“Canadian livestock producers have proven they are world class suppliers of quality meats for the world,” said Portage—Lisgar Member of Parliament Candice Hoeppner, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This project demonstrates the continued innovation and vision that has put our livestock industry on the map while helping producers increase their profitability.”

Funding from the program will be used by Plains Processors to upgrade the existing provincially inspected facility to federal standards in order to expand market access. The project will provide cattle producers in Manitoba and the surrounding areas with access to a federally inspected red meat processing facility.

The $60-million Slaughter Improvement Program, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, makes federal repayable contributions available to support sound business plans aimed at reducing costs, increasing revenues and improving operations of meat packing and processing operations in Canada.

The Plains Processors project is subject to the completion of a Contribution Agreement and meeting all the terms and conditions of the program.

For more information on this program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/slaughterhouse.

For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

"The government of Canada's Economic Action Plan includes an initiative designed to provide tangible support for local agriculture so it can continue to grow and flourish. This program is designed to help the sector design and implement strategies and form partnerships with valuable actors involved in the production chain such as transformers and distributors in order to better respond to the needs of the marketplace" said Minister Blackburn.

This program finances development measures and business partnerships from different agri-food activity sectors. In concrete terms, these agricultural associations and business or agri-food activity sector groups will benefit from financial help for the development and implementation of a sectoral strategy plan, and partner to support business connections. Financial assistance will be provided for up to 70% of expenses, to a maximum of $500,000, depending on the nature of the project.

"The Government of Quebec is committed to doing more to accompany the Agri-food industry in its new business environment. Through this new support program for sectoral strategies, we are hoping to emphasize the implementation of a structured development approach. This approach will provide our production sectors with better tools to accomplish prioritized projects and thereby improve their strategic positioning" added Minister Corbeil.

This program is the result of a federal-provincial agreement under the Agricultural Flexibility Fund and falls within the scope of the adaptation support strategy for Quebec farm businesses, for which an investment of $100 million was announced in 2010 by the government of Quebec.. The Program to support sectoral development strategies joins other programs of the strategy, including the support initiative for consulting services and the modernization support initiative, available since December 2010.

For more information about the support program for sectoral development strategies, visit the ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation website at: www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/developpementsectoriel.

Hélène Sauvageau
Press Agent
Cabinet du ministre de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation Tel: 418 380-2525

Céline Falardeau
Senior Advisor, Politics
Office of the Hon. Jean-Pierre Blackburn
613-773-1088

Nathalie Foster
Chef du Service des affaires publiques
et de la production
Direction des communications
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation Tel: 418 380-2100, ext. 3512

Media relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa (Ontario)
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

"There is tremendous opportunity for the Warmblood horse breed both here in Canada and internationally," said Minister Ritz. "The Association has worked hard over the years to encourage the development of a top-quality, performance horse, and I congratulate everyone involved in this success."

Working together, the Government of Canada and the CWHBA have taken an innovative approach to further define the Warmblood as a distinct breed under the Animal Pedigree Act. Genetic improvement is a fundamental element of the Act, and this new characterization of the breed will enable the CWHBA to accurately reflect the genetic makeup of its animals, which is an important consideration in breeding superior animals.

"The importance of this approval cannot be overestimated. With this announcement the CWHBA has secured the assurance for Canadian breeders that the integrity of Warmblood horse breeding in Canada remains intact and that CWHBA members can continue to breed Warmblood horses in Canada to international standards," said Chris Gould, Chairman of the CWHBA. "Minister Ritz is to be congratulated for his leadership in directing the department to work with us to arrive at a workable solution to this long-standing situation."

National breed associations that agree to take on the responsibility of establishing a registry and representing breeders throughout Canada are incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act. Only one breed association may be incorporated in respect of each distinct breed, or evolving breed. Breed associations maintain pedigree records and issue certificates of registration as their primary responsibility.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

"Our Government will continue to put farmers first in all of our policy decisions because we understand their importance to the economy, their value to our food supply and their commitment to a sustainable environment," said Ritz. "The federal Government is proud to support the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project which will benefit future generations of farm families."

"Grain bags are becoming an increasingly popular method of grain storage for Saskatchewan farmers," Bjornerud said. "These pilot projects will help to address the challenge of disposing these grain bags in an environmentally responsible method."

