Agriculture minister lauds regional trade show

Richard Froese
Smoky River Express

f Smoky River Agricultural Trade Show is among the best in the province, says Alberta Agriculture and Food Minister George Groeneveld, who visited the show on the middle day March 17. “This is a wonderful trade show,” Groeneveld says in an interview with the Smoky River Express as he toured the trade show with Tourism, Parks, Recreation, and Culture Minister Hector Goudreau, MLA for Dunvegan – Central Peace. “It’s as good a show as you are going to find anywhere in Alberta.” “People are so open and progressive here.” He also gave high marks to the trade show host organization of Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association (SARDA). “They’ve got things put together pretty well and have some pretty interesting issues going,” says Groeneveld, who was appointed agriculture minister by Premier Ed Stelmach last December, and has been active in farming all his life, currently operating a cattle farm in Blackie with his son. “I didn’t realize that they are that well an organized group up here.” Meeting the minister Friday morning, farmers expressed numerous concerns and issues. “We heard some concerns which I will take back to my department and my caucus,” says Groeneveld. “We have some real issues that I can pass on to the federal government as well in an effort to get them involved in some of the problems that we have here.” Inadequate railway service to transport products is a heated issue with local farmers. “Not surprisingly, the freight issue up here is the big concern right now,” says Groeneveld. “People have some legitimate concerns. “CN Rail is not giving these people proper service.” Involved in this issue for several years, he says the problem is only worsening. “When I look around and drive past their farms and see piles of grain on the ground and they can’t move it, and all the moisture that’s here, they’ve got some major problems.” Bioenergy is another issue causing some concerns because of the price of feed going up. “On the other hand, it’s a good news story for the grain farmers because we are seeing a bit of a spike in the oat grains and oilseeds right now already,” says Groeneveld. Looking to the future of farming, he says bioenergy is a growing sector. “It’s here and it’s here to stay, I think.” “My goal is to try to get the primary producer involved in the value-added side of this.” “We are going to put a competitive marketing study together in the next month; bring in all the stakeholders of livestock, grains, and all the various groups through the agricultural department that are dealing with these people,” says Groeneveld. Bio-energy produces a clean-burning fuel with limited emissions and provides another market for farmers to sell their grain. Premier Stelmach plans to listen to farmers about the future of agriculture. “As your new premier, I plan to implement policies to increase market access for producers and ensure that they have greater access to capital to give them a competitive edge,” says Premier Stelmach. “My vision fo rural Alberta is fairness, opportunity, and options.” “I plan on listening to Albertans about how to make that vision a reality.” “I look forward to meeting with many of you in the coming months as we work to gether and continue our path towards a sustainable, profitable, and strong future for Alberta’s agriculture industry.”