New programs designed to make Saskatchewan producers more innovative, productive and competitive on a world scale
Backgrounder
Regina, Saskatchewan, April 11, 2013 – Today, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced the launch of the Growing Forward 2 (GF2) agricultural policy framework in Saskatchewan.
“Our Government remains focused on creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry,” said Ritz. “Growing Forward 2 provides flexible, innovative programming for Saskatchewan’s hard-working farmers to ensure they have the tools they need to remain competitive and expand into new markets.”
“Agriculture is one of the main economic drivers in Saskatchewan and this new five-year agreement will help our farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and exporters to grow the industry,” Stewart said. “We consulted extensively with producers and industry on the development of these programs, which will help ensure our products continue to feed a growing world population and contribute to a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan citizens.”
The federal and provincial governments will invest $388 million in Saskatchewan for strategic initiatives over five years, an increase of more than $25-million per year over the previous Growing Forward framework. Programs were designed to offer flexibility to meet the needs of Saskatchewan farmers and agribusinesses. Following extensive consultation with producers, programming has been developed to provide:
- $170 million over five years in Agriculture Innovation, Research and Technology Transfer;
- $65 million over five years in Rural Water Infrastructure;
- $60 million over five years in Environment, Food Safety, Plant and Animal Health;
- $32 million over five years for Value-Added Business Development as well as Trade and Market Development;
- $25 million over five years in Farm Business Management; and
- $4 million over five years to support the industry in Agriculture Awareness Initiatives.
Saskatchewan is a world leader in the production and exports of canola, wheat, oats, peas, lentils, mustard seed, canary seed, flax and other crops. In addition, Saskatchewan is a leader in livestock production, with one third of Canada’s beef cattle herd. With more than $11 billion worth of agri-food exports in 2012, Saskatchewan is Canada’s top exporter. Growing Forward 2 will help strengthen Saskatchewan as a leader in production, biosciences, innovation and food security.
Further program information and application details can be accessed by visiting www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2. For more information about Growing Forward 2, visit agriculture.canada.ca/GrowingForward2.
For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Jeff English
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Cory Kolt
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-2359
Email: cory.kolt@gov.sk.ca
Cell: (306) 527-0521
Backgrounder
Growing Forward 2
Growing Forward 2 (GF2) is a federal-provincial-territorial policy framework of agricultural programs.
GF2 programming in Saskatchewan includes business risk management programming (Crop Insurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest and AgriRecovery) as well as strategic initiatives to provide a comprehensive suite of programs to producers and agribusinesses.
In Saskatchewan, the federal and provincial governments will invest $388 million over five years on strategic initiatives, which represents a more than $25-million increase per year.
These initiatives were developed through program reviews and extensive consultation with industry. The initiatives cover eight key programming areas that promote growth and benefit the long-term productivity, profitability and competitiveness of Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers.
Agriculture Innovation, Research and Technology Transfer
(Total investment: $170 million)
- The Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) invests millions of dollars every year to support agriculture research that is critical for Saskatchewan producers. Since 2007, Saskatchewan has invested more than $57 million through ADF.
- The Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Program will continue to support producer access to new farming methods and tools through regional demonstrations.
- Agriculture research is also funded through the GF2 Agriculture-Applied Research Management (Agri-ARM) Program.
- GF2 supports public-private partnerships that focus on technology transfer and commercialization, bringing lab innovation to the fields of Saskatchewan.
- Through GF2, Government funds 15 Strategic Research Chairs in the province, directing research to benefit producers.
- GF2 also supports Saskatchewan’s world-class agriculture research infrastructure, making the province a leader in biosciences as well as food production and innovation.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-6566.
- Extension programming continues through the Ministry of Agriculture’s 10 Regional Offices and seven Satellite Offices, offering the services of Regional Crops, Livestock, Forage and Farm Business Specialists. Additional services are provided by the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Moose Jaw.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/RegionalOffices or call (306) 787-9773.
Rural Water Infrastructure
(Total investment: $65 million)
- The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) helps Saskatchewan producers develop secure water supplies for agricultural purposes. FRWIP also helps minimize the impact of drought and promotes rural economic development. Eligible applicants now include agribusinesses and non-district irrigators as well as district irrigators. Eligible projects have also been expanded to include well decommissioning, well head protection and relocation of livestock watering facilities for environmental purposes.
- Support is also available for irrigation infill and water development in the province, reliably increasing crop yields and diversity, while supporting value-added processing.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call 1-877-874-5365.
Environment, Food Safety, Plant and Animal Health
(Total investment: $60 million)
- There are three distinct parts to GF2 Environmental programming, which contribute to the long-term sustainability and productivity of this province’s diverse agricultural land base. They are the Environmental Farm Plan, Farm Stewardship Program and Agri-Environment Group Plan.
