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Agriculture Roundup for Friday March 10, 2023

Mar 10, 2023 | 9:37 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has sent out an advisory regarding the use of garlic in livestock feed.

CFIA said certain feed manufacturers are making insect repellent or fly control claims that feeds that are formulated with garlic control, protect against, or repel flies.

This includes the use of logos, symbols, acronyms and phonetic representations.

CFIA stated the only approved use for garlic in livestock feed is as a flavouring ingredient.

For applications currently submitted or under review, applicants will be contacted and given the opportunity to change their product labels.

New applications associated with insect repellent claims will be screened out and returned.

Alberta wheat producers can claim 74 per cent Scientific Research and Experimental Development Fund (SR&ED) credit on their 2022 taxes.

This is for wheat producers who pay check-off through the AWC and do not request a refund.

As an example, producers who paid $100 in check-off to AWC in 2022 would earn $74 in tax credit.

AWC chair Greg Sears said the SR&ED program is extremely valuable.

“I would encourage all eligible wheat farmers to make their claim,” Sears said. “If you’re a wheat producer in Alberta who pays checkoff, I cannot recommend the SR&ED program enough, especially given that the tax credit is higher than it’s ever been before.”

This is due to the high ratio of research investments made by AWC in relation to the revenue from check-offs in the 2022 tax year which were reduced by approximately 40 per cent due to the 2021 drought.

The tax credit percentage is based on the amount invested in R&D that meets the criteria laid out by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The National Farmers Union (NFU) said workers rights and employer vigilance are needed to stop human trafficking.

In a statement, the NFU said it was horrified by the recent news of human traffickers exploiting 64 undocumented Mexican workers, forcing them to live and work in appalling conditions, including on Ontario farms.

Farmers across Canada have been approached in-person, via email, or by phone by aggressive recruiters promising an easy solution to get much needed labour.

To report a potential human trafficking case, call the Canadian human trafficking hotline 24/7 at 1-833-900-1010.

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW