By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 14, 2022.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews Ottawa will provide funds to further develop the export market for bison, it was announced Wednesday as producers from Canada and the United States gathered in Saskatoon. The sixth annual International Bison Convention heard the federal Agriculture ministry will provide $133,000 over two years to help fund the convention and other marketing, building on an expired three-year support agreement totalling $122,000. “This investment is very important in assisting the bison industry in rebuilding European markets as well as supporting strategies to ensure growth in exports to the United States,” said Terry Kremeniuk, of the Canadian Bison Association. “A significant portion of the increase in consumer awareness and exports globally can be attributed to the ongoing funding received through the AgriMarketing Program.” Exports of live bison and meat from Canada totalled $90 million in 2021. The industry group states the bison herd totals 150,000 head on 980 ranches. About 80 per cent of producers are based in Alberta or Saskatchewan. 7