Common Approach To Help Beef Industry

Agriculture ministers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have agreed to a common approach for the upcoming federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers' meeting in November.

The three Maritime ministers will meet with their federal counterpart to discuss the implications of the recently announced national program for Canada's beef industry.

"Cattle farmers in this part of the country have been hit just as hard by the BSE crisis as farmers everywhere else," said Nova Scotia's Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Chris d'Entremont.

"We're glad to see this repositioning initiative from the federal government but the program, as it exists now, does not adequately address the particular issues facing Maritime beef producers. My colleagues and I will be pushing for changes in our next meeting with the federal government."

Specific initiatives the ministers will seek include federal investments in increasing slaughter capacity for fat animals and cull cows, trace back systems, dead stock removal systems, development of local markets and the upgrade of provincial meat inspection systems.

The joint approach results from extensive discussions between provincial government officials and the cattle associations in the three Maritime provinces.

"I'm pleased that we can co-operate this way in addressing the tremendous losses that Maritime livestock producers have taken since BSE hit the industry in May of 2003," said Mr. d'Entremont.

"I am also pleased that New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island will be joining Nova Scotia in providing cash advances to producers affected by BSE who are participating in the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program."

Cow-calf producers will be offered an advance of $100 per cow. The funding will be an advance on 2004 CAIS claims. Mr. d'Entremont announced Nova Scotia's intention to participate following the federal, provincial and territorial ministers' meeting in September.