Press Release Department: Federal - Agriculture and Agri-Food

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) and Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea (Egmont, P.E.I.) announced funding of $4 million for infrastructure improvements at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) facilities in PEI to improve research capabilities for the agriculture sector and support its economic growth. The Crops and Livestock Research Centre (CLRC) in Charlottetown will receive … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) announced an investment of up to $1.4 million for Potatoes New Brunswick to lead a national research effort to help improve potato yields and the export competitiveness of Canadian French fries. This investment will enable Potatoes New Brunswick to work with other industry partners, Agriculture Canada scientists and universities to … Read more

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.), Conservative MP Bev Shipley (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Ont.), chair of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced $169,530 in funding to the Canadian Pork Council to explore the feasibility of developing a hedging program that would offer price stability and address the cash flow needs of Canadian hog … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) and Manitoba Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Ron Kostyshyn announced more than $2 million in federal and provincial funding to support 24 research and development projects in Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-food sector. The funded projects cover a range of agricultural issues, including animal and human health, on-farm production technologies and … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) welcomed the establishment of an international research partnership between CANTERRA SEEDS Limited and Groupe Limagrain of France. The two companies will develop and test new and advanced cereal varieties, with a particular focus on wheat, taking advantage of their world-leading expertise in crop breeding to deliver results for farmers in … Read more

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.), Conservative MP Harold Albrecht (Kitchener-Conestoga, Ont.) announced $358,175 in funding to Soy Canada to help identify new and emerging international markets and demand for Canadian soybean products. The full release is available online. Call 613-773-1059.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) and International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) announced that Canada and China have agreed to sustained market access for fresh British Columbia blueberries. Chinese inspectors are expected to visit Canada this summer to carry out a pre-shipment inspection and to authorize the first shipments of blueberries to China. Once fully implemented, … Read more

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea (Egmont, P.E.I.) announced that the government is investing $1.5 million to support the P.E.I. potato industry in addressing recent challenges with tampered potatoes. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will work with the P.E.I. Potato Board to assist producers, packing sheds and processors to enhance their efforts to detect and remove foreign … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) and International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, B.C.) issued a statement in response to the U.S. decision to seek arbitration at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the amount of damages caused by COOL. “Canada is disappointed that the U.S. is attempting to prolong the WTO process by requesting arbitration,” said Ritz … Read more

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.), Conservative MP Harold Albrecht (Kitchener-Conestoga, Ont.) announced $348,090 in funding which will enable the Canadian Sheep Federation to combine sheep and lamb production assurance systems under the nationally recognized Food Safe Farm Practices Program. Call 613-773-1059.