Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial agricultural ministers met to examine ways to boost the long-term outlook for the country’s farmers last week (5 February).
The meeting, co-chaired by the federal Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture Bob Bjornerud, focused on the economic situation, the competitiveness of the sector and ongoing efforts to strengthen Canada’s food safety and livestock traceability systems.
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“We are working with provinces and territories, and with industry, to identify their market priorities, both domestically and abroad, to ensure we seize every opportunity to sell our products,” Ritz said.
FPT governments will now start consultations with producers and agricultural groups on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The results of those consultations will be reported back to ministers at their next meeting in July.
“Governments have a responsibility to listen to producers,” Bjornerud said.
“Farmers and ranchers are the first people impacted by the policy and programs we create. We need to engage our producers as we work to improve our Business Risk Management programming.”
Prior to the agricultural summit, Ritz announced that the federal government will invest up to C$10m (US$9.3m) in dairy research and food safety initiatives.
With dairy producers contributing C$3m, a total of C$11.7m will be invested in research into the health and nutritional benefits of dairy products and their sustainable production. An additional $995,000 will be invested in dairy producers’ Canadian Quality Milk program for on-farm food safety practices.
“This announcement was one more way the government of Canada’s supporting the long-term viability of the dairy industry,” Jacques Laforge, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada responded.
