Other Drought-Impacted Provinces Announce AgriRecovery Funds

After Alberta’s commitment, other drought-impacted provinces are now stepping up with AgriRecovery funding of their own.

Saskatchewan on Tuesday announced $119 million in direct support for cattle producers under the AgriRecovery program, while the Manitoba government will invest $62 million. Ontario said it is committing up to $5 million in addition to the $2 million already announced for feed, water and fencing. Late last week, Alberta was the first province to step forward with AgriRecovery funding, pledging $136 million.

AgriRecovery is part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement, with funding shared on a 60-40 federal-provincial basis. Ottawa previously announced $100 million in federal AgriRecovery funding to be shared among livestock producers in all three Prairie provinces and northwestern Ontario to help deal with the impact of drought, which has left producers with little feed and water for their herds.

The Saskatchewan AgriRecovery program will provide a per head payment to help maintain breeding stock and comes with a request to the federal government provide an additional $178 million for a total program of $297 million. In addition to cattle producers, the Saskatchewan funding will be also be available to producers of other ruminant animals.

With full federal participation, the per head payment to Saskatchewan producers would be $200. The province plans to issue an initial payment of $100 per breeding female with the remainder being available when the agreement with Ottawa is finalized and after confirmation the breeding herd is retained.

"Right from the start Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association (SCA) recognized that the challenges of this drought are many and varied. Water availability, water quality, feed for the short term and feed for winter among many others. That's why we requested a per head payment that will allow producers to manage their specific challenges,” said Arnold Balicki, chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association.

In Manitoba, programs are currently being developed and will include funding for feed assistance, feed transportation, cattle transportation and a herd rebuilding program.

According to a government release, Manitoba auction markets are already reporting large volume sales of all classes of cattle as producers are forced to sell off their herds due to the lack of feed. Last week, total sales through auction markets were up 17% as compared to last year. This is driving cattle prices downwards and the value of breeding cows has dropped by more than 50%, it added.

Meanwhile, Ontario is calling on the federal government to include in the AgriRecovery program costs related to hay and other feeds, transportation of feed, transportation of animals to feed, measures to provide water to animals including trucking and equipment, temporary fencing and other extraordinary costs related to the drought. These costs are estimated at approximately $200 per head for cattle.

As part of its $136-million AgriRecovery investment, Alberta is also seeking an additional $204 million from the federal government.