MCA News

May 25, 2023 (Carman, MB; Saskatoon, SK;Calgary, AB) – The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) – a collaboration between the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) and Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) – has appointed a new president, following the transition of hosting duties from AWC to MCA.

Lori-Ann Kaminski, research program manager – cereal crops with MCA, is the new CWRC president. The president, who is appointed from the host organization and approved by the CWRC board of directors, is the key contact for external stakeholders.

The CWRC’s operational hosting duties rotate every three years between the three Prairie producer organizations who represent wheat farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Hosting duties include administrative functions, such as research funding co-ordination; communications activities,such as website updates and annual reports;and planning and co-ordination of CWRC’s annual general meeting.

“I would like to thank AWC, and Sask Wheat before them,for their significant contributions to build the CWRC’s success during their time as hosts,” says Kaminski.

“MCA strongly believes in the value of the collaborative approach to wheat research that the CWRC promotes and is proud to assume hosting duties for the organization overthe next three years.”

The CWRC facilitates a collaborative approach to producer support of regional and national wheat research in variety development and agronomy. This has included administering the 2018-23 Canadian National Wheat Cluster under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Canadian Agricultural Partnership and now the new 2023-28 Canadian National Wheat Cluster under AAFC’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

“This year marks the end of one successful Canadian National Wheat Cluster and the beginning of a new cluster that will lead to innovation in variety development and agronomic practices that allow Canadian wheat producers to increase the net profitability of growing wheat,” says Jake Leguee, CWRC chair and Sask Wheat vice-chair.

“There is a strong return on investment for producers investing in publicly funded wheat research in Canada, and the CWRC continues to lead the way in funding research that addresses the issues that matter most towheat producers across the country.”

Media Contacts:

Megan Evans
Communications and Events Manager
Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions
403-219-7902
mevans@albertawheatbarley.com

Dallas Carpenter
Communications Manager
Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission
306-653-7967
dallas.carpenter@saskwheat.ca

Cole Christensen
Communications Manager
Manitoba Crop Alliance
403-589-3529
cole@mbcropalliance.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 (Carman, MB) – Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) has awarded six students from Manitoba with MCA 2022-23 bursaries valued at $2,000 each. The six bursary recipients are Kaitlyn Christine Hunt-Delaurier from Laurier, Lianne Rouire from Treherne, Milan Lukes from Gunton, Stephanie Manning from Souris, Hannie Peters from Ile Des Chenes, and Alison Manness from La Salle/Domain.

“I would like to congratulate all our 2022-23 bursary winners and thank all the students who applied,” says MCA Chair Robert Misko. “It is clear from the quality of all the bursary applications we received that the future of the agriculture industry in Manitoba is bright.”

MCA established the bursary to assist with the financial needs of students who are enrolled in a post-secondary agricultural program within the province of Manitoba.

Bursary applicants needed to meet the following criteria:

• Have completed their first or second year of post-secondary education at the college or university level (diploma or degree) and are enrolled full-time for the 2022-23 school year in an agricultural program within the province of Manitoba.
• Have achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
• Have an interest in wheat (spring or winter), corn, barley, flax or sunflower crops, or agriculture in general, as demonstrated in a brief, one-page letter.
• Are from a farm that is a member in good-standing of MCA.
• Have not previously been awarded an MCA Bursary.

An independent selection committee was contracted to evaluate the applicants based on their connection to or interest in agriculture, explanation of why they decided to enroll in an agriculture-related post-secondary program, how they hope to benefit the agriculture industry once they have graduated and are in the workforce, and their academics and writing skills.

This year, the selection committee included James Frey, applied production specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, and Rachel Evans, technical sales manager at FMC Canada for Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan.

For more information about the MCA 2022-23 bursary program and to read biographies of the winners please visit mbcropalliance.ca.

-30-

Nov. 30, 2022 (Carman, MB) – Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is pleased to announce it has received approval to start issuing cash advances on winter wheat and fall rye planted in fall 2022 through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advance Payments Program (APP).

The APP is a federal loan program administered by Manitoba Crop Alliance. It offers Canadian farmers marketing flexibility through interest-free and low-interest cash advances. Under the program, eligible farmers are eligible for up to $1,000,000, with the Government of Canada paying the interest on the first $250,000 of the advance for the 2022 and 2023 program years. Funds can be issued in three to five business days once the application process is complete. MCA’s interest rate on interest-bearing cash advances is competitive with major banks and credit unions.

“MCA prides itself on providing friendly, small-town service when farmers apply for and manage their APP cash advance,” says MCA chair Robert Misko. “When a farmer contacts us, our knowledgeable staff walk them through the program and are happy to answer any questions they may have.”

To apply for an advance under the 2023 program year on winter wheat and fall rye planted in fall 2022, farmers can phone MCA’s office at 1-204-745-6661 or toll-free 1-877-598-5685 to request an application form.

MCA also continues to process applications for the 2022 program year on over 35 crop kinds and honey.

“Since 1981, we have offered a competitive option for farmers who are interested in a cash advance through the APP,” says MCA vice-chair Jonothan Hodson. “Our APP clients are extremely important to us, which is why our staff – Tammy Cote and Rae Jackson – regularly go above and beyond to make sure clients receive their advance as quickly as possible.”

