Message from the CEO

Pam de Rocquigny

Pam de Rocquigny

Chief Executive Officer,
Manitoba Crop Alliance

Mission

For every levy dollar we collect, we maximize these resources into meaningful, independent research, valuable knowledge and targeted advocacy.

Vision

Our investments will make every Manitoba farmer member more productive and sustainable.

DOWNLOAD: Manitoba Crop Alliance Strategic Plan

Our strength is our staff

Our significant accomplishments and highlights from 2023 are extensive. Our team has worked together to create this dynamic annual report that showcases all you need to know. All our activities are farmer led and directed to ensure we invest our farmer members’ dollars wisely and are making strides towards achieving our vision, mission and strategic objectives.

My highlight from the past year has been one of our consistent strengths since we began operations: our staff. Without staff who are leaders, specialists in their fields and team players, we can’t successfully implement the directives of our board and four crop committees for the benefit of our farmer members.

Not many other organizations can say their staff are involved in the development of five AgriScience Program – Clusters applications. Not only that, but they are also leading a research program with hundreds of projects designed to provide solutions to farmers who grow wheat, barley, corn, flax and sunflowers, as well as running our whole farm research program that is addressing the complex research needs of diverse cropping systems across Manitoba.

Our staff are invited to participate on various committees, boards and working groups of our key partners to provide leadership and share their knowledge. They are asked to give presentations at seminars, field tours and other events, sharing their expertise. They deliver a communications program that drives growth and engagement with our members and other industry stakeholders. And they efficiently administer the federal government’s cash advance program, where customer service is a priority. All of this is done with hard work, passion and the ability to laugh each day as a team – and believe me, there is lots of laughter!

I am already looking forward to the upcoming year with much excitement. If you think we accomplished great things this year, just wait! As an organization, we are always looking for new ways to make sure our farmer members remain sustainable – economically, environmentally and socially. I encourage you to stay in touch through our social media platforms, our print publications and our monthly Heads Up e-newsletter. It is here you’ll learn firsthand of the new and exciting initiatives we have planned for 2024.

Respectfully submitted,

Pam de Rocquigny,
CEO

Message from the Chair

Robert Misko

Robert Misko

Chair, Manitoba Crop Alliance

 

Welcome to the 2024 Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) Annual Report, summarizing all our highlights and achievements from 2023.

Last year, we completely reimagined what this report could look like to make it more engaging and accessible for all our farmer members – moving from a traditional report to a digital format with less text, more visuals and increased emphasis on interactivity. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, so we hope to build off that success in this year’s report.

As a member-focused organization, MCA views every program we run and every project we undertake through the lens of member value, and our annual report is one of most impactful ways we communicate the value of our work back to farmer members. If you’ve ever wondered, “What does MCA do with my check-off dollars? Where do they go?” this report is your in-depth answer to that crucial question. Hopefully, it’s an answer that leaves you satisfied you’re getting great value from your investment in us.

As a member-focused organization, MCA views every program we run and every project we undertake through the lens of member value, and our annual report is one of most impactful ways we communicate the value of our work back to farmer members. If you’ve ever wondered, “What does MCA do with my check-off dollars? Where do they go?” this report is your in-depth answer to that crucial question. Hopefully, it’s an answer that leaves you satisfied you’re getting great value from your investment in us.

We could not do any of the work we do without the support of our membership. This support is not only in the form of check-off dollars, but also service on our board of directors and crop committees, attendance at our events, and participation in our farmer-driven initiatives such as the Research on the Farm program and variety performance trials. The high level of engagement and collaboration among the thousands of wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax farmers here in Manitoba demonstrates what we can accomplish when we work together and the power we have to create positive change for our industry.

