Prepared for what comes next
This past year brought many challenges with it through the overarching impact of COVID-19. That being said I strongly feel that both the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Cereals Canada, where I also serve as board chair, have many notable accomplishments to be proud of.
Through AWC’s increased use of technology, we were able to connect with farmers through online platforms such as The Growing Point’s In The Field webinars and our annual regional meetings despite limited opportunities for in-person engagement.
Our dedicated employees along with our board of directors continued to make substantial progress on pertinent issues impacting farmers within our core areas of focus. Our policy team launched managefhb.ca after long advocating for the shift from regulatory control of FHB to a province-wide approach that promotes extension and education of best management practices. We continually combatted transportation issues relating to national markets and international market development. Our research team also made significant strides in adapting to provincial changes in the sector as Tom mentions in his column below.
The wheat industry in Canada is not made up of standalone efforts. Through my chair role at Cereals Canada, I was able to be engaged in an alternate plan of action to bring the 2020 harvest season experience to international markets through the virtual new crop seminars. These online seminars allowed Canada to showcase the land and sustainability practices we are known for, in addition to the quality and friendly relationships that international buyers can count on, all while reaching a wide range of markets that in the past we have found difficult to access. You can read more about the seminars in Virtual new crop missions on page 5.
This year shows great promise in many ways, but what I am most excited for is progress regarding the AWC and Alberta Barley amalgamation exploration work. With the amalgamation sub- committee meetings already underway this year, it is expected that the commissions will begin planning for thorough consultations with farmers to explore feedback related to an amalgamation. Farmers can expect communication and more information in the coming months. It is our aim to provide utmost transparency during the consultations and for the committee to gather farmer feedback.
As we look forward to what this new year holds, I am hopeful that we can contain the spread of COVID-19 and that we will once again be able to connect with our community of farmers in-person. If instead we are held to this new normal for an extended time, I feel that AWC is well-versed in utilizing these new ways of connecting to deliver value and engage producers.