If farmers would like to be notified regarding APP-specific information, please email hello@mbcropalliance.ca to be added to the subscriber list. More information on the APP can be found at mbcropalliance.ca.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Darcelle Graham
Chief Operating Officer
Manitoba Crop Alliance
204-745-6661
darcelle@mbcropalliance.ca

At our AGM earlier this year, a resolution was brought forward regarding regulatory requirements for gene edited crops in Canada.

Specifically, our governance committee requested that MCA clarify its position on how gene editing should be regulated by, and communicated about, by Health Canada, and whether gene edited seed and genetically engineered seeds should follow the same regulations.

Following this resolution, our board got to work on becoming informed on the issue. We consulted with national experts on the issue, including the Canada Grains Council, CropLife Canada, Cereals Canada, Health Canada, and more, and reviewed information available to us. Following this, we developed our own formal position on the topic, which centres around the following core beliefs:

• Seeds produced using any plant breeding technique, including gene editing, should be subject to science-based regulations and policies related to health and safety.
• All value chain participants must abide by the appropriate science-based regulations and policies/best management practices when launching products of plant breeding innovations in Canada to our export and domestic markets.
• All value chain participants, including federal regulatory agencies and seed developers, are fully transparent in implementing regulations around plant breeding technologies, in order to maintain trust and reputation in domestic and global markets.

Furthermore, within our formal position, our board re-iterates that:

• We recognize the importance of research and innovation to the success of Manitoba farmers, including the area of seed development.
• We believe variety development and plant breeding innovations will help unlock yield potential for Canadian crops, remove production barriers and help farmers meet sustainability goals
• We support that all food in Canada – novel or not – should be regulated by the appropriate government agencies in order to ensure its ongoing safety for consumers.

This formal position, approved in April 2022, will be used to guide MCA’s participation in the conversation around the topic going forward, as well as our involvement in any related initiatives.

If you have questions or feedback on this issue, please contact us.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, March 16,2022 (Carman, MB) – Manitoba Crop Alliance is proud to introduce its new board executive for the upcoming year.

Last week, Robert Misko was elected as Chair, Jonothan Hodson was elected as Vice-Chair and Warren McCutcheon was elected as Secretary.

“It is an honour to be elected as chair for the MCA board of directors. I look forward to working with the new and existing directors for the coming year,” says Misko.

“As a representative of the farming community, I believe it is important we build strong connections and work together towards the same goal: to continuously improve the competitiveness and profitability of spring and winter wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax for Manitoba farmers.”

Misko farms 6,500 acres with his wife and children near Roblin. Misko’s previous and current board experience includes Reeve for the Rural Municipality (RM) of Hillsburg, Association of Manitoba Municipalities director for the Parkland Region, delegate for Manitoba Pool and Agricore, director with one of MCA’s founding organizations(Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association), director for Cereals Canada, and director and research representative for Western Grains Research Foundation. He is currently Head of Council for the RM of Roblin and sits on the Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation Board.

Hodson is a fifth-generation farmer from Lenore with a keen interest in on-farm research. His mixed farm features a wide variety of crops in any given year – including spring wheat, canola, soybeans, grain corn, barley, yellow peas and some forage crops – as well as a Black Angus cow/calf operation. Hodson previously served as a director for one of MCA’s founding organizations(Manitoba Corn Growers Association), as well as the Manitoba Angus Association, and he is currently a director for the Valleyview Co-op.

“I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to serve as MCA’s vice-chair,” says Hodson. “MCA is an organization focused on research, with a goal of creating sustainability gains for farmers throughout Manitoba.”

McCutcheon farms with his wife, Meghan, and their two girls near the Carman/Homewood area. He is the third generation on their family farm and alongside his dad, Shawn, grows corn, edible beans, seed soybeans, wheat and canola across 3,000 acres. McCutcheon has previous board experience with one of MCA’s founding organizations (Manitoba Corn Growers Association), as well as the Carman Golf and Curling Club. He also spent 10 years competing at the highest levels of hockey, where he developed the leadership skills he now brings to MCA’s board.

“I am extremely passionate about agriculture and believe we have many challenges facing our industry,” says McCutcheon. “I got involved with MCA to help navigate these issues, so our farms can continue to be successful. I also want to ensure the dollars being contributed by farmers are returning the highest possible value to them.”

For more information about MCA’s Board and Crop Committees, please visit mbcropalliance.ca/about/board-crop-committees.

-30-

About Manitoba Crop Alliance:

Manitoba Crop Alliance is a non-profit organization established August 1, 2020 representing over 9,000 farmer-members. Manitoba Crop Alliance puts their farmer-members first and strives to continuously improve the competitiveness and profitability of all crops represented by the organization by focusing on four main areas: research, agronomy, market access and development, and communications. It is through investment in these key areas that Manitoba Crop Alliance can ensure wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax are sustainable production choices for Manitoba farmers. For more information, visit mbcropalliance.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Pam de Rocquigny
Chief Executive Officer
204-745-6661
pam@mbcropalliance.ca