CBBC Congratulates Canadian Simmental Association

$375,000 INVESTMENT IN CANADIAN BEEF RESEARCH

Today, at Canadian Western Agribition, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud announced $375,000 in funding for a beef genomics research project led by the Canadian Simmental Association.

“Research is an important part of our agriculture industry and essential to ensuring our farmers and ranchers remain at the forefront of production throughout the world,” Bjornerud said. “This funding will improve the competitiveness of our beef industry and help producers continue to provide safe, high-quality products to feed a growing world population.”

The Enhancing Canadian Beef Production through Genomic Innovation project aims to develop genetic selection tools that will allow producers to better identify and utilize superior genetics to improve the quality of their product. The project will initially identify superior genetics within Simmental-influenced cattle to improve carcass compositions and beef quality. The tools developed by this project are not limited to Simmental breeds and will benefit the entire cattle industry.

The project has also received funding from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency as well as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

“This generous contribution from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the Canadian Simmental Association, and our project partners allows us to continue to work to ensure Canada’s seedstock sector is at the forefront of genetic research and ultimately global competitiveness,” past Canadian Simmental Association president Rick McIntyre said. “This project will assist all Canadian cattle producers in our ongoing efforts to supply premium beef to both the domestic and international marketplaces.”

Provincial funding was provided through the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). ADF provides funding to help institutions, companies and industry organizations conduct research, development and value-added activities that will benefit Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers. In 2011, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture committed $14.5 million for 71 ADF projects.

For more information about ADF, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/ADF. For more information on the Canadian Simmental Association, visit www.simmental.com.

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For more information, contact:

Patrick Boyle Agriculture Regina Phone: 306-787-2359 Email: Patrick.Boyle@gov.sk.ca

U.S Meat Labelling Law Ruling "Positive"

WTO decision expected to be announced today

By Rod Nickel, Reuters November 18, 2011 4:06 AM

Canada can expect "significant positive news" today from a World Trade Organization ruling about a U.S. meat labelling law, government sources said Thursday.

The law requires U.S. packers to label meat with the name of country it is from, raising their costs and discouraging imports of cattle and hogs.

Trade Minister Ed Fast and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz will hold a news conference today at an Airdrie ranch, where they will announce "significant positive news" for livestock producers, according to a government advisory.

A senior government source said the announcement will be the WTO's final ruling on the labelling law.

The country of origin labelling law, also called COOL, came into effect in 2008, prompting a sharp drop in U.S. cattle and hog imports from Canada.

Ottawa challenged the law as being non-compliant with WTO rules in several ways. It's unclear whether Canada, later joined by Mexico, has won its case on all fronts.

"We have not seen the ruling, but it wouldn't surprise us at all (that Canada won)," said J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute. "We've argued for years in statements, letters and comments that this law was not just costly and cumbersome, but a violation of our country's WTO obligations."

A favourable ruling would still not immediately swing open the U.S. border to more cattle and hog shipments.

"It still doesn't get us out of the woods," said Jurgen Preugschas, an Alberta hog farmer and president of the Canadian Pork Council.

Washington could appeal the ruling rather than comply, he said, which suggests bilateral talks among the countries may still be necessary.

The labelling law added to severe stress on the Canadian hog market, which has also faced high feed costs and pressure on export sales due to a strong Canadian dollar. As a result, Ottawa offered farmers incentives in 2009 to shut their barns to reduce the size of the country's hog inventory and stabilize the industry.

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