The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) is welcoming at least one announcement that was included in the 2018 provincial budget.

“The good news coming from this budget is a rise in the small business tax deduction from $450,000 to $500,000 - this will put Manitoba in line with the other Prairie provinces,” stated Manitoba Director William Pallister.

William Pallister - Courtesy WCWGA

The Wheat Growers also applauded the government's effort to attract value-added processing in the agriculture sector, highlighting the Roquette and Simplot expansions. The group noted "the greater the amount of processing in the province and across Western Canada, the less reliant producers are on railways for transporting our goods."

WCWGA was concerned with the government's carbon tax, which is slated to come into effect by September of this year, noting while farming relies on energy to feed the world, this tax could be devastating as input prices will rise.

“Why punish our industry that sequesters so much carbon with growing crops? The government has pledged to give back the carbon revenues in the form of tax deductions, but the effect this has on producers isn't clear,” stated Gunter Jochum, Manitoba Director.