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UPDATED: Agriculture minister speaks to cattle producers

2018 Alberta Beef Industry Conference underway in Red Deer

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier says Canada and the United States are to a certain extent on the same page when it comes to agriculture despite NAFTA negotiation challenges.

“I am somewhat encouraged when I talk to American legislators around agriculture that they recognize without a doubt the importance agriculture has, how integrated it is with the three countries. I’m somewhat heartened to hear that,” said Carlier who spoke at the 2018 Alberta Beef Industry Conference Thursday morning at Sheraton Red Deer.

He said when it comes to Alberta beef there are some really exciting market opportunities to expand to Europe, Japan and other countries, but the U.S. remains Canada’s largest trading partner and Canada has to work on that relationship.

Carlier was recently in India for about a week where its swine industry in the north and northeast is looking to expand. He said that will create opportunities for Canada.

But Canada and Alberta are concerned when it comes to India’s new import tariffs on pulses which was a political decision as that country moves towards a federal election and most voters are still on the farm. India’s bumper pulse crop also had something to do with the tariffs, he said.

“They are the world’s largest grower of pulses. Alberta grows the most yellow and green peas in the world. The vast majority of that crop is going to India.”

He said farmers here may look at planting fewer pulses in favour of other crops, but the issue will eventually be resolved.

“There’s going to come a time when they need our pulses to feed their population.”

Back home when it comes to British Columbia’s attempt to hinder Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion to export Alberta oil, Carlier said he hopes the trade dispute will be resolved before it takes any other avenues like bans on Alberta beef, or whatever else.

“B.C. does not have a leg to stand on when it comes to blocking the pipeline and we will get that pipeline built.”



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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