This initiative includes up to six separate pilot projects throughout Saskatchewan. Each pilot project may include multiple collection sites. The Ministry of Agriculture will work with stakeholders to finalize locations. The pilot projects will be fully operational by July 2011. The plastics collected at the pilot project sites will be shipped to Calgary for recycling.

"Grain bags are a perfect example of Saskatchewan farmers leading the way in adapting new technologies," Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan President Greg Marshall said. "This new pilot project is a vital next step to ensuring producers can properly dispose of their used grain bags."

The federal and provincial governments are providing $160,000 for the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project through the federal-provincial Growing Forward framework. PCAB is providing $50,000 and will administer the project.

"We are pleased to work in partnership with both levels of government on this project," Mitchell said. "This is an important initiative that will help farmers deal with grain bag disposal."

PCAB is a non-profit agriculture organization focusing on timely, effective delivery of agricultural programs to Saskatchewan producers. PCAB currently delivers the Canada-Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship Program and the Canada-Saskatchewan Environmental Farm Plan Program.

For more information, producers can contact PCAB toll-free at 1-866-298-7222.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Patrick Boyle, Agriculture
Téléphone : 306-787-2359
Courriel : Patrick.Boyle@gov.sk.ca

"There's no better way to determine the success of new farming practices than to let farmers put them to the test," said Minister Ritz. "Here are 74 more great examples of the kind of support our Government is proud to deliver to farmers."

"This funding will go towards a wide variety of projects to help transfer research from the lab to the field," Bjornerud said. "These projects will allow farmers and ranchers to get a first-hand look at new innovations and technologies, which will benefit them at the farm gate."

Approved projects include:

• examining brome grass midge control;
• studying faba beans as a green manure source;
• comparing inputs on peas and lentils;
• demonstrating different canola seeding speeds;
• evaluating different pod-sealants on canola;
• evaluating new insecticides for pest control in alfalfa;
• studying the control of kochia;
• reclaiming saline soil using perennial forages;
• evaluating fungicides to control disease in Saskatoon berries; and
• comparing new varieties of corn for cattle grazing.

The projects approved for funding were submitted by 31 producer-led organizations from across the province and represent many different parts of the agriculture industry, including grains, oilseeds, pulses, forages, livestock, fruits, vegetables and organic production.

"Saskatchewan producers are constantly looking for ways to improve production," Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan President Greg Marshall said. "These projects will give producers the opportunity to see new industry innovations and how they can incorporate them into their own operations."

Ministers Ritz and Bjornerud also announced ADOPT funding amounts will increase, beginning with Fall 2011 projects. Producer groups will now be eligible to receive up to a maximum of $75,000 per year in project funding, an increase from the current $50,000 per year.

Funding for ADOPT is provided under the federal-provincial Growing Forward initiative.

The application deadline for the Fall 2011 projects is June 15, 2011. For more information, producer groups can contact their local Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office.

A complete list of projects is available at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Patrick Boyle, Agriculture
Téléphone : 306-787-2359
Courriel : Patrick.Boyle@gov.sk.ca

"Canada is recognized throughout the world for the excellence of our livestock and the genetic quality of our herd," said MP Shory. "This investment will help increase promotional efforts to help expand export markets around the world, generating additional revenue for our producers here in Alberta and across Canada."

This investment will help the CLGA implement its international market development strategy for dairy and small ruminant genetics. It will also help CLGA integrate the Canada brand in its promotional activities, and in doing so employ the positive attributes associated with this country’s international reputation and further raise the image of Canadian agriculture. Activities planned include participating in trade shows and missions, delivering training and education seminars, working to develop new markets for semen and embryos, and undertaking market assessments for India and emerging markets in South East Asia including Thailand and Indonesia.

"The CLGA is grateful for the Government of Canada’s support in helping us achieve our long-term international goals for dairy and small ruminant genetics," said Rick McRonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association. "This support is essential for us to expand and regain international markets for the live animals, semen, embryos and related technologies of our members. Those international sales provide direct benefits to Canadian producers and keep Canada in the lead."