- The Environmental Farm Plans are an education and awareness program in which producers assess their current farming practices and their impact on the environment.
- With an Environmental Farm Plan in place, producers can access an incentive program known as the Farm Stewardship Program to implement beneficial management practices. With GF2, the list of practices has been revised to remove what would now be considered standard practice on farms.
- Agri-environmental Group Plans (AEGP) have been expanded to cover more of the agricultural area of the province. A new, more equitable funding arrangement will be used to provide delivery money to these groups. AEGPs will provide education and awareness to deal with environmental issues where action by all producers in an area can have a measurable impact.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 933-8116.
- The Disease Surveillance and Management Program will provide timely animal and plant health monitoring. The Program will support monitoring and detection of existing, new and emerging plant and animal diseases for their potential effects on production and human health.
- The Livestock Biosecurity Program will support biosecurity awareness and education of best practices in the industry.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-5547.
- The Saskatchewan Livestock Traceability Rebate Program helps livestock producers access traceability technologies such as hand-held readers, panel readers, traceability software, and training for traceability equipment. Applicants include livestock producers, feedlots, backgrounders, veterinary clinics, meat processors, assembly yards, privately managed community pastures, fairs, exhibitions and auction marts. Applicants can access up to a 70-per-cent rebate to a maximum of $50,000 (all items combined).
- GF2 also supports livestock traceability efforts through the development of the Premises Identification (PID) System Database. This will provide industry with the tools and infrastructure necessary for traceability to manage threats by animal disease, natural disaster or food safety emergency.
- The On-Farm Food Safety Implementation Program helps provincial commodity organizations undertake on-farm food safety education and awareness activities tailored to their sector. Individual producers can also apply for assistance through their commodity organization.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-4325.
- The Comprehensive Pest Control Program provides control measures for a number of persistent, costly and invasive agricultural pests such as problem rodents and invasive species. The Province works closely with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities to help Saskatchewan control pest populations.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-8733.
Value-Added Business Development and Market and Trade Development
(Total investment: $32 million)
- The Saskatchewan Agri-Value Initiative (SAVI) continues to help Saskatchewan agribusinesses grow, contributing to the province’s value-added industry by assisting agribusinesses with product development, marketing efforts and training. Application categories have also been adjusted to include labour training enhancement. Small to medium-sized enterprises or producer/processor organizations involved in adding value to agricultural products can apply for a maximum of $100,000 over five years.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-5924.
- The new Saskatchewan LEAN Improvements in Manufacturing (SLIM) Program provides financial support to agri-food processors for projects that improve productivity and efficiency.
- The Food Safety Systems Program will provide support to Saskatchewan businesses that wish to strengthen the food safety outcomes of their facility. This will contribute to the health of Saskatchewan families and to maintain the province’s global reputation as a provider of safe, high-quality food.
For more information please call (306) 787-5547.
- The Trade and Market Development Program will build on the previous International Marketing Development Program and assist Saskatchewan organizations and businesses in pursuing new marketing opportunities.
For more information, visit http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-5139.
Farm Business Management
(Total investment: $25 million)
- The Farm Business Development and Training Program enhances the farm management skills of Saskatchewan producers. The Program focuses on training, encouraging farmers and ranchers to learn skills and obtain professional services in more than one farm management area. Applicants may qualify for reimbursement of up to $10,000 of eligible costs paid for farm-related training and/or up to $5,000 for farm business management consulting services, subject to a combined maximum of $10,000. For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 933-6128.
- Through GF2 programs, Government will fund Farm Human Resources and Leadership Support for the industry.
- The Green Certificate Program will be expanded to broaden its reach to students;
- A new Leadership and Mentorship Program will be introduced to build future industry leaders by matching young producers with industry association leaders; and
- The Professional Agriculture Operators Training Program is being developed in partnership with industry and technical institutions to help provide a pool of skilled employees for Saskatchewan farms.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-6588.
- The Canada Community Pasture Transition Program will continue to provide support to help federal community pasture patrons in Saskatchewan with the costs associated with forming legal entities, developing business plans and training to manage their community pastures.
For more information and application forms, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-2070.
Agriculture Awareness Initiatives
(Total investment: $4 million)
- The Agriculture Awareness Initiative was developed to help producer groups promote the benefits of agriculture, in order to improve the public perception of the industry. A better understanding of agriculture is critical to foster public support for the industry. The Initiative is available to Saskatchewan-based producers, commodity organizations, agribusinesses and agri-exporters that wish to develop and execute agriculture awareness activities.
For more information, visit http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-3121.
- The Industry Organization Development Fund will assist Saskatchewan producer associations, commissions and boards that want to develop organizational and communications tools for their sector. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $10,000 per organization per year.
For more information, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/growingforward2 or call (306) 787-8733.
