The Alberta Beekeepers Commission, Alberta Seed Growers, Alberta Sugar Beet Growers and Potato Growers of Alberta have joined Team Alberta Crops, an April 7 news release says. Previously Team Alberta Crops included Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola, Alberta Pulse Growers and the Alberta Wheat Commission.
“Team Alberta Crops is effective in representing a wide variety of agricultural products, farmers, beekeepers, and a diversity of perspectives providing robust advocacy delivered on behalf of the sector,” Greg Sears, chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission, says in the release. “Over the years, Team Alberta Crops has become widely recognized as an impactful collaboration that advocates and influences policy on behalf of farmers.”
The release notes the group provides input to policymakers, as well as developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships to ensure access to promote the sector’s sustainability. Team Alberta Crops has achieved results in many areas, including Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) for Class 1 drivers, business risk management programs and farm sustainability.
“We welcome the opportunity to add the voices of crop producers that may be more specialized in nature like potatoes, sugar beets, bees, and seed growers to Team Alberta Crops,” Tracy Niemela, president of Alberta Seed Growers, says in the release. “Uniting the advocacy efforts of eight agricultural organizations will increase the effectiveness for all farmers.”
The group has also hired Reg Warkentin as their government relations and policy manager.
“It is a brilliant initiative to combine the resources and influence of the commissions to address joint interests,” Warkentin says in the release. “I plan to apply my skills and experience with multiple stakeholders to work effectively with the Team Alberta Crops partners to develop policy, build relationships, and communicate our key positions to government, industry and the public.”
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