An Alberta farmer has been named the new president of the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA).
Brad Boettger is a fourth-generation farmer from the Tofield/Ryley area that grows a variety of crops including oats, barley, wheat, fall rye, peas, faba beans, and canola.
“I am pleased to accept the President position for POGA,” Boettger said in a news release. “I want to sincerely thank our outgoing President, Jenneth Johanson, for her tireless leadership and dedication to representing oat growers across Western Canada.”
Johanson said it was a pleasure to lead the POGA Board for the past 4 years.
“I am certain that POGA is in good hands under Brad’s leadership, and I look forward to continue working with him in his new leadership role,” Johanson said.
POGA is a producer-led organization representing oat producers from the three Prairie Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Canada is the largest exporter of oats in the world and POGA represents about 90 per cent of those growers.
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Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau launched a new phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF).
It is a five-year, $70-million initiative that was created as part of the Government of Canada’s Food Policy. LFIF supports community-based, not-for-profit organizations to improve food security by improving access to nutritious food.
This new phase of LFIF will provide rapid-response funding in the range of $15,000 to $120,000 per project to help improve food security in communities through investments in equipment and infrastructure needs. Projects must be directly related to addressing food security and increasing the accessibility of healthy, nutritious, and ideally local foods within communities.
For example, a project could help purchase and install a walk-in refrigerator or storage units for donated food.
Eligible applicants from across Canada will be able to submit applications until May 31.
Organizations who have received LFIF funding in the past will be eligible to apply under this new funding program.
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Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) is continuing its community initiative supporting agricultural societies on the Prairies.
The RME Right by You Ag Society Grant launched in 2021 and contributes funding to four agricultural societies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Chief Sales and Operations Officer Jim Wood said RME is investing in the long-term development and wellbeing of its network of communities.
“The impact of agriculture societies in rural areas is deep rooted, and their longevity is crucial to the communities that we serve. We’re proud to continue our support and grow together with the RME Right By You Ag Society Grant,” Wood said.
Wood said he was happy to see the previous recipients’ progress including the Blackie and District Agricultural Society investing in a new boiler system and new fencing for the Invermay Agricultural Society. Two Hills and District Agricultural Society refinished the exterior entrance on the Centennial Arena while Killarney Agricultural Society worked on revitalizing its community walking path.
Four ag societies will be selected this year to receive the grant of $10,000 each.
Ag societies must apply to the grant program to be considered for the funding. Eligible projects must be completed within two years.
Applications close July 30. The successful applicants will be announced on Sept. 30.
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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW
