Ministers of Agriculture Reach Agreement on Growing Forward 2

Sep 14, 2012

Innovation, Competitiveness and Market Development Target Priorities in Growing Forward 2

The Ministers of Agriculture from the federal, provincial and territorial governments have reached a five year agreement for the Growing Forward 2 policy framework. One of the key highlights is a 50% increase in cost-sharing initiatives for non-Business Risk Management (BRM) that seeks to spur innovation and marketing development. There will also be the creation of an effective suite of BRM programs that will be able to protect farmers against severe market volatility and disasters. Provinces will also be given some more flexibility to tailor the various government programs to meet their unique needs. There has been some headway that will allow provinces and territories to be equipped with resources necessary to be able to invest in environmental on-farm projects. There will also be the continuation of ongoing support for risk management programs.

“Just as farmers continuously improve their business practices, so too have governments made adjustments to help Canada remain a world leader in agricultural innovation and trade,” said Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Growing Forward 2 will help drive economic growth and long-term prosperity through agricultural innovation and market development, while also ensuring governments continue to share the risk of severe market volatility and disasters."

The policy framework will focus on trade with several key export markets, including South Korea, Japan, China and Europe. Gaining market access, reducing interprovincial trade barriers and working towards reducing the regulatory burden will be the focus over the next five years. The new agreement will phase in April 1, 2013 when the current framework expires.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.