April 2007
Index
Government Announcements:
Additional $10 Million for Biofuel Development
On March 3, 2007,
the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minster of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister
for the Canadian Wheat Board announced an additional $10 million for the Biofuels
Opportunities for Producers Initiative (BOPI). This brings the funding for this
program to $20 million.
The Honourable
John Baird, Minister of the Environment, stated in the news release that farmers
are critical to the success of developing and bringing to market alternative
fuels for the benefit of our citizens and environment.
BOPI helps agricultural
producers develop business proposals and conduct feasibility studies to support
the creation and expansion of the biofuel production capacity.
Prime Minister Announces $1 Billion for Canadian Farmers
the national farm
income programs. The Prime Minister stated that the federal government is still
committed to replacing the Canadian Income Stabilization Program (CAIS).
The $1 billion
federal initiative includes:
• A federal commitment to the creation of contributory-style producer saving
accounts;
• A $600 million federal investment to kick-start the accounts; and
• A direct payment of $400 million to producers this year to help address
high production costs over the last four years and $100 million annually
x to
address cost of production issues when they occur.
According to the
news release, the funding will be available as soon as Parliament approves the
upcoming budget.
Third Agri-Food Summit Focuses on Innovation
The Ontario government
held its third annual Premier’s Summit on Agri-Food on March 8, 2007. In
a news release dated the same day, the Ontario
government recognizes that innovation will pave the way forward for the province’s
agrifood sector.
Two farmer-innovators
were recognized at the Premier’s Summit on Agri-Food for their innovations.
The innovations must have been developed on
an Ontario farm, must have the potential for use on a broader basis and for
having a positive effect on the agriculture industry.
The Premier’s
Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence was awarded to David VanderDussen
who developed, manufactures and distributes Mite-Away II. It is an environmentally
friendly product that protects honey bees from mite infestations and is exported
around the world.
The Minister’s
Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence was awarded to Fritz and Paul Klaesi
who are early adopters of anaerobic digester technology and are turning manure
into electricity. This is the first operational system in Ontario that is generating
electricity to the grid through
the net metering program.