In closing, as always, I would like to thank all our farmer members for their continued support, and for placing their trust in us. It is a responsibility we do not take lightly.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert Misko,
Chair

 

 

Our 2023 Team

Chief Executive Officer

Pam de Rocquigny

Chief Executive Officer
Chief Operating Officer

Darcelle Graham

Chief Operating Officer
Research Program Manager - Cereal Crops

Lori-Ann Kaminski

Research Program Manager – Cereal Crops
Research Program Manager – Special Crops

Madison Kostal

Research Program Manager – Special Crops
Agronomy Extension Specialist - Special Crops

Morgan Cott

Agronomy Extension Specialist – Special Crops
Agronomy Extension Specialist - Cereal Crops

Andrew Hector

Agronomy Extension Specialist – Cereal Crops
Whole Farm Specialist

Ashley Ammeter

Whole Farm Specialist
Research Trial Specialist

Daryl Rex

Research Trial Specialist
Advance Payments Program Officer

Tammy Cote

Advance Payments Program Officer
Administrative Assistant

Rae Jackson

Administrative Assistant
Communications Advisor

Tyler Difley

Communications Advisor
Communications Manager

Cole Christensen

Communications Manager
Research Program Manager - Special Crops Currently on Parental Leave

Katherine Stanley

Research Program Manager – Special Crops Currently on Parental Leave

2023 Board of Directors

Chair

Robert Misko

Chair
Vice-Chair

Jonothan Hodson

Vice-Chair
Secretary

Warren McCutcheon

Secretary
Gregg Fotheringham

Gregg Fotheringham

Mark McDonald

Mark McDonald

Eric Fridfinnson

Eric Fridfinnson

Ryan Hueging

Ryan Hueging

Nick Matheson

Nick Matheson

Boris Michaleski

Boris Michaleski

Rauri Qually

Rauri Qually

Carl Bangert

Carl Bangert

2023 Crop Committee Delegates

Wheat & Barley Crop Committee

  • Sheila Elder

    Wawanesa, MB
  • Josee Saquet

    Laurier, MB
  • Fred Greig

    Reston, MB
  • Robert Misko

    Roblin, MB
  • Scott Mowbray

    Cartwright, MB
  • Brad Myskiw*

    Warren, MB
  • Rauri Qually

    Dacotah, MB
  • Boris Michaleski*

    Ashville, MB
  • Ryan Hueging

    Woodlands, MB
  • Wilfred Harder

    Lowe Farm, MB

Corn Crop Committee

  • Hubert Preun*

    St. Andrews, MB
  • Carl Bangert

    Beausejour, MB
  • Jonothan Hodson

    Lenore, MB
  • Warren McCutcheon*

    Carman, MB
  • Emile Morin

    Otterburne, MB
  • Richard Dureault

    Fannystelle, MB
  • Riley Anderson

    Morris, MB
  • Doug Martin

    East Selkirk, MB

Sunflower Crop Committee

  • Sally Parsonage*

    Baldur, MB
  • Myles Kubinec

    Holland, MB
  • Korey Peters

    Randolph, MB
  • Edgar Scheurer*

    Dugald, MB
  • Gregg Fotheringham

    Reston, MB
  • Mark McDonald

    Virdin, MB
  • Darcy Watson

    Rossendale, MB
  • Dave Van Buuren

    Pipestone, MB

Flax Crop Committee

  • Lorne Johnson

    Arborg, MB
  • Lance Biernes

    Winnipeg, MB
  • Jack Hodgson*

    Roland, MB
  • Dean Buchanan

    Crystal City, MB
  • Eric Fridfinnson*

    Arborg, MB
  • Nick Matheson

    Stonewall, MB
  • Darcy Unger

    Stonewall, MB
  • Leigh Smith

    Oak Lake, MB
* denotes Whole Farm Research Committee members

Investing in research with a clear impact on your farm

Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) invested 54 per cent of our 2022-23 annual expenses towards research & production, totaling $3,317,180. Our research priorities can be found here.

Objective #1
The research, production and extension services we undertake will have a clear impact on the farms of our members. We will fund research to provide the data that supports and aids members in making decisions for their operations.

Total Active Research Projects in 2022-2023

In 2022-23, MCA committed to 12 new projects in flax, wheat, barley, sunflower and whole farm with a total project value of $3,759,000, with MCA contributing $569,161. For a list of new research commitments in 2022-23 click here.

