REGINA — Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) is welcoming an AgriRecovery announcement in response to the organization’s enhanced drought-survival proposal, which expressed an urgent call for additional action to assist livestock producers facing extreme drought conditions across the province.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture announced the province will be allocating up to $70 million in support to offset extraordinary costs of feeding livestock to maintain their breeding herds; while Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) confirmed they are rushing the completion of an assessment to examine the impact of the drought.
"We greatly appreciate the efforts of the province for announcing their portion of a $200 per head payment for eligible breeding animals. Expediting the AgriRecovery process gives producers much-needed certainty and clarity on financial assistance," affirmed SSGA President Garner Deobald.
Though the drought area is smaller than 2021, producers feel the impact of this year's drought is more severe due to compounding years of drought and depleted soil moisture.
"We are hopeful AAFC's announcement will include an additional $120 per head -equivalent to the program AAFC delivered in 2021, which provided a 60 per cent matched contribution - the well-established precedent for AgriRecovery assistance," added Deobald.
"We trust the relief will be timely so that producers can make informed business decisions for their operations. We believe that AAFC's additional impact assessments will get financial assistance into the pockets of producers that need it the most," he said.
Though further details are expected in the coming days, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association wants livestock producers to know that animals will need to be in inventory as of August 21st, retained until January31, 2024 - and that eligible extraordinary expenses will be retroactive to June.
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation is providing more information and application forms online at www.scic.ca or by calling toll-free: 1-844-723-1211.
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