OTTAWA — Canada’s pork industry is getting a boost from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada with an investment of more than $294,000, which will enable producers to create small-scale projects for managing viral diseases that cost the industry an estimated $130 million annually.
“Pork producers in southern Ontario and across Canada provide safe, top-quality pork products enjoyed by consumers at home and around the world. This targeted investment will help the pork industry enhance its world-class biosecurity and disease control, bolstering its bottom line and our overall economy,” said MP Dave Van Kesteren speaking on behalf of agriculture minister Gerry Ritz at the Southwest Agricultural Conference.
The money, provided under the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), provides tools, co-ordination and funds for controlling and eradicating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). PRRS causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in piglets.
The Ontario Pork Industry Council’s Swine Health Advisory Board (OSHAB) will organize programs stemming from the investment and serve as a model for other provinces to follow. Results will be shared with industry and the Canadian Swine Health Board.
CAAP is a five-year (2009-2014), $163-million initiative to help the Canadian agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive.
For more details on CAAP, visit agr.gc.ca.
photo courtesy of Bill Longshaw
