November 25, 1998
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

The following statement was issued today by Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I would like to inform the Members of the House of Assembly of the importance of the agrifoods industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, its potential for further expansion and its contribution to the economy.

Farm cash receipts, or the value of produce at the farm gate, has consistently increased 23 of the last 25 years. In 1997, farm cash receipts were $73.7 million.

Our value-added industry is worth approximately $300 million.

Our industry employs in the vicinity of 3,500 to 4,000 people.

Provincially, consumers spend over $2 billion annually on agrifood products. Markets are not a problem.

The dairy industry is alive and well with production tripling since 1983. The industry produces over $24 million of milk at the farm gate. Newfoundland dairy producers, on average, are the largest farms in North America. The dairy industry has room to grow.

The value of locally grown chicken was about $40 million in 1997 with a total volume of 22.2 million lbs., up 52 per cent in the last 10 years. This province's per capita consumption is the highest in Canada.

The egg industry is worth $8.5 million and produces 6.7 million dozen eggs. One hundred per cent of our eggs are produced by Newfoundland and Labrador farms.

The fur industry has taken a pro-active approach to expansion by preparing a strategic plan. The industry can utilize local marine by-product wastes, has a skilled, committed and knowledgeable human resource and has a base of superior breeding stock. The fur industry is on its way to bigger and better things.

Other livestock sectors such as hogs, beef and sheep make significant contributions as well. Their farm cash receipts are in the vicinity of $4 million.

The berry industry has sales at the farm gate in the vicinity of $1.1 million. With growing consumer awareness for healthier products such as cranberry juice, our organically grown wild berries and the market opportunities make it very stable.

Over 10,000 people supplement their incomes from wild berry harvesting.

Vegetable production is worth $4.8 million and has a great potential for secondary processing opportunities.

The floriculture and nursery sector is the fastest growing industry in agriculture. It is up over 120 per cent in the last 10 years. The value in 1997 was $8.9 million.

We have an aggressive research and development program that includes:

1. Alternative feeds which is a strategy to reduce feed cost to producers through utilizing more waste products and through growing grains and corn. This reduces reliance on imported feeds. Livestock producers are annually importing over 50,000 tonnes of feed.

2. We assist with livestock and crops that require diversification to provide stability.

3. We are researching and experimenting with new crops such as currants, partridge berries, cranberries, ginseng, sea buckthorn and others.

We also have plotted our course for the future of agrifoods through the development of the agrifoods strategy. This strategy identifies opportunities and challenges for the industry.

In closing, the agrifoods industry is alive and well, and is a viable industry that contributes significantly to this great province.

1998 11 25 2:40 p.m.