On November 14, Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced online consultations to help determine priority areas for the Next Policy Framework (NPF). The current five year, federal-provincial-territorial agricultural policy framework, Growing Forward 2 (GF2), is set to expire at the end of March 2018.
鈥淲e are looking ahead to ensure Saskatchewan interests are represented in the program framework to follow GF2,鈥� Stewart said.聽 鈥淚 would encourage everyone involved in the agriculture industry to let us know their priorities through this survey.鈥�
This short, online survey will focus on the six priority areas identified by Canada鈥檚 agriculture ministers in July 2016 for the next framework: market and trade; science, research and innovation; risk management; environmental sustainability and climate change; value-added agriculture and agri-food processing; and public trust.聽 Participants will then be asked to rank program activities within those areas.聽 Other suggestions, ideas and feedback are also welcomed.
鈥淯nder GF2 we already offer several programs that contribute to the six priority areas, but now is the chance to make adjustments to capitalize on new opportunities,鈥� Stewart said.聽 鈥淎s a government, we are focused on offering the programs and services that farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses need to be successful.聽 Through the NPF, we will continue to make strategic investments that help strengthen our industry and the economy.鈥�
Information collected will help to inform the NPF program suite that will be in place by April 1, 2018.聽 Results of the survey will be compiled and posted online after the survey closes.
Business Risk Management (BRM) programs (Crop Insurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest and Western Livestock Price Insurance Program) are also part of the current framework, but are not included in this online survey.聽 Separate consultations for these BRM programs will occur with the industry at a later date.
The survey can be found on and will be open from November 14, 2016 to January 31, 2017.
