Board Model requires a high level of attention to policies and guiding principles (vision and mission) as well as trust and confidence in the General Manager. On behalf of the ownership, the board has total authority over the organization and total accountability for the organization. The board relies on others to carry out the work, that is, to exercise most of the authority and to fulfill most of the accountability. This dependence on others requires the board to give careful attention to the principles of sound delegation.

The board speaks authoritatively through

official motions at a properly constituted meeting. Individual board member statements have no authority. The board speaks with one voice or not at all. The “one voice” principle makes it possible to know what the board has said, and what it has not said. “One voice” does not require unanimous votes but it does require all board members, even those who lost the vote, to respect the decision that was made. Board decisions can be changed by the board, but never by board members.

SARDA Ag Research is impactful to the economy of the municipalities we operate in: to any producer who accesses

our educational/financial information via direct staff contact or the internet, as well as the jobs and expenditures of SARDA itself.

If you are interested in becoming involved with a dynamic, visionary group of individuals whose primary focus is betterment of the local agricultural sector, please contact us through our website www.sarda.ca, by calling our manager, Vance Yaremko @ 780-837-2900, approaching any of the current Directors (listed on the website) or by contacting me personally at 780-322-3745.

Regional Variety Testing Trials 2016, Peace Region Nasima Junejo, SARDA

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egional testing of crop varieties was conducted to provide producers with information on the agronomic performance of varieties under two agro -climatic conditions of south Peace region. The trials were located at south of Donnelly (NE8-77-20-W5) and south east of Valley view (SE11-69-20-W5) The growing season of 2016 was wet as compared

precipitation in Smoky River (Ballater) and Greenview (Valleyview )as shown in Table 1.

Interpreting the results

GREENVIEW to normal and regional farmers experienced pest attack, lodging , harvesting losses etc. The weather data showed 126% and 169 % more rain than normal

Included with each graph are the yields from each variety and the 2 statistical parameters,

DONNELLY

DECEMBER, 2016 LSD and CV, of each trial to help with interpretation of the results. The LSD (Least Squares Difference) is a statistical measure to determine significant differences, in this case yield, between varieties.

For example, the canola yield results from Donnelly have LSD of 8.1 bu/ac. We can safely say that yield of 6074(63.74 bu/ac) is significantly greater than yield of 6080 (53.41 bu/ ac). The CV (Coefficient of Variation) indicates the degree of variation due to other factors.

Typically, data with CV’s higher than 15 should be used with great caution and between 10 and 15 with some caution as they may be influenced

Page 7 by external forces. Lower than 10 CV indicates that the results are more influenced by varieties difference. In tables of presented reports, red text and circles indicates check

variety.

Look for the full report at http:// www.sarda.ca/images/PDF/ rvt_report_2016.pdf

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DECEMBER, 2016

Event Name

Location

Time

Date

Cost

Comments

Hemp Growing

Centre Chevaliers, Falher

10:30 am—2:30 pm

December 9

FREE

RSVP Now Diane Chiasson 780-837-6630 Suzanne Prevost 780-573-4516

Hedging Edge Commodity Marketing Course

Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Nisku

9:30 am—9:00 pm 7:30 am—3:00 pm

December 14 & 15

$350

To Register Visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ hedging-edge-commodity-marketing-courseregistration-28363540112 For more information call Jen at 780-8356799 or visit www.peacecountrybeef.ca

2017 Study Tour National Western Stock Show

Denver, Colorado

TBA

Jan 10-17

Single—$3526 Twin—$2989

Transition Planning Workshops for Farm and Ranch Families

Holiday Inn & Suites 9816 107 Street Grande Prairie

9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Jan 19 Feb 16

$75 for both

To Register: Call Ag-Info Centre 1-800-3876030

Pricing Principles

Grande Prairie

9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Jan 31

$25

To Register: Call Ag-Info Centre 1-800-3876030

Farm Tech 2017

Expo Centre, Northlands, Edmonton

TBA

Jan 31Feb. 2

SARDA AGM and Extension Event

Falher

TBA

SARDA Ag Research Agricultural Trade Show

Falher

March 1618

Registration Opens November 1, 2016

FREE

Pre- Registration requested www.sarda.ca or phone 780-837-2900

FREE

For more information visit: www.sarda.ca/tradeshow-2017

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Changes to mildew visual guides, standards for western Canadian milling wheat October 7, 2016 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Canadian Grain Commission

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ildew guidelines will be adjusted in western Canadian milling wheat classes to allow for an increased presence of mildew in the visual guides and standards. These changes are effective immediately, to minimize the financial impact on producers and the grain industry. These changes will have no impact on the quality of products made from Canadian wheat.