MCA_Donut-Chart-2022-23-Investing-in-Research-v2-opt
MCA_Total-Variety-Dev-investment-graphic-v5-opt

Key Result #4
Variety development is a key tool to ensuring profitability and unlocks yield potential and agronomic constraints. We will evaluate how we can support variety development research in each crop type, over a five-year time frame.

New Signed Research Commitments 2021-22

2024

Total Projects: 15
Projects by Crop Committee: Flax (2), Sunflower (2), Wheat and Barley (8), Whole Farm (3).
Lifetime Value: $4,614,095
Total MCA Contribution: $848,807

For a full list of new signed research commitments in 2021-22, click here

Production Resources

Our agronomy extension specialists created several articles and factsheets throughout the year, providing valuable information to our farmer members to help them make productive and sustainable decisions.

2024

Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC)

In 2023, the CWRC – a collaboration between Alberta Grains, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and MCA – appointed a new president, following the transition of hosting duties from Alberta Grains to MCA.

Lori-Ann Kaminski, research program manager for cereal crops with MCA, is the new CWRC president. The president, who is appointed from the host organization and approved by the CWRC board of directors, is the key contact for external stakeholders.

Visit wheatresearch.ca

Manitoba was the host of the CWRC and Canadian Barley Research Coalition meetings at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Morden Research and Development Centre in July 2023.

Research Extension & Participation

  • MCA presented to University of Manitoba researchers details of our research program, sharing crop research priorities on our crop types to facilitate research.
  • We engaged with Manitoba Agriculture’s new Diversification Centre Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC). The purpose of the PAC is to grow partnerships and foster innovation in Manitoba to ensure a full realization of the optimum role of Diversification Centres moving forward and open up new avenues for collaborative opportunities.
  • MCA whole farm specialist Ashley Ammeter attended the Canadian Tri-Society Meeting of the Canadian Society of Agronomy, Canadian Phytopathology Society and Canadian Society for Horticulture Science June 17-21 in Ottawa and shared a poster featuring MCA’s experience with on-farm research.
  • Each year, MCA participates in the Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC) annual meetings. In March, two MCA staff and four delegates attended PGDC’s 2023 meetings, which were held in person for the first time since 2019. Learn more here.

Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit

The SR&ED tax credit is based on the amount of check-off funds invested in research and development that meet specific criteria set out by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

For the 2022-2023 tax year, farmer members can calculate their total check-off contribution by referring to their wheat (spring and winter), barley, corn, flax and sunflower sale receipts.

mca-sred-tax-credit-fact-2023_v1-opt

Production & Extension

research-project-01-bg

MCA has a strong production and extension program that is led by our two agronomy extension specialists, Morgan Cott (special crops) and Andrew Hector (cereal crops), and our whole farm specialist, Ashley Ammeter. The goal of our program is to provide valuable and timely information to our farmer members to help them make productive decisions on their farm.

The resources our specialists create, either alone or through collaboration with our commodity group partners, are some of the most viewed and downloaded content from our recently redesigned website.

Learn More

New Resources for 2023

Alternatives To Lambda-Cyhalothrin For 2023
Bacterial Leaf Streak and Black Chaff of Cereal Crops in The Prairies
Field Scouting for Cutworms
Cereal Crop Issues of 2023
Fall Considerations for Cereals
2023 Malting Barley Seeding & Production Considerations
Varietal Purity: A Cornerstone of Canada’s Malting Barley Value Proposition
Best Management Practices for Herbicide Resistant Weeds in Sunflowers
Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Options for Barley
Factsheet: Sunflower Herbicide Recropping Restrictions
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Whole Farm Research

In 2022-23, MCA had 30 active projects funded with a total project value of $19,272,109 across the eight priority areas.

More information about the program is available here.

  • Total active projects:30
  • Total project value: $19,272,109

Research on the Farm (ROTF)

A total of 11 different protocols were tested in the 2023 growing season on barley, corn, flax, sunflower and spring wheat across 65 trial locations. A full list of protocols and results is available here.

In the fall of 2023, two winter wheat protocols were added on seeding rate and fertilizer usage for the 2024 ROTF program.

