(Alice McFarlane/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday March 25, 2020

Mar 25, 2020 | 9:58 AM

Fertilizer Canada said movement of its products must continue so farmers have what they need for the beginning of the planting season.

President and CEO Garth Whyte said COVID-19 contingency plans are in place at manufacturing plants, storage terminals and agri-retail outlets to protect employees and the public, as well as to ensure farmers get the fertilizer they need in time for seeding.

He said the Canadian supply chain is resilient and can manage through these challenges but the industry would be concerned about any restrictive measures that may have unintended consequences on rail, port and truck service, imports or operations at agri-retail.

Whyte said ensuring a successful planting season and good yields at harvest will be important to Canada’s economic recovery in 2020.

Fertilizer Canada represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers.

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The Western Canadian Wheat Growers (WCWG) want the federal government to eliminate the move to increase the carbon tax.

On April 1 the tax will increase from from $20 to $30 per tonne for those provinces under the federal backstop.

WCWG President Gunter Jochum said the Canadian economy is facing a serious challenge and adding a 50 per cent increase in the carbon tax is a further hit to grain farmers’ bottom line and Canadian consumers’ food bills.

“Now is not the time to be to be adding to our household expenses. Our focus should be on the health and economic well-being of all Canadians,” Jochum said in a media release.

WCWG Saskatchewan Director Daryl Fransoo said farmers, processors and truckers are working hard to ensure food security and the federal government should not be adding to the burden.

“Rather than increasing the costs for consumers, the government should be doing everything necessary to ensure our transportation system stays operational. From our trucking system to rail and ports, we need to keep our grain moving both domestically and for export,” Fransoo said.

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Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) wants to recognize a researcher or scientist whose work has contributed to advancements in the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry.

The Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation is accepting nominations for the award.

The entries will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of beef producers, industry experts and retired beef-related researchers.

To be eligible, nominees must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants actively involved in research of benefit to the Canadian beef industry within the past five years.

Nominations for the 2020 award will be accepted until May 1.

Last year’s recipient was Dr. John Campbell, a professor and researcher with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF