Released on February 10, 2009
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud has expressed disappointment with the outcome of the latest Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Ottawa.
Saskatchewan entered the meeting with a number of specific requests, including a request for immediate support to assist cattle and hog producers as well as changes to AgriStability.
Bjornerud was hoping to make progress on these files at the meeting, after the federal budget largely ignored the needs of cattle and hog producers.
"The federal government is supporting other areas of the economy, such as the automotive industry," Bjornerud said. "The livestock sector is equally as important in Saskatchewan, and throughout Western Canada, and there has not been sufficient federal support to this industry."
Bjornerud's comments come at a time when the cattle and hog industries across Western Canada continue to struggle after many months of low prices and high feed costs.
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For more information, contact:
Scott Brown
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4031