(OTTAWA) – Canada’s new government and newly sworn-in Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Chuck Strahl, have made an excellent start to their term by making it their first priority to ensure the much-needed farm assistance payment flows immediately.

Following the very first cabinet meeting of the Conservative cabinet, Minister Strahl announced the government would be sending out within the next two weeks the $775 million in assistance cheques to grains and oilseeds producers, promised under the previous Liberal government. The Minister further announced farmers would receive the majority of their money in these first cheques, rather than in two separate payments.

“The fact the new government made the farm income situation a key discussion in their very first cabinet meeting is a very encouraging sign this government will keep agriculture as a front-burner issue,” said Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). “I want to congratulate Minister Strahl on his appointment, and on an excellent start to his term.”

CFA has invited Minister Strahl and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to address its Annual Meeting, March 2-3 in Ottawa. CFA is also preparing a briefing book it will present to Strahl to help acquaint him with the CFA, its members, and the pressing issues facing the industry today.

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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.