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APG, Pulse Crop News Fall 2018 Issue

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Nevin Rosaasen, APG Policy & Program Specialist POLICY UPDATE KEY AREAS APG IS TARGETING TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY & PROFITABILITY Policy con nues to be an area where the organiza on invests resources and me to improve the profitability of growing pulses in the province. Following are the issue areas and partnering associa ons with which Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) con nues to work to advance the interests of producers. Farm Safety – The new industry-led AgSafe Society is up and running. APG provided substan al background work in developing AgSafe, as well as feedback and input on farm safety programs. APG has also sponsored the development of the grain entrapment safety trailer that growers may have seen at various trade shows and conferences. Business Risk Management – APG con nues to work through Team Alberta, with provincial AFSC programming, as well as with the Grain Growers of Canada and the Ag Growth Coali on to ensure improvements are made to BRM programming. APG also works directly with AFSC on the various pulse crops, including different classes of peas, len ls and dry beans to ensure coverage meets our members' needs. Interna onal Trade – APG works with our na onal partner Pulse Canada to maintain market access and diversify our trading partners. APG has also worked with Team Alberta, Grain Growers of Canada and the Canadian Agri-Food Free Trade Alliance to promote trade agreements and the removal of tariffs at the border of na ons impor ng Canadian pulses. The Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), the CPTPP, NAFTA and, of course, India, have been areas of focus. Sustainability – APG and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry joined together to become the first jurisdic on in North America to have received an Environmental Product Declara on following comple on of the 2017 life cycle assessment. This ini a ve benchmarks the intensity of producing a kilogram of yellow peas. Many European companies are accoun ng for the environmental impact of the products within their value chain. This can help with marke ng Alberta-sourced yellow peas and has revealed current hotspots of produc on to our agronomists, researchers and members, allowing us to focus on reducing costs and, in turn, our overall input intensity. APG, alongside Team Alberta, has developed a self-assessment sustainability tool for Alberta grain farmers at www.farmsustainability.com. This website allows producers to increase their understanding of sustainable sourcing requirements and be er posi ons them to sell their products to large mul -na onals that demand record-keeping, transparency, human and ecological sustainability. This website is an excellent tool to raise awareness of best management prac ces and assess the readiness of an individual opera on to meet sustainability challenges into the future of large interna onal ingredient and distribu on companies. Agri-Environmental Partnership of Alberta (AEPA) – APG Vice-Chair Don Shepert became the new Industry Co-Chair of the partnership this year. Through AEPA, APG engages the provincial government ministries on all areas of environment. Staff from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Alberta Environment and Parks engage with commission staff and directors on environmental issues. AEPA works on watershed and land use planning, climate change mi ga on and adapta on, and water issues including permi ng for drainage and interpreta on of shi ing policy in this area and what it means for producers. Crop Sector Working Group (CSWG) – A subset of AEPA, this group consists of the four major crop commissions (Alberta Barley, Canola, Wheat and Pulse which make up Team Alberta) as well as the Alberta Seed Growers, Potato Growers 8

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