By Thomas Miller
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud were in attendance Tuesday at the Campfire and Vittles Banquet during the Cattlemen’s Corral/Crop Visions at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds.
Ritz, MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster, said he took the opportunity to hear from local farmers.
“There are hundreds of farm families in the crowd tonight,” said Ritz in an interview before the banquet. “It’s a good chance to chat with them about how their fall went, what are they planning on doing this spring.”
He said he was happy with what he heard in those conversations.
“2011 was a good year, they’re looking for another follow up in 2012, it takes more than one good year to pay the bills,” he said. “Having said that there’s a lot of optimism, there’s a lot of people looking at the great equipment parked here and assessing the cattle that are here as well.”
Both ministers shortly addressed the crowd following dinner and both spoke of an abundance of optimism in the agriculture industry.
“The optimism that’s out there in the (agriculture) industry right now... cattle prices especially since the BSE (mad cow disease) hit, finally they’re getting to the point where we’re seeing some light at the end of the tunnel,” said Bjornerud before the banquet. “Just talking to producers I think this is the most optimism we’ve seen for a long time.”
Both ministers had the chance to look around the Cattlemen’s Corral/Crop Visions event before coming to the banquet and one part that stood out to them was the educational aspect, as farmers could sit in on sessions with agricultural experts at the Exhibition Grounds.
“That shows you the new face of agriculture, it’s a business and it’s all about management, it’s about learning about what’s new, what’s out there, what’s in the best interest of your own operation,” said Ritz. “Coming in and chatting with your neighbours as to what they’re going to do and working those things through in a business-like way.”
Bjornerud added that the education could also help the urban population understand issues of their agricultural neighbours.
“It promotes agriculture and for the urban public it gives them a chance to see some of the machinery they utilize here right now and some of the livestock equipment that they use,” he said.
“It’s just a win-win because I think it’s that education that we have to show the urban public what goes on on the farms and ranches across Saskatchewan and Alberta.”
Bjornerud, MLA for Melville-Saltcoats, said during his speech that he’s impressed with the recent success of Saskatchewan and said the province is finally catching up to Alberta economically, saying that people from Saskatchewan are starting to feel like they’re from Alberta.
“There’s good things happening in Saskatchewan right now and finally we’re joining with Alberta and I think we’re leading this whole country right now between the two provinces.”