By paNOW Staff

New funding for Saskatchewan ranchers to deal with flooding

Feb 22, 2011 | 12:42 PM

Relief is on the way for livestock producers dealing with feed shortages due to excess moisture, said federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud Tuesday.

The joint AgriRecovery initiative will work with the existing Saskatchewan Feed and Forage Program (SFFP) to provide up to $30 per ton to purchase feed.

“As a result of excess moisture last season, some Saskatchewan farmers are facing extra costs to winter their animals,” said Ritz in a news release. “This assistance will help see them through to the next production cycle so that they can continue to produce their world class products.”

“The unprecedented moisture levels across the province last year created feed challenges for many livestock producers,” Bjornerud said. “I am pleased to work with the federal government to deliver this support which will help Saskatchewan livestock producers access additional feed for their animals.”

Assistance is also available to those producers who have to transport feed to their livestock or transport livestock to alternative locations for feeding or grazing due to feed shortages caused by excess moisture.

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This new funding has been made available under AgriRecovery, which allows governments to respond when disaster strikes a region.

“Last year brought record rainfall to many parts of the province and created challenges for many producers,” SARM President David Marit said. “SARM thanks both the federal and provincial governments for this funding, which will help producers affected by excess moisture to access feed for their livestock this winter.”

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 provides $30 per eligible acre to producers to reseed hay, forage or pasture land that has been damaged by excess moisture.

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