The investment will help the forage sector increase export capacity and strengthen awareness of Canadian forage products to new and emerging markets. In addition to participating in international trade expos in the United States, the CFGA developed export readiness training for their members and developed strategies for emerging markets.

 

A further investment of $16,000 was provided to CFGA to hire a student intern under the Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative to help farmers integrate environmentally beneficial management practices into their crop planning.

 

"Our Government has a strong agenda for growth in agriculture and agri-food and is committed to supporting our farmers, young and old, with strategic investments and opportunities that expand growth, deliver prosperity and create well-paying middle class jobs," said MacAulay, who is conducting a 'Growing Canadian Agriculture' tour where he is meeting with farmers, processors and industry leaders, as well as participating in rural agricultural events across the country, to hear ideas on how to capture new growth opportunities for the agriculture sector.

 

"Canada's forage sector is the largest land-use type in Canadian agriculture and is exceptionally diverse, covering over 72-million acres coast to coast," said CFGA's executive director, Cedric MacLeod. "The forage sector generates an annual value of $5.09-billion as the backbone of the ruminant livestock sector, and serves an increasingly important role in feeding livestock around the world.

 

"Forage exporters from across the country are ramping up production to service growing markets in China, the Middle East, United States and Central America," he added. "AgriMarketing program funding provides an important cost-share for our industry partners to leverage their market growth activities around the world."