Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is Manitoba’s largest general farm policy organization, responsible for representing the interests of all Manitoba farmers. Their membership includes direct paying farmer and farm commodity groups.[1] KAP is one of the province's most active lobby groups[2] and is a member organization of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
| Abbreviation | KAP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1984 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
President, Board of Directors | Jill Verwey |
General Manager | Brenna Mahoney |
| Website | www.kap.ca |
KAP was formed in 1984 to replace the former Manitoba Farm Bureau, and is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[3]
KAP is also responsible for the administration of the industry safety association for Manitoba farmers, FarmSafe Manitoba, which provides free on-farm safety services and resources as well as educational activities and advocacy. [4]
Activities
editThe organization lobbies government and industry on issues that affect Manitoba farmers.[5][6] For example, KAP was part of the effort to develop legislative sanctions for Canadian railways that failed to transport minimum grain volumes for farmers in 2013.[7][8] As a result, the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway were fined a combined $150,000, and the federal government brought in the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act in 2014, which required railways to move a minimum amount of grain per week.[9][10]
KAP uses the news media to bring attention to issues producers face.[11][12] During heavy flooding in 2014 when nearly 2 million acres in the province were lost to water damage, KAP was vocal in the media about the need for better crop insurance coverage.[13][14][15]
KAP promotes agriculture’s contributions to Manitoba and Canada. Through a 2012 bus board campaign entitled "Sharing the Harvest," KAP advertised the fact that farming, along with the food and beverage-processing and food-service industries, generated over $10 billion per year in Manitoba in 2010.[16]
KAP has achieved more recent successes through their advocacy work, including the Hay West initiative in 2021.[17] In 2022, KAP played key roles in achieving an increased rebate on the education property tax rebate for Manitoba farmers, a reduction in Crown land rent rates, an increase to funded vet seats for Manitoba students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and $500 million in new funding for the provinces through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. [18]
Organizational structure
editKeystone Agricultural Producers is funded by its members,[19][20] and governed by an elected executive and board of directors.[21] Presidents are elected from the KAP membership, and may serve up to four one-year terms. The current president of KAP is Jill Verwey, who replaced Bill Campbell in 2023.[22] Previous Presidents of KAP include Jack Penner, Ian Wishart, Doug Chorney, and Dan Mazier.
KAP policy is developed by members, through resolutions passed at the annual general meeting and at general council meetings held three times per year. KAP hosts policy setting events each year. Resolutions that are passed at these events are forwarded to the board of directors and their respected policy committee for review, consideration and priority setting. [23]
References
edit- ^ Western Producer. "Manitoba farm group grows". producer.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Exploring the little-known world of lobbying in Manitoba". Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Keystone Agricultural Producers: An Inventory of Its Records at the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections". umanitoba.ca. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ "About Us". FarmSafe Manitoba. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
- ^ Western Producer. "Have farm groups become federal cheerleaders?". producer.com. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ Manitoba Cooperator. "The farm organizations 'that matter'". manitobacooperator.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ "Railway grain moving minimum extended again". www.winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ Manitoba Cooperator. "Rail problems continue as prairie ag groups tackle CTA review". manitobacooperator.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ "Railway fines for failing to transport grain don't reflect damage: lobby groups". www.edmontonjournal.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Farm groups upset with 'small' fines for railways". www.leaderpost.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ McNeill, Murray (29 January 2015). "Farmers reap better year: KAP boss". winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ Manitoba Cooperator (5 September 2014). "KAP, APAS fear pleas for Agrirecovery falling on deaf ears". manitobacooperator.ca. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ "Flood of 2014 a $1B hit for Manitoba farmers: KAP". cbc.ca. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ Tweed, Charles (11 July 2014). "Aid for land unseeded worries farm leader". winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ Manitoba Cooperator. "Man cattle producers get agrirecovery feed assistance". manitobacooperator.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ Geary, rea (31 August 2012). "Good harvest benefits more than farmers". winnipegfreepress.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ Laychuk, Riley (August 16, 2021). "Maritime farmers doing 'what we can' to get surplus hay shipped to drought-stricken Prairies". CBC.ca.
- ^ "KAP Year End Update". KAP Year End Update. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
- ^ "A quick look at some farm policy organizations". grainnews.ca. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ Manitoba Cooperator (6 May 2015). "KAP GM is confident hiring a membership coordinator will pay off". manitobacooperator.ca. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "University of Manitoba - Libraries - Keystone Agricultural Producers fonds". umanitoba.ca. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Verwey elected KAP president, as Campbell reflects on past four years". RealAgriculture.com. 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
- ^ "Advocacy". Keystone Agricultural Producers. Retrieved 2023-08-18.