The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture:

 Speaker, March is Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month – a perfect opportunity for young people to learn about, connect to, and celebrate agriculture.

To mark this occasion, Agriculture in the Classroom NL is hosting activities for the 13th year, where farmers and agriculture professionals share stories and spark discussion about food security, safety, and production with students throughout the province.

The month is off to a fine start with the release of a music video for the Little Green Sprouts song, written and produced by JUNO Award-winning band, The Swinging Belles.

There’s also the annual “Bee Creative Literacy Contest” which gives schools a chance to decorate a beehive from a participating beekeeper’s farm. Thanks to the Newfoundland and Labrador Beekeeping Association and Egg Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador for being part of this fun and educational initiative.

Speaker, Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month activities are funded in part by the federal-provincial Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which provided $330,000 to support Agriculture in the Classroom activities in Newfoundland and Labrador this past year.

Through this partnership, Agriculture in the Classroom NL is deepening students’ understanding of where their food comes from and promotes careers in agriculture.

I thank Agriculture in the Classroom NL for their work and encourage students and educators to take part in the variety of activities this month.

Thank you.