Saskatchewan livestock producers, including those in the Yorkton Melville areas, will receive financial assistance for feed shortages following an announcement made by the federal and provincial governments.
Garry Breitkreuz, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville, says Tuesday's announcement of $30 per ton to purchase feed will provide some much needed relief for those producers affected by excess moisture and flooding in 2010.
"Our area was hit extremely hard by rain and severe storms throughout the summer and fall of 2010," points out Breitkreuz.
"The excess moisture meant much of the hay crop was left out, and that which was cut was very poor quality. Providing $30 per ton for feed will certainly help our livestock producers get through the winter."
The $30 per ton falls under the existing Saskatchewan Feed and Forage Program (SFFP) and is a federal-provincial AgriRecovery initiative.
Assistance is available to those producers who have to purchase or transport feed to their livestock or transport livestock to alternative locations for feeding or grazing due to feed shortages caused by excess moisture.
Saskatchewan producers who own or lease, custom graze or custom feed breeding livestock are eligible to apply for this new assistance.
Eligible breeding livestock include beef and dairy cattle, bison, elk, horses, sheep, goats, deer, reindeer, caribou, llamas and alpacas held in inventory as of October 1, 2010. The SFFP also provided $30 per eligible acre to producers to reseed hay, forage or pasture land that has been damaged by excess moisture.
"Our governments have worked closely with the livestock industry to identify how best to assist our producers under these extreme circumstances," adds Breitkreuz. "The $30 per ton commitment is intended to provide options to livestock producers, as were our previous announcements of tax deferrals to eligible producers in designated areas on the sale of breeding livestock, and providing cattle and hog producers with extra time to repay cash advances under the Advance Payment Program."
For more information on the SFFP, or to complete an application form, producers can contact a local Ministry of Agriculture or Crop Insurance office, visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca, email [email protected], or call the SFFP toll-free line at 1-877-874-5365.
Application forms are also available at local RM offices.
