Executive Council
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
May 20, 2016

Growing Our Agriculture Industry

Researchers Plant First Canola Field in Pasadena

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, witnessed an agricultural first this morning with the planting of the province’s first canola field in Pasadena.

“Growing the agriculture industry is a priority for our government. What we are seeing here today, with the planting of the first canola field in the province, represents a part of the future of agriculture in Newfoundland and Labrador. If our ongoing research into canola production proves successful, then it could very well become an important crop for our province.”
- The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

Researchers and extension staff with the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency cultivate and evaluate new crops, such as grain, soybean, wine grapes, cultivated partridgeberries, cranberries and blueberries at the Agriculture Research Station in Pynn’s Brook. Two other facilities dedicated to increasing the production of potatoes are located in St. John’s and Glenwood.

The success of the cereal grain program in Newfoundland and Labrador helped identify exciting opportunities which are now part of a crop rotation system on the island portion of the province. High value annual crops, such as forage, soybeans and canola, have the potential to transform the feed and food industry in ways that were not possible five years ago.

“Our grain and forage research has led to a decrease in the cost of production as well as an increase in milk production for dairy farmers. Canola has the potential to become a component of livestock feed and is the next logical step for research in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency

Canola is currently grown in all Canadian provinces with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador. Thirty acres will be planted in Pasadena as a test project with harvesting expected to occur in late-August to early-September.

“The province’s grain research program has been a game changer for the agriculture sector. As a commercial farmer, I see firsthand the importance of this research to our industry and canola can definitely be the next positive step for our province.”
- Melvin Rideout, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture

Budget 2016 contributed $10 million into agriculture programs to continue growth and diversification in the agriculture industry. It also provided $1 million to continue agricultural research and development, and committed to developing an agriculture growth strategy.

QUICK FACTS

• The province’s first canola field was planted today in Pasadena. Canola is currently grown in all Canadian provinces with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Thirty acres will be planted as a test project with harvesting expected to occur in late-August to early-September.
• The success of the cereal grain program in Newfoundland and Labrador helped identify exciting opportunities which are now part of a crop rotation system on the island portion of the province.
• High value annual crops, such as forage, soybeans and canola, have the potential to transform the feed and food industry in ways that were not possible five years ago.

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2016 05 20                             10:40 a.m.