Natural Resources
January 2, 2013

Forestry and Agrifoods Sectors Provide Sound Benefits to Provincial Economy

Continued focus on two of the province’s traditional natural resources contributed to the growth of the province’s agriculture sector and the further diversification of the forest industry in 2012.

“Newfoundland and Labrador’s forest industry is a major contributor to the provincial economy,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. “The sector is valued at $250 million and directly and indirectly employs over 5,500 men and women, particularly in the province’s rural communities in sawmilling, woods contracting and value-added enterprises.”

The province’s agriculture industry has been equally important to the growth of the economy.

“The agriculture industry includes small organic farms and some of the largest individual dairy and poultry farms in Canada,” said Minister Kennedy. “Farm revenues reach upwards of $125 million annually, while the value of the agrifoods processing sector, including food and beverage manufacturers, has reached nearly $500 million per year.”

In 2012, provincial, federal and territorial ministers of agriculture reached an agreement on a new multi-lateral Agriculture Policy Framework (Growing Forward 2) that will support the agriculture industry and bring more than $20 million in federal funding to producers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Federal and provincial governments will complete bilateral agreements to support programs being in place by April 1, 2013, when the current Growing Forward agreement expires.

The Forestry and Agrifoods Agency released the Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future – Agriculture and Agrifoods strategy. The strategy is a five-year plan for the agriculture and agrifoods industry that responds to the needs and recommendations of farmers, processors and consumers.

In 2012, the Provincial Government passed the regulations to accompany the new Animal Health and Protection Act. The regulations provide penalties and laws to support a greater level of protection for animals. Government also began training those who will implement the regulations.

“One of the highlights of this past year was passing in the House of Assembly the regulations that accompany the new act,” said Minister Kennedy. “These regulations demonstrate our commitment to animal protection and respond to a public call for stiffer penalties for those convicted of abuse and neglect of animals.”

Also during 2012, public consultations were held on the preparation of a new Provincial Sustainable Forest Management Strategy to ensure the province’s valuable forest resources are developed with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as the primary beneficiaries. The strategy is required under the Forestry Act and is renewed every 10 years.

“Our government is working toward long-term sustainability in both the forestry and the agriculture sectors,” said Minister Kennedy. “Together with the people of this province we are committed to further growing our traditional natural resources into 2013 and beyond.”

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Media contact:
Heather Maclean
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca

2013 01 02                                 11:00 a.m.