There have been 220 ROTF participating trial locations since 2020, covering wheat, barley, sunflower, flax and corn.

Manitoba Corn Committee (MCC) and Sunflower Variety Performance Trials (VPT)

2023 program highlights

  • New trial locations: Beausejour for both MCC trials and Sunflower VPT, and Newton for MCC trials.
  • Total of 12 MCC trials (nine grain corn and three silage corn) and five Sunflower VPT were co-ordinated.

Fun Fact!

The MCC has been evaluating corn hybrids in Manitoba since 1957.

MCA_MCC-and-SVPT-map-graphic-2023_v2-opt

Supporting market development and access that benefits our farmer members

Objective #2
We will continue to support market development and access that directly benefits farmer members.

Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) leverages its collaborative partnerships with organizations to support market development and access initiatives. Our staff, directors, delegates and farmer members are also directly involved in several ways: providing leadership on boards of directors, directing and funding research, and showing customers how our farmers sustainably grow high-quality grain for domestic and export markets.

KEY RESULT #1Fund and provide representation for key organizations that work to establish, develop, and grow domestic and international markets and access for our farmer members

Learn More

KEY RESULT #2Fund and support research and shared knowledge that demonstrates how our farmer members grow high quality crops using science-based and sustainable practices

Learn More

KEY RESULT #3Reach consumers and end users to share factual, science-based knowledge about how our farmer members grow the crops we represent

Learn More

Serving as a voice of farmers in areas that matter

Objective #3
We will focus on being a voice for Manitoba farmers by sharing the impact of government policies on their operation and backing it up with our research and lived experience on their farms.

Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) takes a strategic approach to ensuring farmers’ voices are heard by the provincial and federal governments on issues impacting their operations. We are members of organizations that have a core focus on policy work to leverage their expertise for the benefit of our farmer members. The expanded advocacy section on our new website showcases the advocacy principles and engagement we have undertaken on issues facing Manitoba farmers, as an organization and alongside our partner organizations.

National

Through our partnerships with the Grain Growers of Canada and Cereals Canada, we ensured Manitoba farmers were represented at a national level on several important issues:

  • We participated in the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) drafting sessions in February 2023, with delegates and staff providing farmer feedback. MCA encouraged broad farmer member participation in public drafting sessions held in March 2023 through our social media platforms. MCA submitted a formal response that can be read here.
  • We engaged in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Sustainable Agriculture Strategy through our strategic partnerships with Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) & Cereals Canada. Directors, delegates and staff participated directly in our partners’ various working groups to provide farmer input into each organization’s respective submission.
  • MCA director Jonothan Hodson and sunflower delegate Sally Parsonage (pictured below with former federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau [left]) attended GGC’s National Grain Week March 27-29, 2023. Read more about their involvement and the benefits of having Manitoba farmers’ voices heard in Ottawa here.
  • We were invited to join the new Field Crops Table alongside other Canadian crop industry stakeholders. AAFC has retired its Value Chain Roundtables industry engagement model and replaced it with Sector Engagement Tables, such as the Field Crops Table, which are intended to create purposeful dialogue between agriculture and agri-food sector representatives and government officials to collectively advance growth and competitiveness in Canada. A strategic planning session was held in October 2023 with chief executive officer Pam de Rocquigny representing MCA.

Provincial

In the last year, MCA has advocated for farmer members on several provincial issues:

  • MCA enjoys a strong working relationship with Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). Annually, we meet with MASC’s board of directors and senior staff, and in March 2023, we discussed the following topics with them:
    • We want to see AgriInsurance programming continuing to support Manitoba farmers in a reliable and predictable fashion to help mitigate production risk.
    • We conveyed the importance of adequate MASC staffing levels to ensure farmers have timely access to service and information.
    • We expressed strong concern about linking sustainability outcomes to AgriInsurance programming and that BRM programs continue to be focused on providing safety nets for Manitoba farmers when faced with production challenges.
  • In 2022, we requested MASC include MCA crop types in their Contract Price Option (CPO) and worked with their staff to provide data in support of the request. We were pleased by the announcement at Manitoba Ag Days 2023 of the CPO expansion, which means more of our farmer members will now have access to this valuable business risk management support.
  • We were instrumental in getting Carbine insecticide approved for emergency use registration to control lygus bug in confection sunflowers in Manitoba alongside Manitoba Agriculture and FMC. The need was identified in the wake of the re-evaluation of lambda-cyhalothrin product use in Canada. Read more here.
  • We expanded our crop profile information for the crop types we represent through a partnership with LeftField Commodity Research. The updated, interactive webpage with one-page resources provides us with the data needed to showcase the significant economic contribution these crops make to Manitoba and Canada as a whole. Read more here.
  • We engaged with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) through attendance and active participation at their 2023 Annual General Meeting and Advisory Council meetings. MCA chair Robert Misko & CEO Pam de Rocquigny presented our strategic objectives to KAP’s board of directors at their June 2023 board meeting.
  • MCA’s chair Robert Misko and chief operating officer Darcelle Graham attended an industry engagement session on June 29, 2023, in support of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture meeting.

Communicating with farmer members on topics that matter

Objective #4
We want every member to use the information we produce to make productive and sustainable decisions on their farm.

Over the last year, our communications program has expanded and evolved in our efforts to keep our farmer members informed and help them engage with the programs and services we offer.

Because we are a member-focused organization, member feedback is an important metric of success for our communications. This feedback is reflected through direct interaction with our farmer members and through engagement with our various communications channels.

Highlights have included:

  • The complete redesign of mbcropalliance.ca
  • Creation of enhanced crop profiles for each of the crop types we represent
  • Several informative events hosted in partnership with our fellow Manitoba commodity groups and other industry partners
  • Earned media coverage in a variety of agriculture publications to amplify our messaging and bolster our reputation as an industry leader

A Look at our 2022-23 Communications Program

Heads Up

Heads up | MCA E-Newsletter
  • Monthly e-newsletter delivering information of interest to our farmer members, including agronomy and production resources, news and event listings
  • One special edition focused on flax in 2023
  • Grew our audience by more than 120 subscribers year-over-year, a 9.4 per cent increase
  • Metrics continued to show a higher-than-average volume of engagement and readership

The Fence Post

The Fence Post
  • Biannual magazine featuring in-depth feature articles and updates on MCA programs and initiatives
  • Mailed to every farmer member across Manitoba
  • Read the spring/summer 2023 or fall/winter 2023 editions

The Focal Point

the Focal Point
  • Annual magazine delivering the latest in-depth information and results from farmer-funded research projects
  • Mailed to every farmer member across Manitoba
  • Read the winter 2023 edition

Social Media

  • Used as a platform to communicate activities and updates with members, industry and the public
  • New “It Pays to be a Member” campaign in 2023 to highlight the return on investment farmer members have received through MCA initiatives funded by check-off dollars
  • Audience/Follower Growth (2022-23 fiscal year)
    • X (formerly Twitter): 17.9 per cent (+257)
    • Facebook: 80.8 per cent (+47)
    • Instagram: 25.2 per cent (+124)

Events

CropConnect 2023
CropConnect 2023
CropConnect 2023
Crop Connect 2023
Farmer Day at CDS
Farmer Day at CDS
Farmer Day at CDS
Farmer Day at CDS
Grain Dryer Setup College
Grain Dryer Setup College
Grain Dryer Setup College
Producer Malt Academy
Seeder and Sprayer College
Seeder and Sprayer College
Seeder and Sprayer College
Seeder and Sprayer College
Seeder and Sprayer College
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  • Producer Malt Academy
  • CropConnect Conference
  • Seeder and Sprayer College
  • Farmer Day at the Crop Diagnostic School
  • Grain Dryer Setup College

Delivering value

Throughout 2023, we checked in with farmer members and external stakeholders who participated in Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) events and program offerings to ensure these activities are valuable to our membership and the broader agriculture community.

We received extremely positive feedback, which gives us confidence that we are delivering value in the areas that matter most.