Following a two-year study of the impact of mildew on the

intrinsic quality of wheat, the Canadian Grain Commission met with the Western Standard Committee’s wheat sub-committee on October 3, 2016. The wheat subcommittee recommended that mildew guides be adjusted immediately. New visual standards are currently being established to reflect increased mildew content in the wheat grades.

Quick facts These changes affect these

classes: Canada Western Red Spring, Canada Western Hard White Spring, Canada Western Amber Durum, Canada Western Red Winter, Canada Western Soft White Spring, Canada Western Extra Strong, Canada Prairie Spring White, Canada Prairie Spring Red, and Canada Northern Hard Red Mildew occurs in kernels that are affected by field fungi that develop under conditions of excessive moisture

DECEMBER, 2016

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Samples containing kernels affected by mildew are graded according to the degree of soundness definition in the Official Grain Grading Guide

- Jim Smolik, Acting Chief Commissioner, Canadian Grain Commission

The study included assessment of falling number, wheat and flour protein, milling yield and water noodle dough colour

Backgrounder: Study on mildew visual guides and standards for western Canadian milling wheat grades

Tests have shown that mildew primarily affects the appearance of wheat

Associated links

The effect of mildew on semolina was found to be negligible

Quotes “The Canadian Grain Commission recognizes the impact mildew has on the bottom line for wheat producers. This sciencebased change will put money directly back into the pockets of Canadian producers, while maintaining the quality of wheat classes.”

Related products

Primary grade determinants for wheat, Official Grain Grading Guide, chapter 4 Standard samples: a tool for grain grading

Canadian Grain Commission The Canadian Grain Commission is the federal agency responsible for establishing and maintaining Canada’s grain quality standards. Its programs result in shipments of grain that consistently meet contract specifications for quality, safety and quantity. The Canadian Grain Commission regulates the grain industry to protect producers’ rights and ensure the integrity of grain transactions.

Western Standards Committee

Contacts Randy Dennis Chief Grain Inspector for Canada Canadian Grain Commission 204-983-2780 randy.dennis@grainscanada. gc.ca

More Information Randy Dennis Chief Grain Inspector Canadian Grain Commission 204-983-2780 randy.dennis@grainscanada. gc.ca

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Northern Sunrise County Vegetation Control Program Sebastian Dutrisac, AF, Northern Sunrise County

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unicipal programs are services either required by the residents or by the Provincial government.

Like any services, rules and expectations are created to assure proper delivery the program. The conception of I.N.S.P.E.C.T. (Matrix) was based on a Yellowhead County weed notice key and Leduc County Clubroot inspection program. It was created through support of our County Agricultural Service Board (ASB) and Council when they were trying to establish transparency and clear expectations between the county and landowners across our municipality. Financial impact is considered at the ASB and Council level, hence why the certain Provincial Acts (i.e. WCA, Agricultural Pest Act and the Soil Conservation Act) are administered locally. The Agricultural Service Board Act (ASBA) and the Weed Control Act (WCA) are two acts that authorize weed management within municipal borders.

Authority under the ASBA Agricultural Service Board duties 2 The duties of an agricultural service board are (b) to advise on and to help organize and direct weed and pest control and soil and water conservation programs,

Boards established 3(4) A board has and must exercise on behalf of a council all the powers and perform all the duties that are conferred on it by the council, under this or any other enactment, with respect to agricultural matters.

Agreement 7(1) The Minister and a council or a number of councils may enter into an agreement

establishment and proliferation of Prohibited Noxious and Noxious Weeds on privately owned properties GOAL 1C: To prevent the establishment and proliferation of Prohibited Noxious and Noxious Weeds on Crown (public) Lands

Under the WCA Noxious weeds — control

(a) for assistance in soil and water conservation,

2 A person shall control a noxious weed that is on land the person owns or occupies.

(b) for control of weeds and pests,

Prohibited noxious weeds — destroy

(c) for the control of any livestock disease, and

3 A person shall destroy a prohibited noxious weed that is on land the person owns or occupies.

(d) to implement any other agricultural policies considered necessary

Goals as stated in Northern Sunrise County’s 3 year agreement with the Minister Goal Area 1: Delivery/support of the Weed Control Act (WCA).

