Alberta Bulletin

Leaders Wanted to Represent Alberta Canola Growers

The Alberta Canola Producers Commission is seeking four canola growers to serve as directors on the board of directors for a three-year term. This year, directors are needed in regions 3, 6, 9 and 12.

Alberta Canola divides Alberta into 12 regions, with each region electing a producer director to represent the canola growers within that region. The Board of Directors meets quarterly and is guided in decision making by five committees comprised of board members: Agronomic Research, Governance and Finance, Grower Relations and Extension, Government and Industry Affairs, and Market Development.

Who can become a Director?

Anyone who has paid a service charge on canola to Alberta Canola since August 1, 2016, is an eligible producer and can stand as a director. Eligible producers can be individuals or represent a corporation, partnership or organization. In order to be nominated, eligible producers must grow canola within the defined region but do not have to reside within it.

For detailed descriptions of the regions, more information or to make a nomination please visit albertacanola.com/elections or call the office at 780-454-0844.

“Is this what all those yellow fields are?”

By Ward Toma, General Manager, Alberta Canola

One of the rewards for driving around Alberta in the beginning of July is the amazing sight of the millions of acres of canola in bloom. The vast prairie landscape becomes a large yellow and green patchwork that stretches to the horizon. In the full sun, some of the larger fields are nearly blinding they’re so bright. Not only does it accentuate the size of the place, but importance of the work we do on behalf of the canola farmers in Alberta.

It was with that in mind last week I made my way to Calgary to lend a hand in the Alberta Canola booth at the Calgary Stampede, where nearly every conversation I had began with some version of, “Is this what all those yellow fields are?” The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth occurs at the same time the canola crop in Alberta is in full bloom and when attendees get a glimpse of the Alberta Canola booth with bright pictures of canola fields, they make a beeline straight to the booth tell us all about how pretty those fields are and ask a thousand questions about farming in Alberta and canola oil and meal and all the different ways they are used. If you can imagine the question, it was asked.

It’s the best consumer engagement scenario one could ask for: consumers, some literally running to ask you questions. It really speaks to how far away from farming so many people are. And just as the yellow fields break up the endless prairie view, introducing an urban consumer to a canola farmer that planted those yellow fields has the same impact; the urban-rural divide is not as large anymore.

Read the full post at albertacanola.com/connects.

Melissa Damiani on canolaPALOOZA

I showed up hoping to quickly tour through and ask a few questions before getting back to work. I ended up spending the entire day there asking questions and having great in-depth discussions with the experts that were there! What an awesome event and a wonderful one-on-one learning opportunity for people with all levels of experience.

Not only do you have experts there to answer all your questions, but almost all of the stations have actual plots with live plants/bugs/diseases/equipment, etc. so you can get in, get your hands and boots dirty, and gain first hand physical experience with the topics you are discussing. The staff at the Lacombe Research Centre do an exceptional job of planting these plots for our learning experience.

canolaPALOOZA 2018

The biggest agronomy event of the summer, canolaPALOOZA, was held on June 27 at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre. This year’s event, the fourth annual, had over 600 people come through to visit more than 25 stations. Station topics ranged from stand establishment to integrated pest management to combine optimization & harvest management and everything in between. More than 125 instructors ensured that their was an expert answer for every canola question.

Powering Your Profits Tour

Get the knowledge you need to be more successful at one of our 12 Powering Your Profits Tour stops across Alberta this November. Topics will include agronomy, marketing, and business management.

Find an event closest to you and save the date.

Get complete details at albertacanola.com/pyp.

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