The federal government is giving $6 million to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to fund research into making the industry more competitive, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz announced March 23.
The money will fund a “research cluster” of industry leaders, scientists and academics who will choose project topics and direct the money.
It is not an additional government spending commitment because the funds will come from a $158-million five-year AgriInnovation program announced last year.
However, Ritz insisted it was “new money” when questioned by a reporter.
“It hasn’t been spent before.”
The announcement won applause from delegates to the CCA annual convention and then lavish praise from outgoing president Brad Wildeman.
“This is very good news,” he said. “It is a great idea that we have supported for years.”
Wildeman predicted that the money could be used to research cattle genetics aimed at creating a more efficient animal, developing superior feed grain and searching for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the industry.
Ritz would not be drawn into a discussion of how the $6 million will be spent.
“I’m not going to prejudge how this will be paid out,” he said. “The industry is going to drive a lot of it, working with the scientists.”
He has already announced research funding for the canola, flax and dairy industries.
The federal money will supplement a CCA fund of close to $1.2 million and more than $450,000 from provincial governments.
Meanwhile, Egg Farmers of Canada announced at its annual meeting in Ottawa March 24 that it is committing $110,000 a year for five years to fund a research chair at Université Laval in Québec City to concentrate on research into egg improvements.
The money comes from a levy on egg sales.
EFC said it will also fund research chairs at universities in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Western Canada.