GOAL 1A: To prevent the establishment and proliferation of Prohibited Noxious and Noxious Weeds on municipal properties and roadways.

GOAL 1B: To prevent the

Municipal inspectors 7(1) A local authority shall appoint inspectors to enforce and monitor compliance with this Act within the municipality.

Act binds Crown 31 The Crown is bound by this Act. Definition of Owner (l) “owner” means (i) in respect of land, subject to section 26, the person who is registered as an owner of the

DECEMBER, 2016 land under the Land Titles Act, or

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(C) has the right to exercise control over it;

and direct weed and pest control and soil and water conservation programs,” which means that the ASB and Council reviews yearly the results from the Strategic Business plan and grant agreement submitted to the Minister and adjust the program to attain the goals set by the ASB and sanctioned by Council and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF).

The Crown is bound by this act and therefore all ministries must also comply with it.

Regarding renters or tenants,

In the 2015 Program Audit and Field Visit from AAF, the report

(ii) in respect of personal property, the person who (A) is the legal owner of it, (B) has lawful possession of it, or

stated: “Impressed with the I.N.S.P.E.C.T. communications document. This is great system to make sure all procedures are followed for the Weed Control Program. This is great initiative that supports the Weed Control Act”. Not only is the Department supportive of this matrix, they are also promoting it. Similar Matrixes are now found in Cypress County and in draft forms in Athabasca as well as under review in Lamont County and multiple other municipalities. We encourage all landowners to contact their local municipality and familiarize themselves with their local weed program.

If you require assistance or have concerns or inquiries don’t be shy to ask, we are here to help.

More Information Sebastien Dutrisac, AF 780-322-3831 sdutrisac@northernsurise.net

the local authority doesn’t have access to private agreements and therefore do not have the ability to share information without proof of the agreement or prior acknowledgement from the landowner(s) under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Evolution of the Matrix Why does the Matrix change?

The ASB is mandated “to advise on and to help organize

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ARECA’s Paul Watson- Interim Chair of the National Environmental Farm Plan (NEFP) Steering Committee

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pon his arrival at ARECA in 2015, EFP Director Paul Watson began reaching out to his provincial counterparts to evaluate the possibility of the provinces working together to harmonize key environmental components of the EFP. In late spring of 2016, the Alberta Wheat Commission showed their support for this initiative. The outcome? The National EFP Summit in November.

and drafting a terms of reference for an NEFP.

The initial meeting in 2015 was intended for provincial delivery organizations; then industry such as McCain’s, Dairy Farmers of Canada, and Pulse Canada joined the conversation. Demand for a baseline national EFP was clear and Paul pursued this with the support of ARECA and the Government of Alberta.

Paul worked steadily behind the scenes developing consensus, bringing stakeholders together,

The NEFP Summit not only served to showcase the many unique features of Canada’s EFP, but provided an effective forum to gauge cross-commodity, full-value chain support for the move toward a national program.

Positive remarks offered by Pat Finnigan (MP Miramichi-Grand) and Jean-Claude Poissant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food) relayed the federal

There were many farmers at the Summit and their recognition and trust of EFP was evident. EFP was built by producers for producers; and farmers at the Summit supported the evolution of the program that has provided access to relevant extension and financial resources in the past.

government’s commitment to provide continued support for Canada’s EFP as it harmonizes nationally. In the future, this will enable farmers and ranchers to better meet sustainable sourcing requirements here in Canada, and around the world.

The closing discussion covered a variety of opportunities that will be explored by the NEFP Steering Committee. The item that received almost unanimous support was the creation of a national program that could address national standards with flexibility to address regional differences and accommodate both farmers and industry.

We invite you to contact Paul Watson at efp@areca.ab.ca, 708-224-0911 to talk about how this process will affect your farm.

Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Fact Sheet

The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is a free, confidential, and voluntary self-assessment tool that allows agricultural producers to evaluate their current farm practices. On

completion, each producer has an action plan to address areas of environmental risk.

Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) since 2013.

It began in 2003 and has been delivered by the Agricultural

Since 2009, just shy of 2,000,000 acres of Alberta

DECEMBER, 2016

Page 19 agricultural industry group to require its members to complete an EFP • Lakeland College was the first Alberta postsecondary institution to complete an EFP

Benefits agricultural land has been covered by an EFP

•

Access to funds, e.g.

