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By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup

Agriculture Roundup for Thursday February 9, 2023

Feb 9, 2023 | 12:20 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) are joining forces again to provide scholarships to youth nationwide.

The DFC Here for Tomorrow Scholarship, open to Canadian students in Grades 10-12, is being expanded from two to five recipients with the winnings increasing from $2,500 to $3,000 per student.

AITC-C’s thinkAG Project Coordinator Morgan MacTavish said last year’s applicants identified and explained how their interests related to careers in agriculture and food, and how vital those jobs are in global sustainability.

“Their expressive interpretations were filled with hope for the future. Being able to witness the ‘lightbulb’ moment when applicants realized that they have a place in agriculture was inspiring,” McTavish said. “We couldn’t be more excited to offer this opportunity again this year to remind youth that jobs in agriculture and food are as abundant as they are important.”

Applicants need to submit a written 1,500-word essay, a three-minute video, or a visual arts piece which could include ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, design, craft, photography, or architecture.

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Submissions will be accepted until May 1.

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There wasn’t much change in prices for Alberta’s three largest crops in December, according to a report from Statistics Canada.

The price of non-durum wheat was down 0.2 per cent in December compared to November while the price of canola edged up 0.7 per cent. Barley increased by 3.5 per cent.

Year-over-price growth remained strong with wheat up by 14.3 per cent barley, and canola by 10.3 per cent.

The average prices of Alberta lentils and dry peas were lower compared to 12 months earlier with lentils down by 11.2 per cent and peas by 4.4 per cent.

Cattle for slaughter prices were 8.6 per cent higher on a year-over-basis in December 2022, cattle for feeding prices were 27.4 per cent higher, and hog prices jumped 21.3 per cent.

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The Ontario Bean Growers are pleased the federal government is reimbursing farmers for fertilizer tariffs.

Ottawa has set aside the $34 million from the tariffs paid by Canadian farmers.

Ontario Bean Growers’ Executive Director Ryan Koeslag said while this is good news, it does not address that the tariff is still in place.

“Canada is the only G7 nation that is penalizing its own farmers with this tariff. The United States has never imposed a tariff on fertilizer from Russia or Belarus,” Koeslag said.

The Ontario Bean Growers, along with the Atlantic Grains Council, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, and the Grain Growers of Quebec, want the federal government to directly reimburse the farmers.

The collation has been working for many months to raise awareness of the challenges regarding the Canadian government’s decision to impose tariffs on Russia fertilizer imports and the impacts this has created for Canadian farmers.

The group has met with Members of Parliament as well as decision makers in Cabinet minister’s offices and the public service.

Koeslag said compensating farmers is the right thing to do.

“In a time of global uncertainty, reimbursing Canadian farmers for the tariff will balance some of the inflationary costs and help farmers grow more crops and food we need to feed Canadians and the world,” he said.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW