Minister Pedersen wants farmers’ input for the next round of federal-provincial-territorial funding for the agri-food industry
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The Manitoba government is preparing to renegotiate the Canadian Agricultural Partnership and Blaine Pedersen, the province’s agriculture and resource development minister, wants farmers’ input on the new agreement.
The Partnership is a five-year $3-billion investment between the federal, provincial and territorial governments in the agri-food industry. We are three and a half years through the agreement, so officials are turning their thoughts to the next iteration.
“The department always reaches out to commodity groups to get their feedback on these programs, but I wanted to talk directly with farmers,” Pedersen told Farms.com.
Pedersen met with over 300 producers in late July and early August to hear some feedback on how the Partnership programs, such as AgriInvest and Agristability, are working.
“The government can have all the theories it wants but we really want to know what works and what doesn't at the farm level,” said Pedersen.
Recently, the Manitoba government released an online engagement survey for farmers to complete. The survey focuses on four areas: business risk management, market opportunities, innovation and technology, and resiliency.
Farmers can access the online engagement piece until Sept. 1.
“I realize farmers are somewhat occupied right now with harvest but, at the same time… they can do this survey from their smartphones. ... The more we hear back from the producers who use (the Partnership programs), the better equipped I am to negotiate on their behalf,” said Pedersen.
The information gathered from the survey and the findings from the minister’s summer meetings will help Pedersen during an October meeting with other provincial, territorial and federal officials. There, the group will discuss what a new Partnership program could look like.
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