This investment is being delivered through AgriMarketing, an $88 million program under Growing Forward which helps industry associations implement long-term international strategies that include activities such as international market development, consumer awareness, branding and industry-to-industry trade advocacy.

To find out more about this program, visit: www.agr.gc.ca/agrimarketing.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

VICTORIA - British Columbia's cattlemen have a new opportunity to reinvest in their industry through the Ranching Task Force's $5-million Beef Market Research and Development Program, announced federal Member of Parliament Cathy McLeod (Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo) and B.C. Agriculture Minister Don McRae.

"Canadian beef producers work hard to provide safe, high-quality products for families in Canada and around the world," said MP McLeod, on behalf of federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "By supporting farmers' efforts to innovate and tap new markets, the Government of Canada is helping them remain competitive and profitable into the future."

"This program is one of the most important commitments to come out of the Ranching Task Force," said McRae. "It provides the support our ranchers need to open new markets and engage in forward-thinking business and product innovation. This work will ensure our beef industry remains a sustainable and prosperous part of B.C.'s economy."

The program seeks project proposals that will create long-term industry benefits. Examples include new product development, domestic and emerging market research, trade missions, and producer and consumer education. The program is open to all producer and processors groups, individuals, businesses, post-secondary research institutions, marketing organizations, co-operatives and non-governmental organizations.

"Our industry needs a launch pad for getting new ideas off the ground and facilitating research that is tailored to B.C.'s unique market conditions," said B.C. Cattlemen's Association general manager Kevin Boon. "With the funding support of the federal and provincial governments, the strategic investments made through this fund will create more value for beef produced in British Columbia."

The governments have invested $5 million in B.C.'s ranching industry to develop new marketing and innovation opportunities alongside policy and regulatory reform. There are over 4,000 ranches across the province contributing $250 million to the provincial economy.

The Ranching Task Force was announced in May 2009 to identify key issues and opportunities facing the ranching industry in B.C., and to make recommendations to ensure a strong, vibrant and sustainable industry for future generations. In May 2010 the Province announced a four-point action plan to improve the competitive environment of B.C.'s cattle sector.

For more information on the fund or the application process, visit: http://www.ranchingtaskforce.gov.bc.ca/

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

"I’m proud of the work being done here at the Salmon River Watershed as local farmers will be able use the results of the studies to help them increase irrigation efficiency," said MP Mayes, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz."Through this project, farmers and anyone who uses the river will gain from increased knowledge of our local water quality and quantity."

The investment for this project is part of the $14 million Growing Forward WEBs program. The WEBs project, the first of its kind in Canada, was established in 2004 at seven small agricultural watersheds in order to better understand and assess the environmental and economic benefits of beneficial management practices (BMPs). Previous to this study, the costs and environmental benefits of BMPs had seldom been measured. Results Results from these projects will provide a foundation for understanding the broader applicability of these BMPs within a specific region. Farmers will then be able to use this knowledge to maintain high agricultural productivity, while minimizing the impacts of farming on the environment. Results will also be used in planning future agricultural policies and programming.

The Salmon River Watershed evaluated cattle exclusion fencing with off-stream watering during the first phase of WEBs and a new irrigation efficiency BMP is underway for phase two to study both water quantity and water quality.

Over 70 other federal, provincial, academic and non-governmental organizations are also partners in this project which will run until 2013.

For more information about the WEBs project, please visit: www.agr.gc.ca/webs.

To find out more about Growing Forward and its initiatives, please visit: www.agr.gc.ca/growingforward.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Backgrounder

The Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices (WEBs) is a multi-disciplinary project, comprised of experts in agricultural, environmental and watershed research; economics; hydrology; and modelling. These expert skill sets come from a variety of different organizations including universities and colleges, conservation groups, provincial government departments, municipal governments, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other federal departments. The diversity of skills resulting from these partnerships is one of the project's greatest strengths.

Interest in the project from partner organizations has resulted in the leverage of significant additional resources. More than 70 organizations are currently involved in WEBs and have provided technical assistance or in-kind support to the WEBs watersheds listed below.

When the project was launched in 2004, there were seven watersheds. In 2009, the Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island watersheds were added to WEBs to build on its past success by strengthening the national network of watershed-scale laboratories to measure the impact of various Beneficial Management Practices.

