|
|
CAAP
Application Deadlines:
Projects where the requested amount is over $10,000:
June 20, 2011
Projects where the requested amount is $10,000 or less:
May 18, 2011
For more information on or to apply to the CAAP program, please go to
www.agcouncil.ca/caap.htm.
|
|
ACS Annual General
Meeting and Industry Forum - Thursday, June 16 in Regina
|
|
 The ACS Annual General Meeting and Industry Forum will
be held on Thursday, June 16, 2011 in Salon 3 of the Queensbury
Convention Centre at Regina's Evraz Place. For the sixth year in a
row, the AGM will be held on site at the Western Canada Farm Progress
Show.
The
business portion of the meeting will run from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00
a.m. After the AGM, Tulay Yildirim, Acting Executive Director of
Strategic Policy Development for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
will provide an update on Growing Forward 2.
The theme of this year's Industry Forum, which starts
at 12:30 p.m., is Beyond the Horizon: Creating Opportunity and
Prosperity in Saskatchewan Agriculture. It will start off with a
panel of successful Saskatchewan agricultural entrepreneurs who have
received funding through ACS programming.
Following the panel, Dr.David Sparling of the
University of Western Ontario will present Farms and Food in 2020:
Canada's Agri-Food Future.
The
Industry Forum is open to the public. The AGM is open to ACS members,
supporters and invited guests. Only members who have paid their fees
in advance will be eligible to vote.
For
more information, please go to the ACS website or
contact Dallas Carpenter, ACS Communications Manager, at 975-6856 or carpenterd@agcouncil.ca.
|
|
CAAP funding update
|
|
 Since April 1, 2009, the ACS Board of Directors has
approved Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) funding for 55 projects
for a total commitment of $5,773,441 for Saskatchewan
projects. ACS delivers CAAP in Saskatchewan on behalf of Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
CAAP is a five-year (2009-2014), $163 million national AAFC
initiative. This federal program encourages farmers, processors,
distributors, and retailers to work together to find innovative
solutions to common concerns and to explore new market opportunities.
CAAP funds projects that align with priorities identified by
industry and/or government at the national, regional and
multi-regional levels by focusing on:
- Seizing opportunities;
- Responding
to new and emerging issues;
- Pathfinding and piloting solutions to new
and ongoing issues.
To learn more
about CAAP or ACS or to download an application form, please visit www.agcouncil.ca/caap or call
1-800-641-8256 or (306) 975-6847. For more information on national
CAAP, its criteria, or contact information for regional industry
councils, please visit AAFC's website at www.agr.gc.ca/caap or call toll-free at
1-877-290-2188.
|
|
ACS accepting
applications for the Concept Evaluation business and marketing plan
program
|
|
 The Agriculture
Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (ACS) and the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture and
Bioresources, Department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics, are partnering to deliver
the Saskatchewan Agri-Food Concept Evaluation Program.
The
Concept Evaluation Program is part of ACS' Saskatchewan Grocery
Retail and Foodservice Value Chain project. Funding for this project
was provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian
Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Saskatchewan, CAAP is
delivered by ACS.
This
program will provide opportunities for Saskatchewan agriculture and
agri-food companies to request a preliminary business plan and/or
conceptual marketing plan. The plans will be developed with the
assistance of a team of agribusiness students, evaluating possible
concepts or marketing initiatives.
The
Concept Evaluation Marketing Plan Program will provide marketing
plans for applicants completed by Agricultural Economics students
from the University of Saskatchewan. This program brings together
agriculture representatives and students with agri-food businesses
and organizations that are looking for a marketing plan. The process
includes a full overview of the requirements within the application
and project startup meetings with the applicant and the assigned
group of students, initiating the process with market research
activities, competitor analysis and the development of
the marketing strategies.
The
Concept Evaluation Business Plan Program will provide preliminary
business plans for applicants completed by Agricultural Economics
students from the University of Saskatchewan. This program brings
together agriculture representatives and students with agri-food
businesses and organizations that are looking for a business plan.
The process will include a full overview of the requirements within
the application and project startup meetings with the applicant and
the assigned group of students, initiating the process of developing
a business plan. All aspects of a business plan are provided,
including operations, human resources, marketing and finance. The
students are assisted by professionals as they develop the business
plan.
Participating
applicants will pay $300 of the $600 cost of the project application,
with $300 provided by the ACS.
The
deadline for applications is Thursday,
August 25, 2011 for projects starting the first week
of September. For more information, please go to the Saskatchewan
Grocery Retail and Foodservice Value Chain Initiative website or
contact Bryan Kosteroski at 975-6851 or kosteroskib@agcaouncil.ca.
|
|
Agriculture
Mentorship Initiative seeking new mentors and protégés
|
|
 In a rapidly evolving industry like agriculture and
agri-food, producers and processors often have few places to turn
when they have questions about their businesses. This is why ACS set
up the Agriculture Mentorship Initiative, a program designed to link mentors
and protégés within the sector.
