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Provincial Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud

Provincial Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud is in Quebec today for meetings with his Federal and Provincial counterparts.

The new Growing Forward 2 program is expected to be the main focus for the meetings with the current program expiring in March of 2013, “We won't have the final program out right now we're getting closer to that point. They've been working on it for the last 2, 3, or 4 years so a lot more detail will hopefully come out but we won't be able to really say much. It will be signed prbably early-end of 2013 or late in 2012.”

Bjornerud said given the fact that Saskatchewan is the only province with a balanced budget and other provinces are looking for ways to save money … he’s concerned farm programs may take a hit., “This is going to be an interesting meeting cause I know a number of the provinces and probably the federal government are trying to find ways to save money and I'm really concerned that farm programs could take a hit. So from my perspective is thats one of the concerns I'm going to be watching for.”

The ministers are also expected to talk about the cuts in the Federal Ag Budget like the CFIA and Federal Pasture Programs.