Press Release Department: Federal - Agriculture and Agri-Food

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK), Public Safety Minister Vic Toews (Provencher, MB) announced an investment of nearly $3 million to the University of Manitoba to study cost-effective greenhouse gas mitigation practices for the cattle sector. The University of Manitoba will use the investment to study greenhouse gas-related effects in three priority areas: converting crops from … Read more

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK), Conservative MP Brad Trost (Saskatoon-Humboldt) announced an investment of more than $33,000 in funding to Open Mind Developments. Trost said that Canadian flax producers can reap the benefits of an innovative project to create eco-friendly bio-composite products using flax fibre thanks to an investment from the government. With this investment, Open Mind … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK) appeared before the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to reinforce the importance of passing Bill C-18, Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, before the end of 2011. Ritz addressed the committee on the need for timely passage of Bill C-18 in order to give western Canadian grain farmers the rights … Read more

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK), Conservative MP Scott Armstrong (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, ON) announced an investment of more than $196,000 in funding to a Centreville, NS, company Nova-Agri Inc. for research into new production processes that will offer consumers nutritious, home-grown fruit and vegetable products year-round. Research into novel food processing practices will help Nova-Agri Inc. … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK) announced that once Bill C-18, Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act is passed, the Manitoba wheat and barley industry will be able to seize new economic opportunities. Ritz added that an open grain market will attract investment, encourage innovation, create value-added jobs, and build a stronger economy not only … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK), Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud and Alberta Agriculture Minister Evan Berger welcomed the Third Reading and the final vote in the House of Commons on Bill C-18, Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act. The Governments of SK, AB, and BC, representing the production of more than 80 per cent of wheat and 90 … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK) announced investments of over $690,000 in funding to the livestock and forage sectors at Canadian Western Agribition. Ritz said the government will continue to make strategic investments in Western Canada's livestock and forage sectors to improve their competitiveness in foreign markets and boost Canada's producers' bottom lines. The full release … Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK) spoke at the 2011 Grain Industry Symposium titled "A Time for Change: Increasing Opportunities for Canada's Grain Industry." Ritz outlined how the $50 million Agricultural Innovation Program will support industry-led science and technology, bridging the gap between ideas and the marketplace. By helping make innovative value-added products, technologies, processes … Read more

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board David Anderson (Cypress Hills-Grassland, SK) spoke at the Canadian Outstanding Young Farmers Program National Event and reiterated the Government's commitment to creating a stronger agriculture industry so young farmers can succeed and continue to drive Canada's economy. Anderson highlighted the Government's … Read more

On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK), Conservative MP Merv Tweed (Brandon-Souris, MB), announced an investment of $181,000 in funding to the Manitoba firm Nuffield Canada to pilot its new educational agriculture leadership scholarship program. Tweed said the government's investment in this program will help increase agricultural leadership and an international perspective among … Read more