Extra Support for Saskatchewan Livestock Producers

Apr 11, 2024

By: Farms.com

In response to the ongoing drought conditions severely impacting livestock producers across Saskatchewan, the Canadian government, in partnership with the Saskatchewan government, has announced an infusion of additional support.

This aid comes through the Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program, initially rolled out on October 20, 2023, to bolster producers in maintaining their breeding herds amidst challenging weather conditions.

Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, alongside Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit, shared news of the top-up payments slated for eligible livestock producers already participating in the 2023 program.

This move underscores both governments' commitment to aiding the province's agriculture sector during these testing times.

Initially, the program disbursed payments covering up to 75% of the total anticipated support to ensure widespread assistance.

With sufficient budget remaining, the program is now set to release the remaining 25%, offering a significant boost to producers within designated drought-impacted regions. Depending on their location, producers can expect top-ups of up to $50 or $20 per head.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program, part of the broader AgriRecovery framework, is designed to assist producers with extraordinary costs arising from disaster situations, like the current drought.

These initiatives reflect a joint effort, with a 60:40 cost-sharing arrangement between the federal and provincial governments under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

In addition to this targeted support, producers have access to a suite of business risk management programs including AgriStability, AgriInsurance, and AgriInvest, offering a safety net against various production and income losses.

The application deadline was March 15, 2024, with the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation’s Feed Team tasked with reprocessing eligible applications. This streamlined approach ensures that the necessary funds reach producers without delay, offering some relief as they navigate the adverse effects of the drought.

Community and industry leaders have expressed gratitude for the government's swift action, recognizing the significance of this additional support in ensuring the resilience and continuity of the agricultural sector in Saskatchewan.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.