Manitoba joins CAP agreement

Apr 09, 2018

Federal and provincial ministers signed bilateral agreement that invests $176 million in the province’s ag sector

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Lawrence MacAulay, the federal agriculture minister, and Ralph Eichler, Manitoba’s ag minister, signed a bilateral agreement on Thursday to implement the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) in Manitoba.

CAP is a five-year agreement to invest $176 million in the province’s agriculture and agri-food sector, according to a government release on Thursday.

“The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will help the sector in Manitoba continue to innovate, grow and prosper,” MacAulay said in the release.

“We are committed to expanding business opportunities for Canadian producers, ranchers and processors. And strengthening the middle class by helping the agricultural sector reach its full potential.”

The CAP agreement may support continued growth and offer opportunity for even greater success in Manitoba’s ag sector, Eichler added.

CAP will consolidate its Manitoba funding program into one program called the Ag Action Manitoba program. Administered by Manitoba Agriculture, farmers, agri-processors, industry organizations, researchers and industry service providers will be able to apply for funding for certain activities and investments, the release said.

The bilateral agreement focuses on six main areas:

science, research and innovation
markets and trade
environmental sustainability and climate change
value-added agriculture and agri-food processing
public trust
risk management

CAP’s strategic investments and activities will support industry-led research, innovation, market development, and competitiveness, the release said.

Through CAP, farmers will continue to have access to risk-management programs which help them to mitigate risks to their operation.

Application information will be posted here under “Canadian Agriculture Partnership” as details become available.

A digital newsletter will also be available, allowing industry stakeholders to stay up-to-date on program information.

Video: Drought Now, Cold Weather To Come, Grain State Outlook

Colder weather ahead is the call from Eric Hunt with University of Nebraska Extension. We dig into the forecast for the months to come and look back at what happened at the end of the growing season, including the conditions that allowed southern corn rust to thrive. Eric also breaks down the current drought situation, highlighting where it’s driest now and where the conditions are changing. We wrap on the spring outlook and the current La Nina pattern in place and and what’s driving this cold snap. Yes, Eric said polar vortex in this conversation.