“Tammy and Rae are the most organized, efficient people we have had to deal with. They know everything about the program and are so quick with processing the cash advance. As long as you have these two women working with us, no improvements are necessary.”

– Stephen and Patricia Hoyes
   Regarding the Advance Payments Program

“I really enjoy hosting groups for the Cereals Canada Technical Exchange farm tours. I get to meet inquisitive minds from around the world. The ability to collaborate and learn from each other is so valuable. It’s a great opportunity to build relationships that hopefully support a strong supply chain.”

– Tom Greaves
   regarding the Cereals Canada Technical Exchange Farm Tour

“I appreciated the opportunity to attend Cereal Canada’s Combine to Customer program. It was very interesting to learn about all aspects of grain movement, from harvest through processing to the end user. The professional presentations and hands-on tours of their research facilities – covering grading, testing, milling, and dough and noodle making – were informative and practical for understanding the many uses and products of our Canadian agriculture production around the world.”

– Cameron Hildebrand
   Regarding Cereal Canada’s Combine to Customer Program

“It was a privilege to attend the inaugural Wheat Retreat and learn from world class wheat experts, from culinary applications to nutritional properties and everything in between. As a Canadian, I was proud to learn that the wheat grown in our country is highly sought after for its quality. As a global citizen, I took pause to notice how wheat plays an integral role in nearly every cuisine. As a Registered Dietitian, I was reminded how wheat contributes to a nourishing, balanced diet. I’m grateful to have had this opportunity to take a deep dive into learning about this amazing food!”

– Jessica Penner
   Regarding What About Wheat? Wheat Retreat

“The bursary I received from MCA significantly helped towards my agribusiness diploma to cover the cost of my tuition this year. With inflation so high on living expenses and commuting an hour to college every day, the MCA bursary gave me some financial stability throughout my winter term. I was honoured to be a recipient.”

– Stephanie Manning
   Regarding MCA’s Bursary Program

“The Producer Malt Academy was a great refresher and reminder of what malting means, including all the ins and outs of the process and our local, western Canadian influence on the world malting and beer industry. The networking part was great, too.”

– Chris Raupers
   Regarding Producer Malt Academy

“The MCA sessions are always good because they work to bring in relevant speakers with interesting topics. It’s a great opportunity to stay current with new research and issues relevant to the farm.”

– Jeff Elder
   Regarding Manitoba Ag Days Speaker Session

“Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, events like our speaker session at Manitoba Ag Days gave us the opportunity to show farmer members what MCA is all about and demonstrate what we are doing with their check-off dollars. This session did an excellent job of highlighting some of MCA’s investments in research, which is one of the top priorities for our members across the province.”

– Jonothan Hodson
   Regarding Manitoba Ag Days Speaker Session

“Attending the grain dryer clinic was beneficial to me because I wanted to switch from batch drying to continuous drying to increase my efficiency. Talking to everyone there, especially other local farmers, made me more confident to switch, which saved us lots of time and energy drying corn this fall. The event was well rounded, with industry experts from each aspect of buying and running a grain dryer. There are many ways to dry grain, so discussing good and bad ideas with multiple sources was valuable to my farm.”

– Tyler Menold
   Regarding Grain Dryer Setup College

“I enjoyed the Seeder and Sprayer College and I plan to attend again in the future. I definitely learned a few things that will bring beneficial improvements to the efficiencies on my farm.”

– Gerald Schindel
   Regarding Seeder and Sprayer College

Maintaining a lean and efficient operation guided by farmer-member input

Objective #5
Our organization will be a lean and efficient operation with farmer member input to inform and shape our decisions.

Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), under the guidance of the board of directors and with the support of the four crop committees, efficiently operated within the 2022-23 budget while meeting our strategic plan objectives of investing in research and production, market development and access, advocacy, and communications activities that benefit our farmer members.

Financials

In 2022-23, MCA’s revenues decreased from the previous fiscal year, which is reflective of the drought conditions during the growing season in Manitoba. To ensure fiscal responsibility, the board of directors reviewed and revisited the budget in December 2022 to current, adjusting as necessary. The total excess of revenues over expenses is $2,656,977.

