Leader-Post: Feds put up cash to boost Canada's agricultural profile

Marty Seymour, left, CEO and general manager of the Canadian
Western Agribition, and Gerry Ritz, Federal Agricultural Minister,
tour the barns at the Canadian Western Agribition.

Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Regina Leader-Post

The federal government will make investments totalling $750,000 to livestock and forage sectors to increase foreign deals and competitiveness.

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Related article: Gerry Ritz denies 'expropriating' millions from farmers


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Marty Seymour, left, CEO and general manager of the Canadian

Western Agribition, and Gerry Ritz, Federal Agricultural

Minister, tour the barns at the Canadian Western Agribition

on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011.

Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Regina Leader-Post



Gerry Ritz, the federal agriculture minister: "I had an opportunity to come in through the barns and of course that’s always good. (There was) a lot of activity down there (Friday) morning, everybody with high hopes of bringing home that ribbon certainly it’s interesting to watch all the different breeds compete. They all bring a certain characteristic to the barn and to the sales ring that people all over the world are asking for.

 

"It’s becoming easier and easier to sell great Canadian genetics out there on the world stage. The world recognizes the tremendous work that our farmers and ranchers have done over the years and you know they come here in droves just to take advantage of that."

Federal Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz spoke at the
Canadian Western Agribition on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011.

Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Regina Leader-Post

When asked about the importance of traceability, Ritz said improving the system is a top priority.

"Whether you’re marketing overseas when they want to know where their food’s coming from and be able to tell their consumers that or tracing out disease, you can’t beat a good traceability system.

"Working with the industry, we feel we’ve got some 90 per cent of the system industry covered at this point. Now it’s a matter of making sure we have a database that’s up to the job of collecting all that information and having it available at the touch of a button."

Marty Seymour, left, CEO and general manager of the Canadian
Western Agribition, and Gerry Ritz, Federal Agricultural
Minister, tour the barns at the Canadian Western Agribition
on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011.

Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Regina Leader-Post

Marty Seymour, Agribition's CEO and general manager on the announcement: "Well Agribirtoin’s very excited about it. The federal government’s been very supportive of our event. It’s a great partnership we have. It goes a long way to helping us keep Agribition on the international stage."