By Alice McFarlane

Federal Budget promises money for FMD vaccine bank

Mar 29, 2023 | 9:42 AM

Funding for a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank and an increase to the interest free limit of loans under the Advance Payments Program were two of the highlights of yesterdays’ federal budget.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will receive $57.5 million over five years to set up a FMD vaccine bank and develop response plans if the disease makes its way to Canada. The federal government will ask the provinces and territories to share the cost.

The Canadian cattle sector has been asking for a vaccine bank. Canadian Cattle Association President Nathan Phinney said with the threat of FMD the bank helps provide insurance to protect Canada’s export markets.

“While we hope this vaccine bank is never needed, we are grateful for today’s investment and its establishment,” Phinney said. “We appreciate the government listening to our concerns and understanding the critical need to put in place emergency preparedness plans to control the spread of the disease and protect our export markets for Canadian beef.”

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will get $13 million to implement an increase to the interest-free limit under the Advance Payments Program from $250,000 to $350,000 for the 2023 program year.

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There will be more funding for eastern Canadian farmers who rely on fertilizer largely imported from Russia. These producers will be eligible for $34.1 million over three years through the On-Farm Climate Action Fund to support nitrogen management practices. Canadian Federation of Agriculture President Keith Currie said his group would like to see some kind of incentive to get fertilizer produced in Eastern Canada.

The federal budget also includes $333 million over 10 years for the Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund. Administered by AAFC, it will be used to support investments in research and development of new products that use solids non-fat (SNF) which is a byproduct of dairy processing, market development for these products, and processing capacity for SNF-based products more broadly.

The federal government has promised to make amendments to the Canada Transportation Act for a temporary extension, on a pilot basis, of the interswitching limit in the prairie provinces to strengthen rail competition.

There is also a commitment to begin consultations this summer on the right to repair and interoperability of farming equipment, which is being welcomed by the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada.

The Trudeau government announced $43 billion in new spending over six years with a $40 billion deficit expected for the 2023-24 fiscal year which is up from the $30 billion projected last fall.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW