A beef producer from Southern Ontario has been named the new President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA).

Dan Darling previously served as CAFTA Vice President, and says the role is also a seamless transition from his recent days as President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association from March 2016 to March 2018.

"CAFTA is centered around trade opportunities for members, much like when I was with the Canadian Cattlemen's," He said. "No matter whether it's cattle, or grains, or sugar, the only way our producers do well is by having trade deals that put an added value on our product."

Darling takes the reins from previous President, Brian Innes, who is the Canola Council of Canada Vice President of Public Affairs.

Darling adds, the group is excited about the progress on some trade deals and are looking forward to future agreements.

"Looking forward to the Canadian-Mexico-U.S. trade deal to be ratified...Certainly some of the other trade deals that have been put in place hopefully will pay more dividends for producers as well."

Darling runs a 300 head commercial cow-calf operation and backgrounds cattle together with his brother, as well as a purebred Limousin herd with his wife and three daughters.

The Alliance acts as the voice of Canadian agri-food exporters and represents 90 per cent of farmers who depend on trade, as well as the producers and processors who rely on global markets for a significant portion of their income.

 

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