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Forecasting for Fusarium

A new research project aims to uncover important clues to improve forecasting and risk management for Fusarium Head Blight, Canada's most costly grain disease.

It could be called the Mona Lisa smile or Stonehenge of wheat diseases - Fusarium Head Blight, a complex and mysterious disease that seemingly came out of nowhere in the past decade to threaten production and puzzle researchers.

View the article in PDF format - Forecasting for Fusariam

Warning

Imports of feed and seed grain into Alberta are not being tested for Fusarium Graminearum; a devastating pathogen that can destroy cereal crops. Fusarium can be spread through infected grain, grass or corn by wind, crop residue or contaminated trucks and equipment. This fungus can destroy Alberta's grain industry by reducing quality, feed efficiency, and eliminate malt and seed potential. Manitoba grain producers are losing over $40 Million dollars a year to this pathogen. Fusarium Graminearum is a declared pest under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act, which means measures, must be taken to prevent, control or destroy this pest. Any violation can result in fines or imprisonment. This dreaded disease has been called "The Hoof and Mouth Disease of the Grain Industry" 

Insist on an accredited test for Fusarium Graminearum on any grain, grass-hay, straw or corn that you may be purchasing that was produced out of province. For more information or to express your concerns, please contact your agricultural fieldman or local municipality. 

Protect Yourself, Protect Your Industry 

Read more about this devasting pathogen: 

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Tax Savings?

Can you save taxes by claiming the Investment Tax Credit? Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) allows producers to take advantage of the Investment Tax Credit by claiming money contributed for research and development in areas such as royalties.

But according to chartered accountant, Mark Tetreau, the rules are very specific so producers who are looking to claim for expenses on royalties may find the tax savings too small to make it worth the effort.

"If it can be shown that royalties are used for research and development then there is a chance that an investment tax credit may be received," says Tetreau. "It is my opinion that this would be a big stretch. Generally royalties pay for a product that has already gone through all the research and development stages."

Tetreau says that if a producer wants to try designating royalties as research and development expenditures, they should get a letter from the organization that was paid the royalty.

For more information on tax savings and royalties, contact an accountant with an understanding of agricultural issues.

There is another way for producers to take advantage of tax savings with the Investment Tax Credit. This credit opens the door for farmers to claim through producer groups. For more information on this, read Research Tax Credits Now Available below.

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Research Tax Credits Now Available

From the Alberta Barley Commission Barley Country

Alberta's farmers are now able to take advantage of a new ruling by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) that allows them to claim and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on the portion of their checkoff dollars that is used to support research and development through producer groups.

To qualify, payments made by producer groups must be paid to CCRA-approved associations, universities, and research institutes. Canadian universities have received approval. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada applied for and were approved in 2001. Therefore, payments made by the Alberta Barley Commission to Canadian universities and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for research qualify.

However, Alberta Agriculture's Crop Development Centre in Lacombe has not yet been approved, although they have applied to CCRA. A large portion of Alberta Barley Commission research dollars are directed annually to the Crop Development Centre in Lacombe for their valuable research on agronomy, breeding and disease. In subsequent years, once Alberta Agriculture has received approval the eligible portion of total checkoff dollars will be substantially higher.

The Alberta Barley Commission has determined that 19% of the total checkoffs received in 2002 are eligible for barley farmers to claim as an ITC. Farmers will need to keep receipts to substantiate checkoffs paid to the various producer organizations and keep in mind that, after receiving the allowable percentages from each group, only one tax return should be filed with CCRA.

Of the 19%, individual farmers can claim 20% as an investment tax credit, while farmers who operations are incorporated can claim 35%. For example, if a farmer contributed $200 to the Alberta Barley Commission, $38 would be eligible to earn a tax credit. If the farmer's operation is not incorporated, he or she can claim 20% of the $38, which equals $7.60. However, if the farmer's operation is incorporated, the company can claim 35% or $13.30 as an investment tax credit.

The Investment Tax Credit can be used in the following ways:

  • to offset federal tax owing in the current year,
  • if no taxes are owing, a portion may be refunded to you in the current year if you are an individual (up to 40%) or all of the credit may be refunded if you are a corporation,
  • if can be carried forward up to 10 years to offset federal tax, or
  • it can be carried back up to three years to reduce federal tax paid in those years.

Farmers have up to 17 1/2 month from the end of their fiscal year to apply for the credit, while Canadian-controlled, privately-held corporations have up to 18 months. CCRA has asked that farmers wait until they have heard from all producer groups before filing their income tax return. Individual farmers will claim the ITC using Form T2038IND and farm corporations will use Schedule T2SCH31. When filing your return, please indicate on the top of the form that the claim is related to checkoff contributions.

This article is reproduced with permission from the Alberta Barley Commission Barley Country, Winter 2002 issue.

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Seed Sample Pails

In what condition are your retained seed samples?

In a perfect world they would be all secure in a mouse proof, stackable containers and organized to boot. If you have always planned on getting something better than what you have, then look no further. The Alberta Branch, Canadian Seed Growers' Association has followed Manitoba's initiative of making available, for the CSGA membership and the Alberta Seed Plant Association members, plastic pails for storing seed samples.

We can supply 11 litre pails which will hold about 10 kg of clean wheat and about 8 kg of clean barley, thus adequate for retained sample sizes suggested by CSI. These pails come with a handle and a lid.

These pails will be available at a cost of $4.00 each including GST. You can arrange to pick up your order from a director near you by contacting one on the following list. This is a good opportunity to get to know some of our directors and perhaps discuss issues or concerns.

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