Keystone Agricultural Producers held its Fall Advisory Council Meeting Thursday in Portage la Prairie.

President Dan Mazier says they updated members on a busy past few months.

"I just can`t get over the activity," he commented. "There's everything from taxation, to the carbon tax, a lot of policies are winding up right now or being introduced at both levels of government."

While ag emissions and farm fuel will be exempt under the province's carbon tax, Mazier said they are still going to lobby for an exemption on space heating for barns and grain dryers.

An accountant was on hand at the meeting to answer questions surrounding the federal government's proposed tax changes for small business.

The afternoon also featured a discussion surrounding mental health.

Below is a full list of passed resolutions:

1. Industrial Hemp – District 11
Whereas, industrial hemp is becoming an alternative crop for Manitoba and Canadian producers; and
Whereas, industrial hemp, because of its relationship to marijuana, is classified as a controlled substance and subject to Health Canada production regulations; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Government of Canada to amend regulations surrounding industrial hemp to expand allowable sales and processing to whole plants, and simplify licensing and seed testing requirements. This includes:
1) Amending the Industrial Hemp Regulations to allow for the harvest, sale and processing of whole plants;
2) Removing the requirement for a criminal record check to obtain a license; and
3) Formalizing the current requirement of seed level THC testing only; and be it further

Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Government of Canada to make changes to legislation affecting industrial hemp to clearly distinguish it from cannabis. This includes:
1) Listing hemp and hemp plant parts as item 5 under Schedule 2 “Exemptions” in Bill C-45 The Cannabis Act ; and
2) Amending Schedule II of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to either carve “industrial hemp” out of the definition of Cannabis or carve out non-psychoactive cannabinoids from Cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC.

2. Chemical Container Recycling – District 3
Whereas, chemical container collection sites are sparsely located, resulting in more environmentally unfriendly disposal; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP work with CleanFARMS and other involved stakeholders to increase the effectiveness of chemical container recycling programs.

3. Hybrid Fall Rye Crop Insurance Coverage – District 3  
Whereas, in recent years hybrid fall rye has been available and increasing in total acreage; and
Whereas, the yield potential of hybrid rye is much higher than conventional fall rye; and
Whereas, hybrid rye has increased seed costs associated with it; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation to add hybrid fall rye as an insurable crop, separate from open pollinated fall rye.

4. Manitoba Hydro Service & Staffing – District 1
Whereas, electricity is an essential service in rural Manitoba; and,
Whereas, severe weather can cause long lasting outages; and,
Whereas, it is the most environmentally friendly option for Manitoba producers; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT KAP lobby Manitoba Hydro to maintain its level of service and staffing in rural Manitoba.

5. Government Twitter Accounts – District 10
Whereas, tweeting our stories and concerns as farmers can be a highly effective lobbying tool; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, THAT the KAP office compile and make available to members a list of ministerial Twitter accounts for all provincial and federal ministers responsible for portfolios affecting farms.