Growing Forward 2 program

•

Approximately 13,000 Alberta producers have contacted AEFP about the program (24% of registered Alberta farms1)

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Increased operational efficiency

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Reduced farm costs (inputs) resulting in increased profit

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Over 8,000 producers have completed their EFPs and received letters of completion

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Expanding markets: many major purchasers require producers to have an EFP

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The Potato Growers of Alberta was the first

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Reduction of risk, leading to better production and

leaving a healthy farm for the next generation

Resources •

Workbook that walks producers through a selfassessment of their farming practices

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Over 50 trained EFP technicians available—each producer is paired with an EFP technician to assist with the development and implementation of their plan

•

Links to online technical information and videos that demonstrate ways to reduce potential environmental risks on farms

Safety Training - a Winter Activity to Benefit the Farm Business Blair Takahashi

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t’s the time of year when some farmers take a step back from their hectic physical farm work and make assessments for the future,” says Blair Takahashi, farm safety specialist, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF).

“Farming is a demanding and frequently hazardous occupation. Keeping safety top of mind is important for all farm owners and workers to make it home safely each evening. Be pro-active and use this winter to ensure next season’s farm work is injury and incident free.”

Now is a good time to plan for training during the winter months. Some courses you might consider for you and your farm work team: First aid – this should be a high priority for any farm. It is advisable for all workers to have some sort of first aid training, whether it be farmspecific first aid, emergency first aid, standard first aid or higher. There are a few options available online to access training.

Equipment operator’s training – this is particularly important for new and young farm workers. Equipment such as skid steers, loaders, and tractors are powerful and have the potential to severely injure workers. Check online or look for courses in your area.

Chemical-related courses – farmers working with pesticides, ammonia and in the presence of sour gas will benefit from courses such as pesticide applicators, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

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DECEMBER, 2016

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or H2S Alive. Check with your chemical supply dealer for pesticide applicator training in your area. WHMIS training can be accessed online, while H2S courses are available through safety companies who specialize in oilfield safety courses.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training – for those handling chemicals, respirator training will be beneficial. For anyone working from heights, a fall protection course is recommended.

Livestock safety – virtually any course involving livestock includes aspects of safety.

For those using horses to tend cattle, perhaps a horsemanship or ranch hand course will help. Others to consider are stockman courses and horse/livestock hauling.

Check with local agricultural societies, livestock clubs and organizations for upcoming clinics.

Machinery maintenance – well cared for machinery and equipment means increased safety during use. Take a quick course in how to care for and properly maintain your equipment to decrease the risk of down-time due to machinery failure.

Fire extinguisher training – there are many types of fire extinguishers, and the thought of using one can be intimidating. It is a good idea to take this training before you need it.

•

record keeping

•

communications

•

emergency situations

•

safety administration

Safety systems training – at the basic level, this type of training course will teach participants the value of a safety program and how to get started setting one up. There are many courses aimed at different industries; farmers should look for a generic course provided by a private consultant or a reputable post-secondary institution.

AF has recently developed FarmSafe Alberta – A Safety Planning Guide for Farms and Ranches. This is a tool that farmers can use to create and implement a health and safety management system specific to their farming operation. For more information on the guide, or how to set up a FarmSafe Alberta workshop in your area, contact Takahashi at 403-388-4030.

“Winter is a great time to pull out your farm safety plan – or develop one if you haven’t already – and decide what kind of training program your family members and employees should take,” says Takahashi.

“This can be formal training such as mentioned, or simply going over the plan you have in place along with any farm workplace protocols.”

In addition to training, take into consideration protocols for: •

hazard identification, assessment and control

“Planning now for a safe and prosperous year ahead is a sound investment for the future,” says Takahashi.

For more information on farm safety visit the Alberta Farm Safety Program website.

Contact: Blair Takahashi 403-388-4030

More Information Farm Safety website

DECEMBER, 2016

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Feeling the Cash Crunch after Harvest16? AFSC Can Help Agriculture Financial Services Corporation Lacombe, AB November 29, 2016

F

ollowing an early snow fall and higher-than-normal fall moisture, Agriculture Financial Service Corporation (AFSC) knows that harvest was tough on Alberta producers.

Challenging conditions left unharvested acres across the province, expenses need paying, and current cash flow may be a concern to many.

We know this because AFSC understands farming in Alberta – we’re in your community, and many of our staff are producers too. We want you to succeed, and we have the financial options to make that happen.

