Groups Hopeful Unusable Crops Will Be Made Into Feed

Jul 19, 2021

Several groups, including Alberta Beef producers are asking to use crops that won't make it to harvest this fall, to be used as livestock feed.

The chair of the Alberta Beef Producers, Melanie Wowk says a decision on that is needed soon. "We are currently asking the AFSC, they are the ones that deliver the programs such as Agri-stability and Agri-recovery, as well as crop insurance. We are asking that they work with crop producers and their insurance, in order for them to be able to turn some of them crops into cattle feed. These crops will not be harvestable." Wowk says there's only a 2-week window where the crops will still be salvageable for feed.

Even Finance Minister Travis Towes, who used to be the president of the Canadian Cattlemens Association made mention of the current situation during a news conference last week.

But according to the NDP ag critic Heather Sweet, AFSC has far fewer crop assessors, thanks to a series of budget cuts by the UCP government this year. Sweet told reporters, just when farmers need those services the most, the government has let them down.

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Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.