The nine regional WEBs watershed sites are located in areas of historical benchmarking, where long-term background conditions and trends at the watershed level are well understood. The watersheds in this study and their partners include:

Salmon River, near Kamloops, BC

• Salmon River Watershed Society
• University of Victoria (Department of Biology, NSERC Industrial Research Chair Program, Water and Aquatic Sciences Research Program)
• Fraser Basin Council Society
• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• British Columbia Ministry of Environment
• BC Agriculture Council
• Thompson Rivers University
• Canadian Wheat Board
• Westwold Livestock Association - a local association of the BC Cattlemen's Association

Lower Little Bow River, near Lethbridge, AB

• County of Lethbridge
• University of Alberta
• Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Pipestone Creek, near Moosomin, SK

• Lower Souris River Watershed Committee
• University of Alberta
• University of Saskatchewan
• Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
• University of Guelph
• University of Regina
• Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
• Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation

South Tobacco Creek/Steppler, near Miami, MB

• Deerwood Soil and Water Management Association
• University of Guelph
• University of Alberta
• Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
• Manitoba Water Stewardship
• University of Manitoba

South Nation, near Ottawa, ON

• South Nation Conservation
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• University of Ottawa
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• INRA - French National Institute for Agricultural Research
• Université de Bourgogne (University of Burgundy), France
• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
• Agri-Drain (USA)
• McGill University
• North Carolina State University (USA)
• Lincoln University (New Zealand)

Bras d'Henri and Fourchette, near Quebec City, QC

• Club de fertilisation de la Beauce
• Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (Institut de recherche et de développement en agroenvironnement - IRDA)
• Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) - Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre
• McGill University
• Université Laval
• Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec
• Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs du Québec
• Canadian Space Agency
• Fédération de l'UPA de la Côte-du-Sud

Black Brook, near Grand Falls, NB

• University of New Brunswick
• Université de Moncton - Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre
• New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture
• New Brunswick Department of Environment
• Potatoes New Brunswick
• PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry
• Université de Sherbrooke
• Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (Institut de recherche et de développement en agroenvironnement - IRDA)

Thomas Brook, near Kentville, NS

• Nova Scotia Agricultural College
• Cornwallis River Headwaters Society
• Dalhousie University
• Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources
• Acadia University
• AgraPoint International
• Canadian Water Network - Pathogens in Groundwater Research Consortium

Souris River, near Souris, PEI

• PEI Wildlife Federation - Souris and Area Branch
• Nova Scotia Agricultural College
• PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry
• PEI Department of Agriculture
• University of PEI - Department of Biology
• Canadian Rivers Institute

Other partners also include:

• Ducks Unlimited Canada
• Environment Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Health Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• AAFC's National Agri-Environmental Health Analysis and Reporting Program (NAHARP)
• USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)

"I'm proud that the Souris River Watershed has been selected as a new WEBs research site," said Minister Shea. "The unique farmscape and crop production systems that we have here will offer a wealth of information about the positive impacts of improved water management practices on the environment, and farm income for our farmers."

The investment for this project is part of the $14 million Growing Forward WEBs program.

The WEBs project, the first of its kind in Canada, was established in 2004 at seven small agricultural watersheds in order to better understand and assess the environmental and economic benefits of beneficial management practices (BMPs). Previous to this study, the costs and environmental benefits of BMPs had seldom been measured. Results from these projects will provide a foundation for understanding the broader applicability of these BMPs within a specific region. Farmers will then be able to use this knowledge to maintain high agricultural productivity, while minimizing the impacts of farming on the environment. Results will also be used in planning future agricultural policies and programming.

The new Souris River Watershed project will cover a unique landscape in a province that had not been included in the project during phase one. The two BMPs studied at this site include: nutrient loading effect of spring versus fall plough-down of legume crops prior to a potato crop; and comparison of managed versus unmanaged riparian zones. The team will examine how these practices can have a positive impact on surface water, groundwater, stream and riverbank health.

Over 70 other federal, provincial, academic and non-governmental organizations are also partners in this project which will run until 2013.

For more information about the WEBs project, please visit: www.agr.gc.ca/webs.

