The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) sees the announced $252 million federal funding announcement for agriculture as a first step in the right direction, but warns more will be required to secure Canada’s food supply and address the financial difficulties facing Saskatchewan farmers. “Any assistance to producers is welcome, but this package is only a small first step in addressing the needs at the farm gate,” explains APAS President Todd Lewis. “We need more action from the government to help reduce our risk and secure Canada’s agricultural industry and food supply.”
“Cattle and hog producers are facing the most immediate crisis as a result of COVID-19, and the measures announced today will help address specific issues within these supply chains,” Lewis continues. “But there are many other issues that still need to be addressed. The Prime Minister himself acknowledged that this is a first step.”
Lewis pointed out that today’s announcement falls far short of the $2.6 billion identified by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) as the amount needed to avoid serious food insecurity and hardship to both farmers and consumers. For example, the federal support will provide $50 million each to Canada’s beef and pork sectors, whereas the CFA has calculated that $840 million is needed to assist those sectors alone.
Nor does the plan address ongoing and severe shortcomings in Business Risk Management programming.
Producers continue to call for meaningful improvements. APAS has released its own series of policy recommendations that would adequately address the challenges facing Saskatchewan producers. These include, among other things, a call for government help to reduce premiums for the Western Livestock Insurance Program.
