By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday January 13, 2021

Jan 13, 2021 | 10:02 AM

Tony and Francis Gaudet of Bellevue, Sask. have been named Pulse Promoters of the year.

The Gaudet brothers operate Belle Pulses Ltd. processing yellow and green split peas for sale to the global market. Founded in 1979, Belle Pulses is one of the largest processors of split peas in Canada.

The family business began with Grandfather Jean Gaudet, who sold yellow peas to Catelli in Montreal in 1950. Jean’s son Ron Gaudet took over the family business, building a small processing plant on his farm and eventually passed the family business on to Tony and Francis.

The Gaudet’s have grown the Belle Pulses company business to include a second processing plant in Duck Lake, Sask., as well as an elevator service in Montana.

The Pulse Promoter Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development of Saskatchewan’s pulse industry in the areas of production, marketing, promotion, research, extension, processing, management, and innovation.

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The Manitoba government has announced a new process for auction of agricultural Crown lease land starting next month.

Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen said by modernizing service delivery they are better able to meet the needs and expectations of customers.

“The new, online auction format will ensure we can offer all Manitobans the opportunity to rent additional lands that will support their farming operations,” Pedersen said in a news release.

Producers can view a list of agricultural Crown land parcels available to rent for haying, grazing, or cropping.

The online auctions will be hosted by Garton’s Auction Service from Feb. 8 to 12.

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The B.C. government said its land matching program, linking farmers to landowners, has reached a milestone with more than 100 connections.

It said farmers in the province have used the program to grow crops and raise livestock on about 2,000 hectares over the past four years.

A total of 46 land matches were finalized last year, which will bring more local food options to communities.

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said in a media release the program helps farmers access land, keeping it in production, while adding a next generation of agriculture leaders.

Ninety per cent of the matches are in regions with high real estate prices, including Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and the Okanagan.

The businesses farm a range of agricultural products including sheep, flowers, berries, eggs, honey, and mushrooms.

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Canada pushed back against claims its blueberry exports are hurting U.S. producers.

Canadian Embassy officials are making their case today in a hearing with the U.S. International Trade Commission.

The commission is looking into complaints by U.S. blueberry producers that imports from several countries, including Canada, are killing their industry.

Nadia Bourely, the embassy’s minister-counsellor for economic and trade policy, wants the commission to consider Canadian imports separately from countries like Mexico and Peru.

Between 2015 and 2019, Bourely said, U.S. imports from Canada grew by only 15 per cent, while total imports grew nearly 56 per cent.

Canadian growers also point out that Canada is the world’s single largest importer of fresh American blueberries.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF