Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) held an Advisory Council Meeting today in Portage la Prairie. President Dan Mazier told us about the event.

"It's just a chance, a sounding board, for grassroots farmers to bring resolutions forward," says Mazier. "Then, we can start acting on them as members of KAP. This is our official process of passing policy. As far as I know, we are the only farm organization that looks at policy this often in all of Canada."

KAP President Dan Mazier. (Photo by Mike Blume)The meeting is also a place where farmers meet to discuss the numerous bills, amendments and proposals all levels of government are in the process of adopting that affect Manitoban producers. Mazier highlights one of the bills.

"Changing the Municipal Act," notes Mazier. "Being able to modernize a barn and yet not stir up a whole community on that. The variance increased to 15 percent. Also, for simple things such as adding a milking parlour on to an existing facility, under the old Act, you would have to go through a whole review. Whereas now, the modernization of a facility is a lot simpler now."

Mazier also spoke about the implications of the Carbon Pricing scheme being delayed. He says they hope biodiesel remains a large part of the province's green initiative going forward even with the delay. Representatives from all over the province attended the event to give a complete picture of what is going on for agriculture in Manitoba.