December 2007
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December 2007 PLANT SEED NEWS Association of ALBERTA Co-op Seed Cleaning PLANTS Ltd. Contents all. I am pleased to announce asset to this assoc. for years President’s Message 1 that as of Sept. 1, 2007 to come. GM’s Report 2 Bayer CropScience Update 3 Lorena Pahl has served as Important Dates 3 GM for the Seed Industry The ACES committee Morneau Sobeco Update 4 Partnership. Bill Witbeck has continues to develop a work 50 Year Celebrations 4 continued to work with plan to bring this concept - St. Paul Lorena to make this closer to reality. To this end, - Alliance - Taber transition as smooth as funding in the amount of - Three Hills possible. Bill’s last day with $140,000.00 was received Our First Auxiliary Member 9 us was Nov .30 and we wish from ACAAF (Advancing Finding, Selecting and him a long and happy Canadian Agriculture and Keeping Good Employees 10 retirement. Agri-Food). Your New Region 7 Director 11 Manager’s Session 11 Feedback Form 12 As many of you know Nick This money will be used to New Look 12 Markovich decided to retire source outside people to the as the director for Region options available in regards Additional News: seven this past summer. We to industry partnering, • Annual General Meeting Agenda would like to thank Nick for marketing opportunities and • Alberta Branch, CSGA Panel Discussion his 17 years in that capacity. funding options. His knowledge and Seed plant news is now published experience will be missed. I look forward to updating four times annually to member Thank you Nick. you on these and other issues plants, the executives and the that we, the provincial board managers of the Association of Alberta Co-op Seed Cleaning The new director for Region have before us, at the annual Plants Ltd. seven is James Obniawka. general meeting to be held th th James sits on the board of the on January10 – 12 , in President’s Message Sexsmith Seed Cleaning Edmonton. Hope to see you Steven Miller Plant. I know that James will there! represent region seven well. Your provincial Assoc. has As of Aug.1 Westlock had a busy summer dealing Terminals Ltd. became the with many changes. The first auxiliary member of this hiring of a new General Assoc. We welcome them Manager being the most and know that they will be an significant challenge of them 2 SEED PLANT NEWS December 2007 th th General Manager’s meeting January 10 – 12 , There are enough funds in Report 2008 at the Westin Hotel in place to pay for RVT Edmonton. I would like to coordination until December From the desk of... highlight a couple of our 2008 with the possibility of Lorena Pahl, General guest speakers – Brock ACIDF funding the RVTs Manager Ketchum, Director of into 2009. Cooperatives will help us Wow – I can’t believe it is interpret the Cooperatives Additives in grain such as nearing the end of 3 months Act as to whether or not a Phostoxin or Malathion, are since I started as your new plant can dispense with the a safety concern to the seed General Manager, Seed services of an auditor and cleaning plant employees. Industry Partnership. It has what other options might be The Board of Directors been extremely gratifying to available. Tom Goddard, strongly encourages all have Bill on board during Alberta Agriculture and plants to develop a policy this time to help with the Food will update us on the with regards to having transition. We have gone current Alberta Carbon producers inform plant through a pile of information Market situation. David employees if any of their and STORIES! As he is Beckman, our Keynote grain has been treated with preparing to embark on a Speaker, will bring his any such additives. new journey in life or should international agricultural I say heading south with the experiences to a local The Alberta Branch, CSGA rest of the “Snowbirds”, I perspective. The Annual wishes to extend an would like to take this General Meeting package invitation to all seed plant opportunity to express my has been mailed out; directors and employees to sincere thanks and wish you however, we have included attend a panel discussion in the 2008 Agenda in this the afternoon of Monday all best in your retirement! st edition of the Seed Plant January 21 at the Westin A new face in the Lacombe News as a reminder to book Hotel, Edmonton AB. your hotel rooms at the Dissecting the Seed office is Shelley Stibbs who st just started mid November, Westin by December 21 . Industry. SWOTing your has taken over the The hotel can be reached at Seed Business will offer an administration support role. (780) 426-3636. in depth discussion on the Residing in Lacombe, Strengths, Weaknesses, Shelley and her husband The office just received an Opportunities and Threats of originally hail from update on