Farmers can receive up to $200 per head of cattle
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Saskatchewan’s ministry of agriculture released support program details to help livestock producers affected by the ongoing drought.
Producers can receive up to $200 per head of cattle under the province’s AgriRecovery program, now referred to as the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative.
Applications towards the funding through the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation opened Sept. 1.
Eligible livestock include female beef and dairy cattle, bison, elk, sheep or goats that are bred or intended to be bred.
Initial payments will be up to $100 per breeding female in inventory as of Aug. 1. Secondary payments will be up to $100 per breeding female in inventory as of Dec. 31.
Adjustments will be made based on equivalents for other livestock.
"We are here to support livestock producers during this difficult time," Agriculture Minister David Marit said in an Aug. 30 statement. "We have worked efficiently to solidify initiative details and understand producers need financial assistance to help offset costs associated with herd management decisions.
Saskatchewan’s cattle industry is pleased with the support announcement.
Farmers will be able to use these payments to make important farm improvements, said Arnold Balicki, president of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.
“This gives producers the latitude to do what’s right for their operation,” he told Farms.com. “Whether it’s hauling water, getting feed from distanced sources or fencing off land. We know these payments aren’t going to solve the problem completely, but it’s going to help.”
The industry is also happy with the simplicity of the application process.
A per head system ensures farmers aren’t wasting time with paperwork, Balicki said.
“We commend Mr. Marit and his staff for negotiating with Ottawa using advisement from the industry,” he said. “There are few details and that’s because the product is simple and we’re really pumped about that since we don’t have to get caught up in gathering receipts for different things.”
Manitoba announced its support program for livestock producers on Aug. 31.
The Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance Program will help farmers purchase and test feed for livestock to maintain breeding herds including transporting feed from other locations.