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Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz busy on both sides of the border

Defending Canada’s stance on COOL and investing in beef production

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

As most people say when it gets to the end of the week, “Thank God It’s Friday!”

With the week he’s had, Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is surely singing the praises of the weekend as he was making waves in Canada and the United States this week.

Firstly, an investment announcement of more than $3 million was made on his behalf in Manitoba to help sustain Canada’s beef production. The investment will be split between governments and other industry colleagues.

Over the next four years, government and beef industry professionals such as Manitoba Beef Producers will use the investment to establish a grassland and beef management initiative, continue to promote test farms focusing on herd health and animal feed and develop a committee to oversee research activities.

"Manitoba’s beef producers are committed to managing the health and sustainability of their animals and the land,” said Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn in a release. “Working together with a focus on farm-level research will create valuable information for producers and result in the greatest benefits for the long-term future of the beef sector in Manitoba.”

Meanwhile in the United States…

Minister Ritz went to Washington, D.C. with members of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Pork Council and other meat producer organizations to hammer home Canada’s stance on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).

COOL requires any meat in American grocery stores to identify where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered. Minister Ritz said this labeling process can cause problems in both countries, and should it continue, look to retaliate on agricultural products coming from the United States.

“Mandatory COOL continues to hurt ranchers, businesses, and the overall red-meat industry on both sides of the border,” he said. “These meetings provided the opportunity to reinforce with key American legislators that the Canadian Government will continue to stand up for our farmers and ranchers and we will utilize all options, including retaliation, to ensure this harm is put to a permanent end.”


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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