Investment in research and production was lower than budgeted due to delays in approval and contract signing associated with Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership programming. As a result, planned research project payments to be paid in the 2022-23 program year have been deferred to the 2023-24 fiscal year.

MCA_Donut-Chart-2022-23-Expenses-opt

MCA invested 54 per cent of total expenditures in research and production. This value is down due to delays in research funding and contract signing, which has made our investment lower than planned.

MCA is reporting a refund rate of 6.97 per cent. This is a testament to the support of MCA farmer members for our activities.

Crop Research Funds – For 2022-23, a total of $1,550,028 will be transferred to MCA’s operating account. The detailed totals are listed in Note 13 on the 2022-23 Audited Financial Statements.

2023-24 Budget

MCA_Donut-Chart-2023-24-Fiscal-Year-Budget-v2-opt

Included within the 2023-24 budget is the renovation of the east side of the MCA building located at 38-4th Avenue N.E. This renovation will serve to meet the needs of the operations and staff of the amalgamated organization and create significant benefits for our farmer members and staff. Office functionality will be improved, including improved privacy for our cash advance clients who come to our office. The renovation is set to be complete in February 2024. Previously, no substantial renovations had been made to the building since its construction in 2000.

 

As part of MCA’s fiscal responsibility, the MCA board of directors revisited the previously approved 2023-24 fiscal year budget at the Dec. 13, 2023, board meeting.

For the 2023-24 fiscal year, the board of directors is projecting revenues at $8,960,948 and total expenses of $9,066,998. A negative net balance of $106,049 is projected. As per the amalgamation agreement, MCA annually transfers total research commitments from the founding organizations’ research reserve accounts into the MCA general. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, a total of $1,550,028 will positively adjust the net revenue to $1,443,978. MCA is committed to meeting our amalgamation agreement by expending the founding organizations revenues on the crop received.

A breakdown of expenses is as follows:

  • 64 per cent on Research & Production
  • 13 per cent on General Administration
  • 13 per cent on Market Development & Access
  • 7 per cent on Communications
  • 3 per cent on the Advance Payments Program

MCA Farmer Members

MCA_Farmer-Members-Graphic_01-2023
MCA_Farmer-Members-Graphic_02-2023
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All Delegates Meeting, Brandon, MB

MCA held the first in-person all delegates meeting in Brandon, MB, Jan. 25-26, 2023. These two days emphasized the importance of our crop committees, provided opportunities for cross-crop learning and team building, and facilitated stronger relationships between our directors and delegates and our staff.

MB-delegates-meeting-crop-group-2023

Advance Payments Program

A cash advance offers up to $1 million in cash flow to all farmers.

mca-app-logos_2023

Each year, Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) administers the Advance Payments Program (APP), which offers Canadian farmers marketing flexibility through interest-free and low-interest cash advances.

Highlights from the 2023 Program Year

  • Up to $350,000 interest-free for eligible commodities*
    *Interest-free limit increased to $350,000 from $250,000 effective May 8, 2023, for the 2023 program year
  • Prime rate less 0.50 per cent on the interest-bearing portion, a better rate than the 2022 program year
  • Launched “Beat the Bank” poster campaign to raise awareness of the program, targeting grain buyers, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation offices and other farmer touchpoints
  • Unveiled a new program logo that builds off MCA’s strong brand

Benefits of a Cash Advance

  • Allows farmers the flexibility to market their products, while maximizing the price and profits for their farm
  • Reduced borrowing costs, with the interest-free benefit covered by AAFC and a low interest rate on the interest-bearing portion
  • Ability to borrow against your production, at various production stages

2023 Program Year Statistics (at the time of this report)

  • 323 farmer clients
    • This represents a 9.3 per cent increase compared with the 2022 program year
  • 8,500-plus page visits on MCA’s cash advance webpages in the 2022-23 fiscal year

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, MCA is reporting an excess of revenue over expenses of $144,280.

For more information: mbcropalliance.ca/advance-payments-program-cash-advance/.