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March 14, 2011 - Minister Ritz makes funding announcement for BIXS at CCA AGM
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz dropped by the CCA Annual General Meeting in Ottawa to announce more than $8 million in funding to help Canadian cattle farmers improve their profitability and competitiveness. The investment sees $5.3 million in AgriFlexibility funds earmarmarked for the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS), $2.5 million in funds from the Agri-Innovations Program for the Beef Science Cluster and $364,000 from Growing Forward for the CCA's on-farm food safety program, the Verified Beef Production program.
Minister Ritz said the funding will ensure a strong industry here at home. The $5.3 million will help farms, feedlots and packing plants update their information technology systems to ensure they remain compatible with BIXS.
“In today’s global economy, knowledge is power and information is money. The information shared across the beef value chain will help improve production efficiencies, lower costs, improve carcass quality and value and ultimately improve the competitiveness of Canada’s beef and cattle industry,” he said.
CCA President Travis Toews thanked the minister, and noted the CCA is pleased to receive the funding. The financial commitment to BIXS in particular will move the industry forward and allow producers to “make production enhancing decisions that will leave us more competitive in the end.”
