Cattle graze in a field near Medicine Hat in an undated photo

By Charles Lefebvre

Federal government announces funding to support beef producers

Jul 10, 2019 | 5:09 PM

CALGARY, AB — The federal government has earmarked millions of dollars to help support beef producers across Canada.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced more than $8 million in funding at the Calgary Stampede Wednesday morning.

Of the funding, $5.3 million has been given to Canada Beef to help grow sales in international markets by expanding programs with existing retail partners and increase confidence in consumers.

“It’s money to support the industry to open up new markets,” said Bibeau following the announcement. “The idea is to provide them funds so they can do trade missions, they can invite importers of meat from different countries, they can work with chefs, be innovative to raise the interest of new markets for Canadian beef.”

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Other funding will go to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. A total of $1.7 million has been earmarked to “offer producers new tools to build public trust in their product around the world.”

The government is also providing approximately $800,000 to the Canadian Beef Breeds Council to grow markets for beef genetics, a release states. The National Cattle Feeders Association will also receive $250,000 to “ensure public trust” in animal welfare practice for Canadian beef operations and $230,000 will go to the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association “to improve animal welfare through genetics.”

Bibeau says having more options for export will help grow the industry.

“We have signed free-trade agreements in Europe, in the Trans-Pacific region for example, so we have to seize these opportunities, and this is why we are funding the association, the Canada Beef Council, to support the industry and open up new markets,” she said.

The news comes as the Canadian government remains locked in a dispute with China over Canadian meat imports.

Last month, China announced it has asked Canada to suspend all meat imports into the country, citing forged meat certificates. Chinese inspectors allegedly detected residue of ractopamine, a restricted feed additive, in Canadian pork products.

Bibeau says her department is working around the clock to resolve the dispute, and having regular conversations with Chinese officials.

“We have to reassure our Chinese trading partners that the system has been strengthened, so we have sent them a plan which short-term, medium-term, long-term measures to be sure no more inauthentic certificate is in circulation so they can re-open the market as quickly as possible.”