To find out more about Growing Forward and its initiatives, please visit: www.agr.gc.ca/growingforward.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Backgrounder

The Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices (WEBs) is a multi-disciplinary project, comprised of experts in agricultural, environmental and watershed research; economics; hydrology; and modelling. These expert skill sets come from a variety of different organizations including universities and colleges, conservation groups, provincial government departments, municipal governments, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other federal departments. The diversity of skills resulting from these partnerships is one of the project's greatest strengths.

Interest in the project from partner organizations has resulted in the leverage of significant additional resources. More than 70 organizations are currently involved in WEBs and have provided technical assistance or in-kind support to the WEBs watersheds listed below.

When the project was launched in 2004, there were seven watersheds. In 2009, the Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island watersheds were added to WEBs to build on its past success by strengthening the national network of watershed-scale laboratories to measure the impact of various Beneficial Management Practices.

The nine regional WEBs watershed sites are located in areas of historical benchmarking, where long-term background conditions and trends at the watershed level are well understood. The watersheds in this study and their partners include:

Salmon River, near Kamloops, BC

• Salmon River Watershed Society
• University of Victoria (Department of Biology, NSERC Industrial Research Chair Program, Water and Aquatic Sciences Research Program)
• Fraser Basin Council Society
• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• British Columbia Ministry of Environment
• BC Agriculture Council
• Thompson Rivers University
• Canadian Wheat Board
• Westwold Livestock Association - a local association of the BC Cattlemen's Association

Lower Little Bow River, near Lethbridge, AB

• County of Lethbridge
• University of Alberta
• Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Pipestone Creek, near Moosomin, SK

• Lower Souris River Watershed Committee
• University of Alberta
• University of Saskatchewan
• Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
• University of Guelph
• University of Regina
• Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
• Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation

South Tobacco Creek/Steppler, near Miami, MB

• Deerwood Soil and Water Management Association
• University of Guelph
• University of Alberta
• Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
• Manitoba Water Stewardship
• University of Manitoba

South Nation, near Ottawa, ON

• South Nation Conservation
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• University of Ottawa
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• INRA - French National Institute for Agricultural Research
• Université de Bourgogne (University of Burgundy), France
• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
• Agri-Drain (USA)
• McGill University
• North Carolina State University (USA)
• Lincoln University (New Zealand)

Bras d'Henri and Fourchette, near Quebec City, QC

• Club de fertilisation de la Beauce
• Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (Institut de recherche et de développement en agroenvironnement - IRDA)
• Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) - Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre
• McGill University
• Université Laval
• Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec
• Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs du Québec
• Canadian Space Agency
• Fédération de l'UPA de la Côte-du-Sud

Black Brook, near Grand Falls, NB

• University of New Brunswick
• Université de Moncton - Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre
• New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture
• New Brunswick Department of Environment
• Potatoes New Brunswick
• PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry
• Université de Sherbrooke
• Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (Institut de recherche et de développement en agroenvironnement - IRDA)

Thomas Brook, near Kentville, NS

• Nova Scotia Agricultural College
• Cornwallis River Headwaters Society
• Dalhousie University
• Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources
• Acadia University
• AgraPoint International
• Canadian Water Network - Pathogens in Groundwater Research Consortium

Souris River, near Souris, PEI

• PEI Wildlife Federation - Souris and Area Branch
• Nova Scotia Agricultural College
• PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry
• PEI Department of Agriculture
• University of PEI - Department of Biology
• Canadian Rivers Institute

Other partners also include:

• Ducks Unlimited Canada
• Environment Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Health Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• AAFC's National Agri-Environmental Health Analysis and Reporting Program (NAHARP)
• USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)

"In Nova Scotia, scientists are working with local farmers and watershed conservation groups to learn about the costs and benefits of using water more efficiently," said MP Kerr, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "This information will help farmers and others in the region improve water management practices while maintaining high productivity."

The investment for this project is part of the $14 million Growing Forward WEBs program. The WEBs project, the first of its kind in Canada, was established in 2004 at seven small agricultural watersheds in order to better understand and assess the environmental and economic benefits of beneficial management practices (BMPs). Previous to this study, the costs and environmental benefits of BMPs had seldom been measured. Results from these projects will provide a foundation for understanding the broader applicability of these BMPs within a specific region. Farmers will then be able to use this knowledge to maintain high agricultural productivity, while minimizing the impacts of farming on the environment. Results will also be used in planning future agricultural policies and programming.

