The Canadian Federation of Agriculture wrapped up its AGM yesterday.

Members  passed 53 resolutions that will outline the groups focus in the coming year. 

This year’s resolutions cover a range of issues, including: conservation, climate change, labour, rural infrastructure, crop protection, international trade, risk management and much more.

CFA delegates also voted in favor of lobbying the federal government to ensure that agricultural producers receive direct compensation for the carbon they sequester in their 
grasslands and grazing lands.

The resolution from the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan noted that producers play a significant role in maintaining and enhancing the carbon sequestration potential of their lands.

APAS says producers deserve recognition and financial support for their invaluable contributions to environmental sustainability.

A resolution calling on the CFA to ask the federal government to work with provincial crop insurance to fully fund a crop insurance yield cushioning policy was also passed. 

APAS calling on any previous years yields used to calculate producers production guarantees be capped at 70 per cent of their individual  long-term average.

They also put forward a couple of resolutions relating to the railways that were passed.

One would see the CFA lobby Transport Canada to provide the Canada Transportation Agency the authority and resources to monitor the rail transportation system, proactively collect information from shippers about rail service, investigate issues as they arise, apply penalties, and make orders to ensure compliance with service standards and obligations set out in the Canada Transportation Act.

They also wanted the CFA to ask Ottawa to ensure that carbon taxes on railway fuel and other inputs are not passed onto shippers in increased freight charges; and that any carbon taxes collected from rail transportation be made available in a separate fund for railways to invest in projects to reduce their emissions and improve efficiency in Canada’s rail transportation sector.

A key resolution from APAS that resonated with delegates in the room focused on the need for more veterinarians.

APAS asking the CFA to lobby the federal government to invest in the expansion and enhancement of veterinary medicine at Canadian colleges to support the recruitment and accreditation of foreign-trained veterinarians.

Director Julie Mortensen  says these foreign trained veterinarians are just as capable and as long as they pass our exams there's no reason why they shouldn't be practicing here in Canada. 

"We have a dire need for them. I think having the government provide this funding to veterinary colleges themselves in order to provide further testing for these foreign trained veterinarians is only a positive thing for our industry."

There's a growing concern right across the country about the need for livestock and production veterinarians in rural areas especially now as some vets are looking at retiring with no one to take over their practice.