CCA welcomes Minister Ritz to AGM, announcement of additional BIXS funding
March 08, 2012
Ottawa ON - The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is pleased that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Minister Gerry Ritz today came to the CCA’s annual general meeting in Ottawa to announce that the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) will receive an additional $3 million in federal funding.
The funds will be used to expand the program to ensure crucial data is incorporated into the BIXS data base. CCA President Travis Toews said the ability to flow more data into the BIXS data base will complete the circle of information, and provide the incentive for producers to participate.
“This expansion of the BIXS program is precisely what the Canadian cattle industry has been waiting for and I thank Minister Ritz for his support for the BIXS data base,” Toews said.
BIXS is an individual animal and carcass data information exchange system developed by the CCA and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council as an integral part of the Canadian Beef Advantage, with funding provided through AAFC’s Agriculture Flexibility Fund. The $3 million announced today is in addition to the original AgriFlexibility Fund contribution of $5.36 million announced last March for the development and implementation of the BIXS program.
In addition to the BIXS announcement, Minister Ritz also re-confirmed both the Government of Canada’s and his commitment to opening international markets for Canadian livestock, beef and beef products. He highlighted the very important recent market access openings for beef in Korea and beef tallow in China.
“We are very pleased that Minister Ritz shares the CCA’s view that access to global markets is a top priority. He has worked tirelessly to open markets for Canadian beef and we will continue to support him as he persists in those efforts,” Toews said.
For further information, contact:
Gina Teel
Communications Manager
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
403-275-8558 x 406 | 403-875-3616
teelg@cattle.ca | www.cattle.ca
