"I am delighted that we were able to continue our additional $500,000 in funding for this program in Budget 2007, bringing the total investment this year to $2 million, to help support individual farmers, processors and agricultural associations," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources. "We recognize the importance of this industry to the economy of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Our strategic investment this year will help bring the industry to the next level of commercial development and I encourage those eligible to take advantage of this program."

Eligible activities must support the objectives of the program and include opportunities for initiatives related to land development, secondary processing, diversification and environmental stewardship. Eligible applicants may include producers, agriculture associations, not-for-profit groups, partnerships, corporations, farm co-operatives and agricultural groups representing three or more farms.

Applications are being distributed throughout the province this week. Applications and program guidelines are also available on the department�s Web site at www.nr.gov.nl.ca/agric/ The deadline for applications and supporting documentation is May 30, 2007. Applications can be returned to a regional agricultural office located at St. John�s, Carbonear, Clarenville, Gander, Pasadena or Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

The province�s agriculture industry has annual sales valued at $500 million and provides direct and indirect employment for 6,200 people, mainly in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Budget 2007 contained a total budget of $21.5 million for the sector, including $1.4 million in new funding. That brings the two-year total for new funding for this industry to $10 million.

For more information on the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program, please contact the program manager at 709-637-2474 or by email at sharonwright@gov.nl.ca.

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