Released on March 19, 1998
Agriculture and Food Minister Eric Upshall announced that the provinceis investing in disease surveillance and animal health, which is
necessary to spur agriculture development and jobs.
"Expanding livestock operations present a tremendous opportunity to
diversify and to increase the value of products prior to export, but
with this growth is a need for higher level services to ensure animal
health," Upshall said. "Access to export markets depends on the
quality of our veterinary infrastructure and animal disease
surveillance data. We are, therefore, investing an additional
$1 million for diagnostic and animal disease services.
"In co-operation with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, we
are providing funding for the establishment of a new non-profit
Veterinary Diagnostic Service which include tests that will apply the
most modern technology available to achieve rapid and accurate
diagnostic results and will ensure an effective disease surveillance
system."
With increased opportunity to access the global marketplace,
producers and processors need to ensure consumers the high
quality and safety of food products for which the province is
known.
"An additional $100,000 is being invested to help maintain
program standards and ensure a cost-effective and efficient
inspection system for meat slaughtering and processing in the
province," Upshall said.
The Government of Saskatchewan continues its commitment to
reducing input costs for farmers through strategic targeting of
resources. Today's budget announcements build on recent
initiatives that focus on reducing input costs such as the 30
per cent reduction in crop insurance premiums over the past two
years; the E&H tax exemption program for purchases of farm
equipment, agricultural repairs, fertilizer, pesticides and seed
purchases; and the joint federal-provincial-territorial input
costs study examining pricing practices in the fertilizer,
pesticide and energy industries.
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For more information, contact:
Harvey Johnson
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-6395