The Agriculture Mentorship Initiative matches
entrepreneurs with experienced business owners, establishing a
relationship where the protégé will learn from the mentor's
experience and industry knowledge. Applications from prospective
protégés and mentors are continually being accepted by ACS.
After successfully pairing and training three mentors
and protégés in the first year of the program, ACS has completed
another training session with three new pairs. Owners of
non-competing businesses are matched to ensure a beneficial and
cooperative relationship forms between the protégé and mentor. The
focus of the relationship is on the protégé, allowing them to learn
from the mentor and giving each protégé the guidance and knowledge to
make decisions that will have a positive impact on their business.
Once each protégé and mentor are matched, they will be
given training by ACS which will provide the tools and structure for
both the mentor and protégé that will guide them through the process
and allow them to build a successful relationship. Each mentorship
project will be monitored by ACS through monthly interviews with each
participant, with the responses entered into a project management
system.
For
more information on the Agriculture Mentorship Initiative, please
contact Bev Magill at (306) 975-8928 or magillb@agcouncil.ca.
|
|
Food Centre presents
HAACP training workshop
|
|
 Implementing
HACCP into Food Processing Operations - May 17-19, 2011
Increasing interest and demand by consumers around the
world for safe, high-quality foods is pressuring food processors to
develop and implement food safety programs that identify, control,
and eliminate food safety hazards for the foods that they produce.
Aside from this consumer pressure, national and international market
requirements by large chain stores and other retailers, plus Canadian
and international regulations, are having an identical influence on
processors. A well-implemented HACCP system can effectively alleviate
much of these pressures.
A HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point)
system is a preventative system that puts measures into place in food
production operations to prevent, reduce, eliminate, or control
hazards that could harm your consumer before they occur.
This
course will assist participants in learning how to analyze, develop,
implement and maintain effective prerequisite programs and HACCP plans
into their operations.
All
training components of the course are in compliance with the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency's HACCP Curriculum Guidelines for training
professionals. Each participant who successfully finishes the course
will receive a certificate of completion.
Presenter: Erin Hiebert, HACCP
Development Program Coordinator, Food Centre
Who Should Attend: Quality Assurance
& Quality Control Managers, HACCP Coordinators, HACCP Team
members, employees operating in critical food control areas, plant
management and any other interested parties from food
production/processing facilities, associations or government
agencies.
For more information
or to register, please go to the Food Centre website,
phone (306) 933-7555 or email info@foodcentre.sk.ca.
|
|
|
Funded by:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calendar
of Events
|
|
June 16, 2011
ACS
Annual General Meeting and Industry Forum
Held on location at the 2011 Western Canada Farm Progress Show.
Please check the ACS events page for more information.
June 15-17,
2011
Western Canada Farm Progress Show.
The country's largest dry land farm technology show annually attracts
40,000 visitors from around the globe. It's the place to be for
opportunity, innovation and excitement. This year, organizers look forward
to new facilities and programming that add even more value for
stakeholders, from exhibitors and sponsors to the visiting public.
For more information go to the Farm Progress Show website.
October
5, 2011
Saskatchewan Foodservice Conference Call
2:00 p.m.
Canadian foodservice semi-annual conference
calls will be hosted with Canadian foodservice consultants. The calls
will provide an overview and update of activities within the Canadian
foodservice industry.
For further information please
contact: Bryan Kosteroski Value Chain Specialist Office: (306)
975-6851 Email: kosteroskib@agcouncil.ca or go to
the Saskatchewan Grocery Retail and Foodservice
Value Chain Website.
October 13,
2011
Saskatchewan Grocery Retail
Conference Call
2:00 p.m.
Canadian grocery
retail semi-annual conference calls will be hosted by Canadian
grocery retail consultants. The calls will provide an overview and
update of activities within the Canadian Grocery Retail Industry.
For further
information please contact: Bryan Kosteroski Value Chain Specialist
Office: (306) 975-6851 Email: kosteroskib@agcouncil.ca
or go to the Saskatchewan Grocery Retail and Foodservice
Value Chain Website.
October 27 & November 3, 2011
Saskatchewan Grocery
Retail and Foodservice Value Chain Roundtables
Saskatchewan's
Grocery Retail Value Chain Roundtable is a new concept focused on
providing opportunities for discussion and collaboration within the
Saskatchewan agri-food industry. The roundtable discussions will be
accessible to any Saskatchewan agriculture and agri-food industry
participant.
For further
information please contact: Bryan Kosteroski Value Chain Specialist
Office: (306) 975-6851 Email: kosteroskib@agcouncil.ca
or go to the Saskatchewan Grocery Retail and Foodservice
Value Chain Website.
|
|
|
|
Follow ACS on Twitter
|
|
|
|
|
Follow ACS on Facebook
|
|
|
|
