Harper Government Invests to Strengthen Canada's Pork Sector
February 18, 2015 —
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today announced investments of nearly $2 million to strengthen traceability and biosecurity in Canada’s pork industry. Minister Ritz made the announcement at the Canada Pork International Annual Meeting in Toronto. [Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada]
The Canadian Pork Council will receive up to $1.6 million towards the ongoing maintenance and implementation of PigTrace Canada, an industry-led national swine traceability system. The Canadian Swine Health Board (CSHB) will receive up to $351,000 in additional federal funding to assist the industry with the long-term management of swine health issues and the prevention of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv).
Quick Facts
- The investment in PigTrace is being made through the AgriMarketing Program, a five-year, up to $341-million initiative under Growing Forward 2. This investment builds on funding previously received through Growing Forward.
- Effective July 1, 2014, federal regulations have made swine traceability mandatory in Canada.
- A federal investment of over $29 million through the Canadian Swine Health Board (CSHB) helped the industry prepare to mitigate risks related to swine diseases, including the development and implementation of on-farm biosecurity standards and best management practices. Through this investment, over 90% of Certified Quality Assurance hog production sites across Canada received training on the Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard to increase awareness and encourage producers to implement best management practices and manage disease risks on farm.
- Next story: Zoetis Selects Grant Recipients for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Research
- Next in category: MPH for Practicing Veterinarians
- Previous in category: Tell Your Senators to Support the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act
- Previous story: Exposure of Feral Swine (Sus scrofa) in the United States to Selected Pathogens