(file photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Help for Saskatchewan Livestock Producers

Saskatchewan government commits $119 million to save breeding herds

Aug 10, 2021 | 4:43 PM

The Saskatchewan government is providing financial help to ranchers trying desperately to keep their herds intact.

Agriculture Minister David Marit said $119 million will go into the AgriRecovery program to pay producers to maintain breeding stock.

The program will provide a per head payment to help producers with the extraordinary costs caused by drought, such as accessing feed and water. This comes as many producers are selling herds amid near non-existent feed and water supplies because of this summer’s drought.

Marit said the province is acting quickly to help producers keep their breeding herd.

“This program will provide immediate relief and help producers make decisions that are best for their operations. The livestock sector is a vital part of our agriculture industry, and a significant contributor to our provincial economy,” Marit said. “We know producers are struggling and that is why we are taking action to support them during this challenging year.”

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The plan is to start with an initial $100 per head payment for female breeders but that could increase to $200 per head if the federal government gets fully involved.

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association President Kelcy Elford said with poor grass and high costs for limited feed, livestock producers are facing a dire situation.

“The drought in Saskatchewan puts us at a disadvantage when we compete for feed against other buyers from outside the province,” Elford said. “If ranchers are forced to sell off their cattle, Saskatchewan is facing the smallest beef herd since the 1980s’—a situation that threatens the overall sustainability of the sector.”

Elford said a large-scale reduction in herd size will jeopardize processing capacity in Canada, possibly forcing Canadian producers to ship animals to distant U.S. packing facilities in the future.

“Now we need the federal government to step up, and fast,” Elford said.

The province-wide per-head payment, calculated on a sliding scale, will also be available to producers of other ruminant animals such as bison and sheep.

Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA) Chair Arnold Balicki said the program does not address all the feed and cost challenges faced by backgrounders and feeders or cow calf producers. However, knowing the $100 per head is coming will help producers plan and take action.

“Today’s announcement is a welcome response to our request,” Balicki said. “Not only were we looking for something that allows flexibility for cattle producers, but we were looking for something that keeps Saskatchewan cattle producers on an even playing field.”

Balicki said the dry area is so widespread and so severe that costs and challenges are beyond usual and what existing programs can address.

“My heart goes out to all producers working through this awful year. I have spoken to many, and the hurt is widespread,” he said.

AgriRecovery is part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement, with funding shared on a 60-40 federal-provincial basis. The federal government has been asked to provide an additional $178 million for a total program of $297 million.

Details on how producers can apply for the program will be made available in the coming days.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW