Media

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GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO ANNOUNCE RENEWED AGREEMENT ON IRRIGATION IN SASKATCHEWAN



OTTAWA, Ontario, July 16, 2008 – Lynne Yelich, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, will be at the Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification Centre (CSIDC) Irrigation Field Day and Trade Show in Outlook, Saskatchewan, on Thursday, July 17, to announce a new five-year agreement on irrigation in Saskatchewan.



Following the announcement, Ms. Yelich will be available to speak to media.



EVENT:

Announcement and media availability



DATE:

Thursday, July 17



TIME:

11:30 a.m. (local time)



LOCATION:

Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification Centre (CSIDC)

901 McKenzie Street South

Outlook, Saskatchewan



For more information:



Media Relations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

613-759-7972

1-866-345-7972



Guy Chartier

Communications Advisor

AAFC Saskatchewan

Office: 306-780-5565

Cell: 306-530-7185

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Sometimes interesting to glance across the ocean.

France

France's big picture on paper:



http://www.ue2008.fr/webdav/site/PFUE/shared/ProgrammePFUE/Programme_EN.pdf

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If you want to read about what miserable failures you are as farmers, about what victims you are, and how the authors have fingered agriculture as the culprit responsible for world starvation, read the following report:

http://www.devp.org/devpme/eng/advocacy/doc/DPFood.pdf


When you've finished scanning it, ask yourself two questions:

1. Would there be one skinny author amongst them, do you suppose?

2. Do you suppose the authors would approve of a World Wheat Board with the authors acting as the appointed Directors?


Parsley

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GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS $25 MILLION IN BIOFUELS PRODUCTION



MOORETOWN, Ontario, July 18, 2008 – Suncor Energy’s St. Clair Ethanol Plant is expanding to double its production of cleaner-burning, renewable energy, thanks to a $25 million investment by the Government of Canada.



The announcement was made today by Guy Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture.



“This investment will create new jobs in Lambton County and St. Clair Township while also giving Canadian families a green alternative at the gas pump,” said Parliamentary Secretary Lauzon. “Our government’s biofuel strategy is delivering real results for our farm families, our communities, and our environment.”



The Suncor St. Clair Ethanol Plant currently produces 200 million litres of ethanol per year and will be expanded to double its capacity to 400 million litres per year. The facility, which is expected to be completed in September 2009, has also received equity investment from farmers totaling $12.5 million. This project will create new opportunities for farmers who are growing the feedstock to produce the ethanol, as well new opportunities for those who are involved as financial and business partners in the plant’s expansion.



In addition to ethanol, the plant will produce dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), sources of high protein and high-energy feed for dairy and beef cows, hogs and poultry, as well as carbon dioxide, which is used to freeze foods and produce carbonated beverages and fire extinguishers.



“We are very grateful for the federal government’s support for our project,” said Suncor Energy Products Inc. General Manager, Gord Pinard. “Programs such as ecoABC are instrumental in helping expand Canada’s biofuels production capacity and integrating renewable fuels into our transportation energy supply chains.”



The ecoABC initiative was launched by the Government of Canada in April 2007. The initiative is part of the comprehensive Government of Canada renewable fuels strategy that focuses on increasing the demand for renewable fuels through regulation, expanding production capacity in Canada by offering an operating incentive, assisting farmers to participate in this sector of the economy and accelerating the commercialization of new technologies.



More information on AAFC’s ecoABC initiative is available online at www.agr.gc.ca/ecoabc.



-30-



For more information, media may contact:



Media Relations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

613-759-7972

1-866-345-7972



Margaux Stastny

Press Secretary

The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz

613-759-1059

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The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)
19th of July, 2008
by Angela Hall


WTO talks key to farm economy: ag minister



REGINA -- Saskatchewan's future farm prosperity relies on a successful outcome to long-running global trade talks that are back in the spotlight next week, Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud says.

But even within Canada, there are differing opinions on how federal negotiators should proceed.

Bjornerud said "trade-distorting" farm subsidies and agricultural tariffs need to be addressed. "About 96 per cent of our farm cash receipts depend on international markets," said Bjornerud, as he and many of his provincial counterparts prepare to join Canadian negotiators in Geneva where World Trade Organization negotiations are taking place.

Bjornerud said he will be pushing the federal government to focus on increased trade opportunities.

Saskatchewan and Alberta earlier this year asked the federal government to take a "progressive stance" at global trade talks on opening up market access for farm exports.

Ontario and Quebec have meanwhile stressed the need for Canada to safeguard supply management, a system that affects poultry, egg and dairy producers.

Bjornerud said he thinks "it probably hurts our chances of getting a deal" when Canada won't look at changes to supply management, or to the Canadian Wheat Board, which has a monopoly on western wheat and barley exports. "I'm not saying removing the tariffs on supply management. It works very well across this country. But, on the other hand, we have to get these markets opened up whether it's beef or hogs or grain."

The federal government has pledged to stand up for Canada's supply-managed system.

Meanwhile, the chair of the Canadian Wheat Board will also be in Geneva next week to ensure the marketing monopoly is not sacrificed in negotiations. "We're expecting the government to remain firm on the commitment that (the future of) Canada's marketing structures is a decision that's made in Canada," said Larry Hill, who is also a Saskatchewan farmer.

Although the federal Conservative government has unsuccessfully tried to dismantle the board's monopoly on western barley in recent months, Hill said he's confident the CWB's "single desk" marketing won't be put at risk at the WTO.

Based on what has already been decided upon, western Canadian farmers will already lose government guarantees on initial payments and borrowings by the CWB if an agreement is reached, Hill said. "If there's an agreement, that's captured in the text," Hill said, arguing that should be enough.

Both the United States and European Union have pushed for changes to the CWB, which markets all western wheat and barley sold for export or domestic human consumption. "They have many defensive positions, so going to the wheat board gave them a chance to be on the offence. This is about subsidy, domestic supports, trade distortion -- (Europeans and Americans) are the ones that do all this," Hill charged.

UNQUOTE


Bjornerud needs to give a few lessons to Ritz on "Consistency of Thought".

Canada cannot both yodel and hum at the same time, while speaking at the WTO.


Parsley

[agstar77]

Our Federal Government is going into ethanol production just as the U.S. is having second thoughts.

[silverback]

So Mr. Hill gets a free trip to Geneva to do what exactly?

Which of the directors voted to have him make this trip?

How much HRS do you suppose it will cost?

What kind of entourage does he take along? Ralphy? Stewie?