Customized solutions for your operation’s needs

needs on an individual basis, understand the challenges facing your operation and provide you with personal and expert advice. Our lending programs can provide convenient and immediate access to working capital to support your operations through the coming months. For current AFSC loan holders, options may be available to ensure you have the flexibility required to continue business as usual.

AFSC can provide customized solutions to producers facing financial hardship brought about by the 2016 harvest season.

Reminder to AFSC clients: �ile your Harvested ProAll producers, - it doesn’t matter duction Report if you’re a new or existing AFSC client - are welcome to visit one of our 45 branch locations to speak with a program specialist about your current situation.

We’ll evaluate your unique

Harvested Production Reports (HPR) for crop insured under the 2016 insurance programs are still being accepted with

a late file fee of $50. It is important to remember that a failure to file by the deadline noted will result in zero yield recorded, and no indemnity will be calculated.

AFSC accepts completed HPRs as follows: Annual Insurance HPR – December 31, 2016 Perennial Insurance HPR – February 28, 2017

Ready to learn more?

Contact AFSC today to learn more about the options available to you. Visit one of our branches in person, call our Client Contact Centre at 1.877.899.AFSC (2372) or email us at info@afsc.ca.

View our website at www.afsc. ca at any time and follow us on Twitter @AFSC_AB to keep up to date with our initiatives and programs!

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DECEMBER, 2016

DECEMBER 31 - Annual Crop Insurance and Perennial Crop Insurance - Last day to file Harvested Production Reports (with late-filed fee).

All Insurance Premiums - Last day to pay premiums without negatively affecting your credit.

AgriStability - 2015 Supplementary Forms due (with penalty). 2016 Fee due (with penalty).

FEBRUARY 28 - Perennial Crop Insurance - Apply, make changes or cancel coverage. Remove grazing livestock from insured Export Timothy Hay.

There’s no telling what’s in the cards for 2017 perennial crops.

Unpredictable weather is a challenge that all Alberta producers face, but Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) can help. In 2015, AFSC’s suite of perennial crop insurance programs paid out more than $60 million to clients who lost production because of factors they couldn’t control. AFSC insurance programs – giving you the peace-of-mind you deserve.

Agriculture Financial Services Corporation offers whole-farm coverage through its suite of risk management and lending programs. Contact us today for a free consultation.

www.AFSC.ca • 1.877.899.AFSC (2372) •

T

he Smoky River region, covering 10,000 square miles, is the southern getaway to Alberta’s mighty Peace Country. The Peace Region extends from Grande Prairie to Valleyview in the South, and from High Level to Fort Vermilion in the North. Falher is located in the center of this growing and progressive farming region.

Northern Alberta accounts for 18% of the Alberta barley acreage. As well, 40% of Canada’s forage seed crops and 40% of Alberta’s canola is produced in the Peace River area. Wheat, oats, flaxseed, hay, and other crops contribute

@AFSC_AB

SARDA AG Research Agricultural Trade Show

significantly, along with a developing livestock industry.

Alberta produces over 30% of Canada’s honey. Falher is well known as the “Honey Capital of Canada”. Clover, alfalfa, and canola production in the Peace has contributed greatly to the success of honey production.

Secondary agricultural industries include honey, oilseed, forage seed processing, and livestock feed. All these industries rely on the primary grain industry for which the Peace River country is well known The SARDA Ag Research

Agricultural Trade Show provides an excellent opportunity for Agribusinesses to be a part of a very active ag industry with significant growth potential. The SARDA Ag Research Agricultural Trade Show draws producers from across the Peace Region, an area representing close to 5,000 farms covering approximately 7 million acres, and attracts over 10,000 people from agricultural backgrounds.

The Trade Show features approximately 200 booths, family Farm Safety programs, a farmer’s appreciation event, an exhibitor’s appreciation event, and numerous agricultural seminars.

DECEMBER, 2016

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SARDA AG Research Agricultural Trade Show

March 16, 17 & 18 2017

Falher Regional Recreational Complex Falher, Alberta

FREE Gate Admission to all Thanks to the Gate Sponsors of the Day

Leading Edge Agricultural and Other Companies

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DECEMBER, 2016

SARDA Box 90 Falher, Alberta T0H 1M0 Phone: 780-837-2900 Fax: 780-837-8223 Email: manager@ sarda.ca

www.sarda.ca