CALGARY – The Canadian beef sector is a strong economic driver, accounting for $9 billion in farm cash receipts in 2017. Exports of Canadian beef and cattle totalled nearly $2.41 billion in 2017. Canadian beef producers are working hard to ensure they continue to create good, middle-class jobs while expanding markets for their safe, high-quality products.
While attending the Calgary Stampede, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, announced an investment of up to $14 million to the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), a division of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA), under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AgriScience Clusters. The BCRC will contribute up to an additional $7.6 million, for a total investment of up to $21 million.
Funding for the Sustainable Beef and Forage Science Cluster will be used for activities focussed on improving the sustainability of Canadian beef and forage production, growing beef exports and supplying high-quality Canadian beef to people around the world. The Beef Cluster was funded under two previous agricultural policy frameworks. The previous research activities, which looked at genetics, feed efficiency, forages and animal health, have contributed to a strong and more competitive beef sector and sustained producer profitability.
Today's announcement is part of the Minister's cross country 'Growing Canadian Agriculture' tour which started in Quebec in mid June and ends in B.C. on July 17.
The Minister is meeting with farmers, processors and industry leaders, and will also participate in rural agricultural events, to highlight strategic federal agricultural investments and programs – including those recently launched under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership—and how they will help to build an even stronger and more innovative sector for Canada.
Quotes
"Canadian farmers and ranchers know the importance of innovation in maintaining their competitiveness, and that's especially true in Canada's beef sector. Investments in research deliver real results, and help to ensure our beef farmers continue to raise top quality beef that consumers have come to expect. Today's investment will help our industry capture the exciting opportunities that lie ahead around the world."
– Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
"The science-based knowledge and innovations that result from this investment will work to responsibly increase production while enhancing industry competitiveness and public trust, advancing the economic, social and environmental sustainability of Canada's beef sector. A prosperous beef sector not only benefits farmers and ranchers across Canada, it maintains grazing lands that are important to preserve for their role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat."
– Ryan Beierbach, Chair of the Beef Cattle Research Council and rancher near Whitewood, SK
Quick Facts
- There were 11.52 million cattle and calves in 2017 on approximately 74 thousand farms and ranches in Canada. Farm cash receipts from the sale of cattle and calves in 2017 totalled $9 billion.
- The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector. The Partnership builds on Growing Forward 2, the previous five-year agreement that ended on March 31, 2018.
- The Partnership includes programs and activities to enhance the competitiveness of the sector through research, science and innovation. Through the AgriScience Program, a five-year, up to up to $338 million initiative, the government is supporting leading edge discovery and applied science, and innovation driven by industry research priorities.
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Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