The original BMPs studied during phase one of WEBs were rainwater diversion from a farmyard; off-stream watering with fencing; and nutrient management planning. Additional BMPs for phase two include the effect of barn and manure storage facility upgrades; and improvements to a retention pond to aid in reducing nutrient loading to the stream.

Over 70 other federal, provincial, academic and non-governmental organizations are also partners in this project which will run until 2013.

For more information about the WEBs project, please visit: www.agr.gc.ca/webs.

To find out more about Growing Forward and its initiatives, please visit: www.agr.gc.ca/growingforward.

For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Backgrounder

The Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices (WEBs) is a multi-disciplinary project, comprised of experts in agricultural, environmental and watershed research; economics; hydrology; and modelling. These expert skill sets come from a variety of different organizations including universities and colleges, conservation groups, provincial government departments, municipal governments, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other federal departments. The diversity of skills resulting from these partnerships is one of the project's greatest strengths.

Interest in the project from partner organizations has resulted in the leverage of significant additional resources. More than 70 organizations are currently involved in WEBs and have provided technical assistance or in-kind support to the WEBs watersheds listed below.

When the project was launched in 2004, there were seven watersheds. In 2009, the Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island watersheds were added to WEBs to build on its past success by strengthening the national network of watershed-scale laboratories to measure the impact of various Beneficial Management Practices.

The nine regional WEBs watershed sites are located in areas of historical benchmarking, where long-term background conditions and trends at the watershed level are well understood. The watersheds in this study and their partners include:

Salmon River, near Kamloops, BC

• Salmon River Watershed Society
• University of Victoria (Department of Biology, NSERC Industrial Research Chair Program, Water and Aquatic Sciences Research Program)
• Fraser Basin Council Society
• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• British Columbia Ministry of Environment
• BC Agriculture Council
• Thompson Rivers University
• Canadian Wheat Board
• Westwold Livestock Association - a local association of the BC Cattlemen's Association

Lower Little Bow River, near Lethbridge, AB

• County of Lethbridge
• University of Alberta
• Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

Pipestone Creek, near Moosomin, SK

• Lower Souris River Watershed Committee
• University of Alberta
• University of Saskatchewan
• Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
• University of Guelph
• University of Regina
• Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
• Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation

South Tobacco Creek/Steppler, near Miami, MB

• Deerwood Soil and Water Management Association
• University of Guelph
• University of Alberta
• Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
• Manitoba Water Stewardship
• University of Manitoba

South Nation, near Ottawa, ON

• South Nation Conservation
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• University of Ottawa
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• INRA - French National Institute for Agricultural Research
• Université de Bourgogne (University of Burgundy), France
• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
• Agri-Drain (USA)
• McGill University
• North Carolina State University (USA)
• Lincoln University (New Zealand)

Bras d'Henri and Fourchette, near Quebec City, QC

• Club de fertilisation de la Beauce
• Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (Institut de recherche et de développement en agroenvironnement - IRDA)
• Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) - Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre
• McGill University
• Université Laval
• Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec
• Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs du Québec
• Canadian Space Agency
• Fédération de l'UPA de la Côte-du-Sud

Black Brook, near Grand Falls, NB

• University of New Brunswick
• Université de Moncton - Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre
• New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture
• New Brunswick Department of Environment
• Potatoes New Brunswick
• PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry
• Université de Sherbrooke
• Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (Institut de recherche et de développement en agroenvironnement - IRDA)

Thomas Brook, near Kentville, NS

• Nova Scotia Agricultural College
• Cornwallis River Headwaters Society
• Dalhousie University
• Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources
• Acadia University
• AgraPoint International
• Canadian Water Network - Pathogens in Groundwater Research Consortium

Souris River, near Souris, PEI

• PEI Wildlife Federation - Souris and Area Branch
• Nova Scotia Agricultural College
• PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry
• PEI Department of Agriculture
• University of PEI - Department of Biology
• Canadian Rivers Institute

Other partners also include:

• Ducks Unlimited Canada
• Environment Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Health Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• AAFC's National Agri-Environmental Health Analysis and Reporting Program (NAHARP)
• USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)