APAS Pleased With Provincial Help for Farmers

Earlier this week the Saskatchewan government unveiled a relief package for farmers aimed at helping them through the drought season.

Included in the changes are the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation will be doubling its threshold for low yield appraisals on cereal or pulse crops.

"The ministry has put forward a pretty good practical plan and program with crop insurance that crop producers can partner with livestock producers," Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) President Todd Lewis said. "I think there's some real clarity about how they can go forward with having their crops baled at that stage or turning cattle out into standing crop."

The announcement also included alterations to the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program for dugouts, wells and pipelines.

The first $50,000 spent will be a 50-50 cost-share split between the government and producers, and now the next $100,000 will be a 70-30 split with the government covering the lion's share.

"Drilling wells is not inexpensive and the grants from the province will be most welcomed," he said. "I think we're getting to the stage now where this is about really trying to protect the breeding herd this could have a long-term impact."

Lewis added another thing APAS is hoping to hear about is an update on Agri-Recovery.