the regional the seed industry. Come Manitoba and together with variety trial (RVT) funding. prepared with questions and their two young boys are The Agriculture Minister has ideas to challenge yourself busy with hockey and agreed to reinstate Alberta and others on the future of soccer!! Welcome Aboard! Agriculture’s in kind support the seed industry. How will Shelley can be reached at (but not cash) to help with the seed industry evolve and (403) 782-8023 or email at the RVTs. The transition what does this mean for your [email protected]. grant from Alberta Ag & seed business? Please refer Food for the RVTs, to assist to the insert for more details. I look forward to seeing in funding the coordinate’s everyone at the annual position, has been extended until March 31st, 2009. 3 SEED PLANT NEWS December 2007 We hope you enjoy some of Market Development of new the new additions to the Seed and existing products, Olds College Seed Fair & Plant Newsletter – 50th including InVigor canola, Hay Show anniversary celebrations! and new crop protection Open House April 5th, 2008 Finding, Selecting and products. Entry Deadlines Keeping Good Employees... Hay & Silage and Meet your New Director. Monica is excited to be back January 31st, 2008 If you have any comments or working with you all and Other Classes ideas as to what information will be out and about in the February 28th, 2008 you would like to see in next few months. Please feel future editions of the Seed free to contact her at: North American Seed Plant newsletter please call (403) 625-7027 or email Fair/AgExpo me at (403) 782-8022 or [email protected] February 27th – 29th, 2008 email at [email protected]. Entry Deadlines Important Dates Hay & Silage th Bayer Update February 8 , 2008 Pesticide Applicators – Other Classes th Monica Klaas is returning to Seed Protectant Tutorials February 15 , 2008 the Bayer CropScience Seed For a complete listing of Exhibition Park, Lethbridge, Treatment Team as Seed dates & locations please go AB Treatment Specialist for to the following link: Alberta. In June of 2007, http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/protenf/pes Northlands Pedigreed Seed ticide/usage/index.html Show Monica moved to assume the Click on Applicator th th role of Territory Sales March 26 - 29 , 2008 Recertification, then Entry Deadlines Manager for the Lethbridge Agriculture area, dealing with the entire All classes Olds College will be offering March 7th, 2008 portfolio of Bayer the following tutorials in ‘08 CropScience products, Northlands, Edmonton, AB Feb. 4-5, Lethbridge, AB including seed treatments, Feb 25th – 26th, Olds College, Peace Country Classic herbicides, fungicides, Olds AB InVigor canola and AgriShow Details will be posted shortly March 6th – 8th, 2008 insecticides. As part of a at the following link or corporate restructuring, the Entry Deadlines for Seed phone (403) 507-7761 Show seed treatment group has http://www.oldscollege.ab.ca/programs th become a very specialized /ContinuingEducation/ All classes February 29 , group consisting of four 2008 people in Canada. Association of Alberta Co- Evergreen Park, Grande op Seed Cleaning Plants Prairie, Alberta This change is part of a Annual General Meeting January 10th – 12th, 2008 FarmTech restructuring initiative that th st had moved Kent Hall, former Westin Hotel, Edmonton January 30 – February 1 2008 Register before January 11th, Seed Treatment Sales 2008 for Early Bird Discounts. Manager for Northern Mayfield Inn & Suites, Alberta into a newly created Edmonton, AB department dedicated to 4 SEED PLANT NEWS December 2007 Morneau Sobeco Participation – Are all Update eligible employees enrolled Spousal Coverage – Did you on the plan? Are you adding know that employees who Association of Alberta Co-op them to the plan promptly so have Health and Dental Seed Cleaning Plants Group as to avoid late application coverage through a spouse Insurance Administrative penalties? All group may waive the health/dental Updates insurance programs require portion of their program, but employees to be enrolled on are still required to join the Is Your Employee Information the plan within 31 days of plan to receive any Life and Being Kept Up-To-Date? becoming eligible. New full Disability benefits for which time employees become they are eligible? Failure to Please take a moment to eligible the 1st of the month enrol employees in the review your most recent following 3 months of Life/Disability benefits could billing statement for employment. Should the result in legal action from the accuracy and advise us employee application not be employee or their immediately of any changes. received within the 31 day beneficiaries in the event of For legal and underwriting period following eligibility, death or disability.