From breeding to feeding, the federal agriculture minister ran gamut on a visit to the area that included a stop at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market on July 6.
In Elora earlier in the day, Lawrence MacAulay announced $2 million for research to boost feed efficiency for cattle, later visiting the market to see where the beef and other farmed goods make their way to consumers.
The minister of agriculture and agri-food announced the investment with Beef Farmers of Ontario to enhance the genetic profiling of eastern Canada cow herds to improve feed efficiency.
During the event in Elora, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Jeff Leal told attendees that the province intends to expand the Elora Beef Research Centre, which is set to conduct the research, through a provincial investment.
The $2-million investment is being made through the Growing Forward 2 program – a five-year, $698 million federal-provincial initiative aimed at generating market-based economic growth in the agricultural sector.
Canada’s beef sector contributes $2.69 billion to the economy each year, supporting 61,000 jobs in the province alone.
To date, OMAFRA has contributed $12.4 million to expand the Elora Beef Research Centre.
“The federal government is proud to partner with the Province of Ontario to support research at a state-of-the-art beef research centre serving all of eastern Canada. This investment will make the beef industry even stronger and more competitive, supporting jobs and economic growth in Ontario and across Canada,” said MacAulay.
The new federal research investment is to help make the beef sector more sustainable. It is expected to directly benefit producers by reducing the amount of feed needed for every pound of beef – resulting in each animal producing less methane and less manure.
“The Beef Farmers of Ontario is extremely appreciative of the federal government’s contribution to new research projects and equipment at the Elora Beef Research Centre. The competitiveness and long-term viability of the Ontario beef industry is underpinned by key investments in primary research and infrastructure capacity needed to undertake it,” said Joe Hill, vice-president of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, noting that funding committed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will provide critical support to advance beef cattle research and help ensure they are well-positioned to compete in both domestic and international markets.
Feed accounts for 25 per cent of beef input costs. Studies have shown that a one per cent improvement in feed efficiency can result in annual savings of $11.1 million for the sector.
The announcement is a preliminary step ahead of the increase in Canadian agricultural exports, said MacAulay.
“Well as you know we are going to increase our agricultural exports to $75-billion dollars by 2025 and it’s so important that we invest in research, and also that we make sure that our farmers and ranchers in this province and country are on the cutting edge,” he said. “We are going to increase our production, we are going to increase our exports, and this is one of the ways we make sure we do it.”
During his visit to the market, MacAulay stopped by several vendors, including Edgar Gingrich Meats, Charles Quality Meats, Nauman’s Produce, Voisin’s Produce, Mountain Oak Cheese, Ackroyd Honey and Canadian Alpaca.
“One of the more famous, if not the most famous markets in the country. It is big, beautiful, wonderful. We had a great tour guide,” he said of the market, noting that although it was a quick visit, it seemed as if everything was available there.
