National Concerns

By THE CANADIAN PRESS – 2 days ago

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. — Canadian farmers are skeptical that a $20-million federal investment announced Friday to track livestock from grocery stores around the world back to Canadian farms will help beleaguered producers.

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz unveiled the Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative at the end of a meeting between federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

With one major exception, Canada's federal and provincial agriculture ministers have committed to have a mandatory, nationwide traceability system for livestock and poultry in place by 2011.

Coming out of their meeting this week at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., the ministers on Friday jointly described such a system as "critical for managing animal health and food safety issues, as well as expanding market access and driving efficiencies."

In a recent article released on the Country Guide East web site, the author writes: "The federal government has released the final version of the "Biologique Canada Organic" logo for use starting next week on certified organic food sold in Canada.

"This organic logo allows consumers to make informed, confident choices," Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a release Wednesday. "At the same time, the new regulations will allow Canadian organic farmers to have their products recognized in this emerging market."

It was at the invitation of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture), that a food processing value chain round-table was held today in order to discuss the future of this important Canadian industry.

On June 10, 2009, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council launched AgriTalent.ca —the first national on-line database of agriculture training programs.

The Harper Government’s Economic Action Plan is supporting the livestock sector by making meat packing and processing facilities more competitive and accessible to farmers across the country. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz along with Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture) Jean-Pierre Blackburn today announced that the three-year, $50-million Slaughter Improvement Program is now in place and will soon be accepting applications.

Once again, the subject product of Canada labeling has been tabled in parliament. The Minister of Agriculture and the opposition are still trying to find a middle ground without any success. Both sides agree still that changes needed to be made to the previous criteria of what constitutes a product of Canada.

May 26, 2009 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (press release)

LEAMINGTON, Ontario - The Government of Canada is making smart investments to boost the local economy, create jobs and new markets for farmers and vegetable processors. Dave Van Kesteren, Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Essex, announced a federal repayable contribution of up to $1.6 million to help Seacliff Energy Inc. construct a new facility to transform waste into clean energy and fertilizer.

From time to time BuyFromTheFarm.ca receives emails with articles that site members think should be posted. We received a link to an article that appeared in the Welland Tribune entitled “Declining Behavior” by James MacInnis.

Guelph (May 13, 2009) Over the last 10 years, wildlife damage costs to Ontario crops and livestock have increased by almost 20%. In fact, researchers at the George Morris Centre believe that number is likely a conservative estimate. In an update to the 2000 report, ‘Wildlife Impact Assessment for Ontario Agriculture’, commissioned by the Ontario Soil and Crop Association (OSCIA), loss rates for crops and livestock from 1998 were revised, based on currently available data, for the period 2005 - 2007.