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Building A Unified Voice for Agriculture: Agriculture Updates, Supports, and News: May 2025

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Building A Unified Voice for Agriculture: Agriculture Updates, Supports, and News: May 2025

Agriculture Updates since April 2025

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Help us determine what content you want to see in our monthly update

We started our agriculture newsletter in 2021 as a way to streamline and summarize content applicable to our agriculture sectors. We thought it was a good time to gauge how valuable this is for you based on the time we invest in it for you. Our goal is to take insights from the various newsletters we receive and streamline them into one monthly update. Now we want to hear from you - would you like us to continue providing you with this monthly update? How valuable is the monthly update to you? What is the most valuable content provided in the updates? What kind of content would you like us to focus on? Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey https://forms.office.com/r/Vqdnu6cnEA

Funding Updates 

AgriStability and AgriInvest Program Changes under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) webinar series

Farm Management Canada prepared transcripts of questions they received with answers from the presenters, which are now available online.

Remember, you can visit the Past Webinars section on Agriwebinar.com to access the recordings and enter your email address when prompted.

Applications Are Now Open for On-Farm Value-Added and Value-Added Programs

The On-Farm Value-Added Program for primary producers and the Value-Added Program for food and bio-industrial processors are now open. The programs have two continuous intake streams, Stream A and Stream B, based on respective eligibility criteria and merit scoring. Eligible applicants include primary producers and bio-industrial or food processors involved in the value-added processing of an agricultural product. Eligible expenses must be incurred between January 1, 2025 and March 15, 2026. A minimum of 50% of the total investment for the project must be secured prior to application for the grant. Applicants can only apply to either program, or to the Emerging Opportunities Program for the same activities. Eligible project activities and additional program requirements can be found in the respective Funding List and program Terms and Conditions. Program intakes will close when all grant funding is fully allocated. More information about the programs can be found here.

AgriMarketing Program Open 

The AgriMarketing Program is a $129.97-million program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).The program aims to increase and diversify exports to global markets and seize market opportunities via industry-led promotional activities to differentiate Canadian products and producers, by leveraging Canada’s reputation for high-quality and safe food. The program supports a wide range of agricultural sectors, such as field crops, fish and seafood, food and beverage, horticulture, livestock. Submit your application before May 30, 2025 for the final 2 fiscal years (2026-27 and 2027-28) of the program. After May 30, applications may still be considered if enough funding remains. Find out more

FCC Trade Disruption Customer Support Program
To support the Canadian agriculture and food industry as tariffs are implemented, FCC is providing $1 billion in new lending to help alleviate financial challenges. You can received help to defer principal payments for up to 12 months on existing loans (current customers).Find out more.

Alberta Export Expansion Program
This program provides funding to help export-ready small and medium-sized enterprises, industry associations, Indigenous organizations and economic development organizations in the province enhance access to international markets and attract global buyers. Applications are currently being accepted. Make sure to review program changes and eligibility requirements before submitting an application. Apply Here

Current RDAR Funding Opportunities

RDAR has four programs open for applications. Check out the details here.

Labour Resources

AgSafe Alberta launches updated course

AgSafe Alberta has released its updated and improved Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Pesticide, Veterinary Drug and Medicated Feed Awareness Course and supporting manual.

This new course:

  • has been designed to be both quicker and easier to complete
  • has been improved to reflect user feedback where possible
  • reflects changes to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
  • gives participants immediate access to their Certificate of Completion inside the course itself

Try this course and get your seasonal staff trained for free until June 30 using Promo Code GHS2025. Learn more and register

Agriculture Job Connector: https://www.alberta.ca/agriculture-job-connector.aspx 

Additional Government & Industry News and Information 

Agroclimate Impact Reporter

The Agroclimate Impact Reporter is back for the 2025 growing season. This online tool allows producers across Canada to submit reports on how weather and climate conditions are affecting their farm operations. This information helps Agriculture Canada and the agriculture sector to better understand the local and regional effects of agroclimate conditions and identify emerging risks to the broader agricultural sector. It also provides confirmation and details that are required to assist with various programs and activities of Agriculture Canada, including the Canadian Drought Monitor, Livestock Tax Deferral and AgriRecovery. Find more information and participate in the monthly survey

Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network Quick Disease Reporter Tool

To help facilitate awareness of developing plant disease issues on a regional- and prairie-wide basis, the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) and the three Prairie provincial pathologists have worked with colleagues from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Geomatics Group since summer 2021. The result of this collaboration is the development and deployment of the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network Quick Disease Reporter Tool (PCDMN QDRT).This tool can be used to make quick general reports of diseases in common crops over the Prairie region as part of the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network. These reports will be used to prepare PCDMN QDRT disease update maps. Learn more

Events, Webinars and Podcasts

Market Readiness Workshop Series

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation is inviting Alberta agriculture and agri-processing companies to participate in a full-day in-person workshop series in Edmonton and Calgary. The workshop series is designed to help Alberta agri-food companies identify export diversification opportunities in light of global trade uncertainties. Sessions will provide expert guidance on market entry strategies, market-specific intelligence to identify export opportunities, and insights on the work required for successful expansion. Gain the knowledge and strategies needed to strengthen your export resilience and seize new opportunities. Register by May 20.

Cypress Farm & Ranch Show

The Cypress Farm & Ranch Show (CFRS) is proud to announce its inaugural event, set to take place June 12 to 14 at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede. Held alongside the World Professional Chuckwagon Association races, CFRS provides a platform for farmers, ranchers, and exhibitors to network, learn, and explore the latest innovations in agriculture.From keynote presentations to expert-led panels and innovative exhibits, the event aims to be a cornerstone of agricultural business in the region. Learn more

Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council National Workforce Strategic Plan series

  • May 29 - Infrastructure and Workforce Attraction and Retention
  • June 5 - North American Workforce Trends: Impacts of Tariffs

Register here

Agri-News online - www.alberta.ca/agri-news.aspx and upcoming events

Other Resources

As always, you can always find more agribusiness resources on our website: https://www.southeastalbertachamber.ca/agribusiness-resources/

If you know of someone who may be interested in the work we are doing and might be interested in investing in this work through membership, please feel free to refer them to us. You can also encourage others to subscribe to our agriculture updates through this page. We look forward to continuing our work with you and pushing for our collective priorities on your behalf.

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