By Alice McFarlane

Payment applications open for Saskatchewan cattle producers

Nov 9, 2021 | 3:08 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – Applications for the second payment under the Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative has opened.

The program provides immediate relief to livestock producers. It consists of two payments totalling up to $200 per head for eligible female breeding cattle and bison. Adjustments are made based on animal unit equivalents for other livestock.

Payment One addresses the negative impact, due to drought, on grazing livestock this past summer and is based on Aug. 1, eligible inventory. Payment Two is based on intended inventory, as of Dec. 31.

The minimum payment will be $500 while the maximum total payments will be $3 million per operation.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said producers can now complete an application form, detailing eligible livestock inventory as of Dec. 31.

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“Through AgriRecovery, our government is assisting producers during these challenging times brought about by the devastating effects climate change is having on our sector,” Bibeau said in a media release. “We will continue to work together with Saskatchewan, and all provinces affected by this drought, to make sure farmers have ongoing support that meets their needs.”

The initiative has received roughly 8,600 applications, accounting for 1.24 million eligible animals. About 7,700 Payment One applications are paid to date, totalling an $109.6 million. The final date to receive payment is March 31.

Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said the livestock sector is a vital part of the agriculture industry.

“We know producers continue to struggle with the impact of drought. The launch of this second payment application follows through on our commitment under the AgriRecovery Program,” Marit said.

The second payment application follows through on Marit’s announcement this summer of $119 million in direct cost-shared support for drought-affected livestock producers under the AgriRecovery program that was was designed to work with business risk management programs to help agricultural producers recover from natural disasters.

Producers intending to apply for Payment Two must have a Premises Identification Number. Producers do not need to be enrolled in any Saskatchewan Crop Insurance programs to qualify for funding.

Further details, including application forms, are available here.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW