Phone: (403) 948-8533

We empower the sheep industry through education, innovative research, and advocacy. Our focus is on working in the best interests of our producers by building connected relationships through accountability and transparency.

Latest News

24

The Solar Sheep of Alberta Release

Written on .

October is Wool Month, and to mark the designation, a made-in-Alberta film showcases how one Alberta ranch is using their sheep to maintain a solar energy installation. 

The Solar Sheep of Alberta is part of the film series "Fabric of Canada" series created by the Canadian Wool Council (CWC), and features Janna and Ryan Greir of Whispering Cedars Ranch near Strathmore, Alberta.  “The Fabric of Canada” tells the unique stories of Canadian wool and the Canadians who transform it.

The Greir's have partnered with Capital Power to graze their ewes on the Strathmore Solar Site, and they delve into the fascinating and innovative world of solar grazing and discuss how the project has impacted their sheep and their operation.

Farmers Janna and Ryan Greir’s journey began as hobby farmers, but with Alberta’s boom in solar energy, they identified a unique opportunity. They proposed that their sheep be used to maintain the land around the solar energy panels. Their idea gained momentum and their small farm soon expanded into a bustling ranch where they now house over 400 sheep.

In the film, Janna and Ryan describe their symbiotic relationship with the sheep explaining that they use their “sheep as a service”. The sheep maintain the vegetal growth around solar panels and provide. Janna and Ryan also express their optimism about the future of the Canadian wool industry and their role in shaping it.

Click here to watch the video

Congratulations to Janna and Ryan, on being able to share their story with industry while showcasing their passion and commitment to raising animals in an ethically humane manner, focusing on high health, maternal performance and environmental stewardship.

12

CAHRC and AGRIcarrières Partner to Launch AgriWorplace Skills Training Program Launch

Written on .

 

For Immediate Release                                                   October 11, 2023
 

CAHRC and AGRIcarrières Partner to Launch AgriWorplace Skills Training Program Launch

 

Ottawa, ON – The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) and AGRIcarrières are pleased to announce their partnership to launch the AgriWorplace Skills Training Program Launch funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP). 

The AgriWorkplace Skills Training Program, modeled after the apprenticeship programming  delivered by AGRIcarrières in Québec, aims to improve the skills and knowledge of the Canadian agriculture workforce and support the growth of the industry. It makes it possible to develop and recognize skills related to the daily exercise of the agricultural  profession. The training occurs entirely within an organization, with the employer or a skilled employee, known as a journeyman, sharing their expertise with an apprentice. 

“The need for skills development and training supports for agricultural employers has been a recognized need shared by industry. These types of partnerships are essential to the agriculture industry as we work together to build on and expand  successful programs,” said Jennifer Wright, Executive Director of CAHRC. “This collaboration between CAHRC and AGRIcarrières is a significant step forward in the right direction.”

“The relationship between AGRIcarrières and CARHC is well-established. This project highlights our commitment to sharing our most effective skills development practices and to making them accessible to a growing  number of agricultural producers, with flexible learning tools adapted to the reality on  the ground", Geneviève Lemonde, CEO of AGRIcarrières.

CAHRC’s longstanding efforts to clarify the work conducted in modern agriculture has led to the development of over 75 National Occupational Standards (NOSs) across 16 different commodity groups. The Council had the opportunity to collaborate with industry stakeholders and recognize the benefits of AGRIcarrières’ apprenticeship programming, which was designed to enable employers to provide their workers with structured training based on Québec's occupational standards. AGRIcarrières has experienced great success delivering its programming and has continued to enhance its training platform and tools to support employers and job seekers in agriculture. They served as an advisory group member for two of CAHRC's previous initiatives to create the National Agricultural Occupational Framework, and they are presently collaborating closely with CAHRC to develop the Council's latest training program. 

Upon completing the AgriWorkplace Skills Training Program Launch, employers will possess the necessary abilities to better train their employees according to national occupational standards. They will also have access to an interactive training tracking tool to monitor their workers' advancement. Moreover, the program helps training participants overcome barriers that previous research has identified, including childcare and transportation supports. The current program encompasses dairy, crop, cattle, pork, greenhouse, apple and mushroom production.

The AgriWorkplace Skills Training Program Launch is set to launch on October 12. 

For more information on the program, please visit the website.
 

 

This program is fuunded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.

  

Website

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube
12

Dairy Sheep Association Symposium Registration Now Open!

Written on .

Registration for the DSANA annual fall Symposium to be held on November 8th and 9th, 2023 is now open! You will find the schedule for the event which includes topics and speaker information below.  Anyone who would like to register to attend can visit https://www.dsana.org/2023-symposium for more information. This syposium will be held virtually this year on the Zoom platform.

schedule

05

Western Canadian agricultural producers can apply now for a fall FarmCash advance to help them grow

Written on .

September 5, 2023 

Western Canadian agricultural producers can apply now for a fall FarmCash advance of up to $1 million on field crops, honey or livestock to help them grow!

