(ST JOHN’S, NF) – Farm leaders representing major commodity sectors and every province across Canada met this week in St. John’s, Newfoundland, for the semi-annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) – Canada’s largest national farm organization.

Many of the discussions and presentations at this week’s meeting addressed different aspects of CFA’s ongoing work to develop a new long-term, strategic vision for the next generation of Canadian agriculture policy. Delegates took part in sessions including: a presentation entitled “How to compete in the 21st Century Agribusiness Industry by David Bell, an Agriculture and Business Professor at Harvard Business School; a panel discussion with representatives from CropLife Canada, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors and the Canadian Cooperatives Association on forging strategic partnerships; and a presentation on biofuels by Gerald Tumbleson, President of the U.S. National Corn Growers Association. A representative from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada was on hand to update CFA members on the government’s vision for agriculture policy and its progress on APF II consultations.

“CFA’s main focus remains the development of a long-term strategy for Canadian agriculture that will promote growth and ensure the sustainability and profitability of Canadian farmers,” said CFA President Bob Friesen. “We had some excellent discussions this week that have moved us further down the road towards that goal.”

While recognizing the need to move forward, CFA members underlined the urgency in immediately addressing the farm income crisis facing the sector and passed a resolution pressing government to provide immediate, competitive, transitional support to producers until a sustainable net income can be obtained from the market place.  The resolution also called on the federal government to fund flexible companion programming in addition to those business risk management programs currently offered to producers.

CFA delegates also discussed the suspension of the WTO Doha Round and how Canada should proceed to secure advantages through bilateral agreements, challenges of unfair trade practices and rigourous enforcement of trading regulations.

CFA members were pleased to welcome the Hon. Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources for Newfoundland and Labrador, who addressed the meeting. Delegates expressed their regret AAFC Minister Chuck Strahl was unable to attend the CFA meeting.

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.