The City of Calgary has just posted a tender for targeted grazing. For more information and to apply please visit:
https://vendor.purchasingconnection.ca/Opportunity.aspx?Guid=fe9eaa1a-a11c-3864-0a68-39c2ed480000&
Latest News
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Sustainable CAP Program presentations and resources
Sustainable CAP Information Resources
Please find below some materials that provide details about the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program, Farm Technology Program and Efficient Grain Handling Program. For specific questions, please direct inquiries to the program emails as listed below.
Farm Technology Program Fact Sheet
Efficient Grain Handling Program
Sustainable CAP Program General Overview
All Program Inquiries go to:
RALP: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Farm Technology: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Efficient Grain Handling: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sign up for news and website update emails: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 310-FARM (3276)
The Sustainable CAP Program presentations and the webinar recordings/presentations are now available to share with producers.
Please find below copies of both presentations along with the link to the recording and program resources below.
RALP Overview - Extension Training
Recording Link: https://youtu.be/A5hXPESlyJA
Website Links
Sustainable CAP: https://www.alberta.ca/sustainable-cap.aspx
RALP: https://www.alberta.ca/resilient-agricultural-landscape-program.aspx
Farm Technology: https://www.alberta.ca/farm-technology-program.aspx
Efficient Grain Handling: https://www.alberta.ca/efficient-grain-handling-program.aspx
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CAHRC Labour Market Information Survey - Important Survey for Canadian Agriculture
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has launched a new Labour Market Information survey and is seeking input from farmers across Canada.
CFA strongly urges its members, owner-operators, agricultural workers and supporting stakeholder groups to take part in this survey that will be open until April 30, 2023. Please distribute this survey throughout your networks to ensure an adequate level of responses is achieved.
The survey provides important data on the labour market that will be used to help clarify labour shortage issues. By better understanding how workforce needs have changed, the agricultural industry can present the new research to policy makers to guide future action on the growing workforce crisis.
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FOR INFORMATION: Public Service Alliance of Canada Strike
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the union representing over 155,000 federal public servants, are on strike after the federal government and PSAC failed to reach an agreement yesterday. PSAC members play a key role in the administration of agricultural programs and services, as well as the movement of good across Canada and into international markets.
More specifically, a labour disruption could affect delivery of certain federal agriculture programs, including AgriInvest, AgriStability, the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program, Youth Employment and Skills Program, and programs under the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Beyond these programs, the services provided by the Canadian Grain Commission and administration of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, both vital services for Canadian agriculture, could also be negatively affected.
Through our membership to the CFA (with our affiliation to the National Sheep Network (NSN)), the CFA has written to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada requesting that the government take urgent measures to ensure adequate contingencies are in place (e.g., Essential Service Agreement) that would ensure any strike action would not unduly impact the movement of agriculture products and that all programs continue to be delivered uninterrupted.
More information on service impacts is available on Canada.ca/labour-disruptions and will be updated regularly. A quick unofficial summary of the related impacts is available here: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/here-s-how-the-strike-by-public-service-workers-will-impact-federal-services-1.6353262
We will be sure to share any additional information that we receive as it becomes available.
Thank you
06
Underused Housing Tax - Important information for Farmers
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.
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
Through ALP'S affiliation with the NSN and their CFA mmebership, the 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.
03
ALP Welcomes new Interim ALP Director
ALP is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has fulfilled the vacant Interim Director position. While we currently await his formal appointment from Marketing Council, we are pleased to welcome Martin Winchell to the Board of Directors. As this is an interim position, an election will be required for the position at the ALP AGM on November 18, 2023.
Marty Winchell is the newest interim board member with ALP. He has been raising, wrestling, fighting, and swearing at sheep since the age of 15.
He grew up on a broiler farm in Rocky Mountain House, attended the U of A in Ag. and has been working in the ag industry his entire professional life, with stints in the lower mainland, and Edmonton, before returning to the family farm. Currently working in municipal gov’t, Marty and his wife Cindy ( of 25 yrs) have 4 kids and a hodge podge of recreational, not for profit animals.
In addition to sheep, the Winchell’s also have a cow herd, put up hay, and often have a few pigs roaming around.
Always trying to adapt, they have recently made the transition to lambing indoors and have yet to lose a lamb to ravens this year! With the recent improvement in facilities, there is hope they will increase frequency of lambing as well as lambing percentage.
You can find his contact information here
Please help us in welcoming Martin to the ALP Board of Directors!
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Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Announcement
Yesterday the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) bilateral agreement with Alberta was announced, you can read the news release here. The Sustainable CAP will be in effect from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028. The total value of the cost-shared portion of the new agreement is $2.5 billion (representing federal, provincial, and territorial dollars), up from $2 billion under the CAP Framework. The increase of $500 million represents a 25% increase of funding towards federal-provincial cost-shared programs well as the addition of a new program called the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program. Below I have included brief descriptions for this new program as well as the Farm Technology Program and Efficient Grain Handling Program. For more detailed information you can visit the Sustainable CAP website. There will be informational webinars offered over the next few weeks with more detail.
Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP)
The goal of the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program is to increase environmental resiliency of agricultural landscapes by accelerating adoption of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) that maximize provision of Ecological Goods & Services (EG&S), such as carbon sequestration, improved water quality and biodiversity enhancement. Funding is offered on a per-acre payment basis for a term of three years. Funding of up to $150,000 for Primary Producers, and up to $300,000 for Indigenous applicants or groups such as Grazing Reserve Associations and Community Pastures is available for select BMP projects. The Program opens for applications on April 3, 2023. To review the BMP funding list and other program details, visit www.alberta.ca/resilient-agricultural-landscape-program.aspx
Farm Technology Program (FTP)
The Farm Technology Program supports the adoption of innovative technology that minimizes agricultural waste, optimizes farm efficiency, or improves the security of farming operations. Funding of up to $48,000/applicant is available for items that fall under the Farm Technology Stream, and up to $2,000/applicant for items in the Farm Security Stream. Program funding is retroactive to April 1, 2023. To review the funding list and other program details, visit www.alberta.ca/farm-technology-program.aspx
Efficient Grain Handling Program (EGHP)
The Efficient Grain Handling Program funds grain handling equipment that shows a significant energy efficiency improvement over standard practice. Funding of up to $100,000/applicant is available for approved projects. Program funding is retroactive to April 1, 2023. To review the funding list and other program details, visit www.alberta.ca/efficient-grain-handling-program.aspx
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Workforce Solutions Road Map to address labor shortages across Canada
On March 27, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced the extension of measures that were implemented last year, in April 2022, as part of the TFWP Workforce Solutions Road Map.
As noted in the announcement, effective April 3rd 2023, the following TFWP measures will be extended until October 30, 2023:
- permitting employers in seven sectors with demonstrated labour shortages to hire up to 30 percent of their workforce through the TFW Program, for low-wage positions;
- maintaining the validity period of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) at 18 months; and,
- maintaining the maximum duration of employment for low-wage positions for a period up to two years.
The Road Map measures are intended to help employers address current labour shortages across many sectors and occupations, create greater stability in the economy, and build a stronger Canadian workforce for today and tomorrow.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Employment and Social Development Canada
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Agriculture Canada opens applications for federal programs under Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Applications are now being accepted for federal programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) that will go into effect on April 1, 2023.
The federal programs, which include AgriAssurance, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriDiversity, AgriInnovate, AgriMarketing and AgriScience, are currently delivered through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership and are being renewed for 5 years to support key priority areas.