March 13, 2015 – Blumenort, Manitoba - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
A Manitoba company will receive $825,000 to expand and redevelop its truck washing facilities to improve biosecurity in the agricultural sector, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn and Member of Parliament Ted Falk, on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today.
The funding will allow Blue Water Wash to upgrade both its Blumenort and Brandon facilities. Blumenort will add five state-of-the-art washing bays, a baking bay and an undercarriage washing system and Brandon will add a baking bay. These upgrades are expected to create 20 new jobs and respond to a growing demand for these specialized services.
The wash bays ensure even the most hard-to-reach areas of trucks can be washed and sanitized in an environment that is safe for employees. The baking bay can reach temperatures of 71ºC (160ºF) to sanitize vehicles, trailers and other equipment, which is the final step in an extensive sanitization protocol for transport.
Blue Water Wash is a division of Steve’s Livestock Transport Ltd. Prior to the expansion, the facility in Blumenort featured four washbays and one drying bay, which can help reduce the risk of spreading viruses, bacteria, weed seeds and fungi. The company washes livestock trailers for more than 430 farm sites every week in its Blumenort and Brandon facilities and has seen demand for these services increase by 40 per cent annually.
Government funding is sourced from Growing Forward 2’s Growing Value – Transformation program, which provides financial assistance to existing agri-businesses to adapt to market forces and environmental considerations, and to increase competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
The federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million in Manitoba under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets.
Emily Hogeveen
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
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Caedmon Malowany
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Ron Kostyshyn
204-945-1494