September 5, 2023 (Calgary, Alberta) — Prior to the long weekend, the FarmCash cash advance program opened fall applications, allowing agricultural producers to take advantage of marketing flexibility or kick-start planning for the next growing season’s commodity inputs. Producers can apply for up to $1 million and receive the first $350,000 interest-free.
 
FarmCash proudly offers producers the remainder of the advance at one of the lowest lending rates available across administrators, TD prime minus 0.75 per cent, to provide producers with further interest savings post-harvest and throughout the calendar year.
 
FarmCash is available on more than grain and other field crops. Commodities eligible for an advance under the program also include honey and many types of livestock to support the long-term profitability of western Canadian agricultural producers.
 
“This fall is an excellent time for producers to switch their farm financing to FarmCash and receive the first $350,000 interest-free,” says Alberta Grains interim chair Tara Sawyer. “Alberta Grains is proud to administer the FarmCash program to give producers a leg up on their farming operation’s profitability, which is in demand after this season’s tough growing conditions.”
 
Agricultural producers wanting to apply for a cash advance can do so without leaving their farm at FarmCashAdvance.com. For assistance in applying, producers are encouraged to call FarmCash at 1-855-376-2274 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
The Advance Payments Program is a federal loan program administered by Alberta Grains. It offers Canadian farmers marketing flexibility through interest-free and low interest cash advances.

For program information, please contact:
FarmCash Customer Service
1-855-376-2274
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Emily Johnson
Senior Marketing Communications Specialist
Alberta Grains
587-321-0652
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 


 


 
22

Underused Housing Tax - Important information for Farmers

Written on .

The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) Act implements an annual 1% tax on the value of vacant and underused residential properties directly or indirectly owned by those who are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens. It became effective Jan. 1, 2022, and the first tax return for year-end Dec. 31, 2022, is due at the end of April 2023.

CFA would like to urge its members to distribute the following information to its members, as all Canadian farm corporations, farm partnerships or trusts that own residential property will HAVE to file a UHT this year, even if they are exempt from paying the tax. Detailed information on the UHT can be found here: https://www.bdo.ca/en-ca/insights/tax/canadian-tax/underused-housing-tax-and-farming/?fbclid=IwAR1n8YVC0q4wwA1fwhjSkf6B_9I64vHqgsWqlsZ9PQmOI4KY_3xUuYXOo7c

The application of penalties and interest under the UHTA for the 2022 calendar year will be waived for any late-filed underused housing tax (UHT) return and for any late-paid UHT payable, provided the return is filed or the UHT is paid by October 31, 2023.

This transitional relief means that although the deadline for filing the UHT return and paying the UHT payable is still April 30, 2023, no penalties or interest will be applied for UHT returns and payments that the CRA receives before November 1, 2023. Learn more here:  https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2023/underused-housing-tax-penalties-and-interest-waived.html

Click here for a Q&A on the UHT: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/uhtn15/questions-answers-underused-housing-tax.html

CFA is seeking an exemption to the UHT for agricultural businesses in the future to reduce the administrative burden of this tax. While CFA is seeking long-term solutions for this issue, our efforts will most likely not impact the current tax year, so we still encourage producers follow the guidance laid out below. 

How does the UHT impact your farming operation?

If you operate your farm through a Canadian corporation or Canadian partnership and it owns a residential property, you will be required to file a UHT return even if no UHT is owed due to applicable exemptions noted below. If you do not file, the late filing penalty will apply.

Let's look at the example of a Canadian corporation carrying a cash crop operation. The corporation is 100% owned by Canadian citizens and possesses several residential homes on its farms. This corporation is required to file a UHT return. It would be exempt from the UHT as a Specified Canadian Corporation, but the UHT return must still be filed to claim the exemption. It could be subject to a $10,000 penalty if it does not file a UHT return on time. This penalty would apply for each year a UHT return is required and not filed by the April 30 deadline.

How much is the UHT?

The UHT on vacant or underused residential property is 1% of the home's taxable value or 1% of its most recent sale price, whichever is greater. Owners can also file an election between Jan. 1 and April 30 of the following calendar year to use the property's fair market value (FMV) to determine the owing UHT and if they can obtain an appraisal. If two or more individuals hold title to a property, each owner will be responsible for the UHT based on their ownership interest.

What are the UHT filing requirements and penalties?

Failure to file a UHT return by April 30 of the following year, when required, could result in a penalty of at least $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for other entities, such as Canadian corporations, partnerships, and trusts.

If an owner qualifies for an exemption but is not an excluded owner, the UHT return still must be filed, even if an exemption applies and no UHT is owed. The penalty for late filing will apply.

What should farm owners do next?

The UHT has received little attention since it became law, as many Canadians believe it simply does not apply to them—but the law affects a broad range of property owners. Countless numbers of farm corporations and farm partnerships across this country will have an obligation to file a UHT return, even if they owe no UHT. Non-filing can result in substantial financial penalties.

If you are concerned the UHT may apply to your farm operation, contact your advisors for guidance.