APAS welcomes third expansion of Livestock Tax Deferral eligibility, calls for program improvements

75% of Saskatchewan RMs now eligible, but long-term issues with the program still
need to be addressed

 The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is pleased with the expanded coverage for the Federal Livestock Tax Deferral announced on January 30 but is calling for a review to improve the program for future years.

“Livestock producers across Saskatchewan faced serious impacts from drought in 2018,” said Todd Lewis, APAS President. “It was very clear to everyone in the industry by late August that feed and water shortages were going to have an impact on the entire province.”

“It has been a very complex process to get those impacts recognized in the area designations,” Lewis continued. “We need a review of the technology and area boundaries used to determine the eligibility for the program. A final designation at the end of January, after the end of the tax year, does not allow producers to make informed business decisions.”

APAS had raised concerns about the list of areas designated on September 14, 2018, and then again on November 1, and called for the entire province to be eligible. As of January 30th 2019, 75% of Saskatchewan RMs have been designated as eligible.

Lewis concluded by noting that concerns have been raised by livestock producers across Canada, and APAS will be working with their colleagues at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to advocate for changes to the program.