MINISTER ATTENDING 2005 AGRICULTURAL CHAIRS SUMMIT

Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman is participating in the 2005 Legislative Agricultural Chairs Summit in Memphis, Tennessee from January 28th-30th.

"This Summit offers an excellent opportunity to tell my U.S. colleagues that the United States Department of Agriculture has followed a science-based process to develop the rule for importing live Canadian animals after March 7th, 2005," Wartman said. "Our beef is safe, and there are no food safety issues that prevent trade from occurring."

The annual by-invitation-only Summit brings together chairs of state agriculture committees to learn more about pressing issues relating to agriculture and rural policy, and to share ideas on problems unique to the agriculture sector. Two Canadian Ministers of Agriculture – Wartman and his Ontario counterpart, Steve Peters – are attending the 2005 Summit.

Agenda topics include: agricultural trade, biotechnology, food safety and health, rural development and farm profitability, building rural infrastructure, developing rural leadership and entrepreneurship, and farm security.

"Rural areas and the agriculture industry – whether in Canada or the United States – face some similar challenges. I look forward to hearing about some of the strategies and solutions that have been implemented and bringing those ideas home," Wartman said.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031