Sheep farmers in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec have formed a new partnership called the National Sheep Network.
Alberta Lamb Producers, the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, and Federation des producteurs d’agneaux et moutons du Quebec represent 75 per cent of the ewe-flock in Canada.
The new alliance “will leverage the resources of the sheep industries in the three provinces to continue to move the sheep industry in Canada forward,” Alberta Lamb Producers said in a news release, adding the group will join the Canadian Federation of Agriculture as a member, effective Jan. 1.
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“The Alberta Lamb Producers welcomes the opportunity to join the Canadian Federation of Agriculture with our National Sheep Network partners,” said Erin Yaremko, chair of Alberta Lamb Producers. “We are excited to see an increased emphasis of advocacy for the sheep industry in Alberta on a national stage.”
Alberta Lamb Producers announced this summer it was pulling out of the Canadian Sheep Federation effective Oct. 20. At the time, Yaremko cited “a lack of communication, action on key issues, and transparency” in the national body along with the $25,000 annual cost of dues. Ontario also left the federation this year while Quebec quit the national body several years ago.
Other provinces will be eligible to join the network, the new group said.
