b'regulatory requirements in its statutes, regulations, policies andfunding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership forms by 2023. (CAP), the groups website says. Farmers, other governments Its been a constant state of transition since the newand the private sector will provide co-funding. As of May, it government took over, Ward Toma, general manager of Albertawas expected the new research organization would become Canola, says in a phone interview. The biggest issue that weincorporated and start funding projects by fall 2020.need is either get on with it, get it done. Whatever theyre goingWhile RDAR is still being developed, other modifications to to do, please let us know, so, that we can start working toward aAAF have already been implemented and are making visible new reality. changes to services offered. The provincial crop reports moved The UCPs have redirected funding and changed thefrom a weekly publishing schedule to bi-weekly during July and governments approach to AAF. One of the biggest changes hasAugust for 2020.been to transition agricultural research in the province fromThere have also been staff cuts across AAF. In 2019, 50 people a lab-based approach to a farmer-led program. The result haswere laid off in the ministry. In the 2020 budget AAF expected been the creation of Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR).277 full-time-equivalent job losses. The budget also indicated News releases from the province describe RDAR as a non- an expected 48 full-time-equivalent job losses at Agriculture profit, arms-length agriculture research organization. TheFinancial Services Corp and 125 full-time-equivalent job cuts releases also states it takes the best parts of previous researchat Alberta Innovates, which contributes to agriculture research. models, such as Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency andThe government expected to make most of these cuts by not Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund, in order to create therefilling vacant positions as employees retired.organization. The Ag-Info Centre crop, livestock or other one-to-one I kind of looked at (RADR) as a bit of an opportunity for thespecialist services have also been a causality of the layoffs. As of producers to become more involved, Bishop says. We have aMarch, the centre stopped offering specialized services, instead lot of farmer input now where we didnt have hardly any before. calls to it are now redirected to other government information RDAR is being supported through federal and provincialservices.Varieties available for 2021: *New* Parata CWRSCDC Bow Malt Barley AAC Redberry CWRSCDC Copeland Malt Barley AAC Brandon CWRSCDC Austenson Feed Barley AAC Paramount CWSWS*New* AAC Spectrum Yellow PeasCDC Glas FlaxCDC Amarillo Yellow Peas Snowbird FababeansGarde Green Peas Visit us at www.AlectSeeds.ca to learn more about these varieties Call Sarah at 403-443-9599 or email [email protected] to book your seed today! Custom treating available. 1 mile south of Three Hills on Highway 21.Fall 2020 49'