This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Leanne Fischbuch, Executive Director

We are excited to provide an update to the membership of the activities that we’ve undertaken this year. Some of the highlights included…

• An excellent revenue position thanks to good, consistent pricing of pulses over the year;
• Investment of over $1.2 million in research activity, including market development, research, and agronomy, extension, communication, and policy projects;
• A stronger organization as a result of new committee oversight for Audit and Finance and Communications;
• Hard work within our Zones to showcase pulses to the membership through demos, crop walks, and extension projects;
• Effective partnerships with our provincial counterparts through bilateral funding of projects, as well as working together at the national level through Pulse Canada; and
• Opportunities to learn more about our international position in the world through travel experiences for Commissioners to India, our largest trading partner, and Dubai, the world headquarters for the international pulse trade, as well as hosting delegates from our second largest trading partner, China.

Annual General Meeting – January 30, 2013

Commissioners and staff are also preparing for our Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is another way that members can join us to learn more about what we have been doing this past year. On January 30 from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the FarmTech Conference held in Edmonton at Northlands Expo Centre, APG will be on stage, front and centre. We will be conducting elections for two Commissioner-at-large positions – for Bean and Non-Bean growers. These one-year term positions are a terrific way to get involved with the organization and give back to the industry.

Additionally, in advance of the AGM, we are accepting resolutions. Resolutions can be brought forward in writing to the APG office by no later than January 15 to be considered during the APG AGM; there will be no resolutions accepted from the floor. Please contact the office at office@pulse.ab.ca or at 780-986-9398 if you are interested in putting forward a resolution for the organization to consider.

Our AGM will feature Richard Phillips of Grain Growers of Canada, who will be providing an update of GGC activities. In addition, APG is pleased to feature and launch our new web site and rebranding effort, which Commissioners and staff have been working on since the summer.

Pulse Organizations Across Canada Work to Prepare for the Next Opportunity for Federal Research Funding

This fall, APG has been developing our own research and development strategy, and we’ve also been working with our provincial and national partners in creation of a national strategy for pulse research. About five years ago, the Government of Canada provided Growing Forward funding through the Pulse Science Cluster, which enabled grower organizations to leverage support to invest in research projects that moved the genetics and agronomic knowledge forward for the industry.

With the Government of Canada’s Growing Forward 2 announcement, it is expected that industry will have this opportunity once again. APG invested over $880 thousand in the first Growing Forward Pulse Science Cluster, and we are looking to invest even more this round. For a robust pulse industry, there continues to be a need for research. The value that this opportunity provides is the chance to leverage funding.

Researchers will be contacted soon and asked to provide proposals to the coordinators of the Pulse Science Cluster for review by partners and inclusion in the Pulse Science Cluster Application in anticipation of the start date of April 1, 2013 – the target date for Growing Forward 2 implementation. APG is looking forward to reviewing and providing comment on the proposals as we prepare for the next five-year research cycle.

Significant Reinvestment in Pulse Canada for 2012-13

APG is pleased to announce that in November at our Provincial Board Meeting, the Commissioners voted unanimously to provide elevated support to Pulse Canada of $750,000 per year for five years. This was the result of discussion and review of the new Pulse Canada plan. APG looks forward to working with our partners supporting the industry.

The decision to move to $750 thousand per year for five years will help support the new Strategic Plan and Work Plans that the organization is developing. Pulse Canada works on key areas to maximize revenue and optimize costs for the pulse industry. Areas of focus include transportation, market access, sustainability, nutrition, and functionality of pulses. APG is really excited about this investment.

Of Note

The APG office has moved locations. Effective December 1, we’ve moved our office to 5007-49 Street in Leduc. The new location provides us with additional space and storage, with a better working environment for staff. We are excited to be in the new space and look forward to getting unpacked.

There are many more terrific stories that we can share, and they are highlighted in our Annual Report 2011-12. Please enjoy a copy of our Annual Report, included in this edition of Pulse Crop News, and if you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line. We’d be happy to share our story with you.