PROVINCE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PRODUCERS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development (ARD) is reminding agricultural producers affected by dry conditions of the programs and services available to them.
 
The province continues to work with producers and producer organizations to determine how best to support the sector. In addition to previously announced supports, the province encourages producers to reach out for mental health supports and assistance dealing with the stress these current conditions may put on producers and their families.    

The recently announced Hay Disaster Benefit of $44 per tonne may be available for producers who purchased forage insurance through Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) by the March 31 deadline. Producers with this insurance can register a forage insurance claim now or by the Sept. 30 deadline to potentially receive a top-up payment if they experience a tonnage shortfall.

The Manitoba Hay Listing Service provides an inventory of hay, straw and alternative feed for sale and pasture for rent. If you have hay, straw, straw to bale, standing hay, alternative feed, or pastureland for sale or rent contact an ARD and MASC Service Centre or visit https://web31.gov.mb.ca/HayListClntExtrnl to view the existing listings.

In addition, MASC will not be deducting premiums owing from any forage claim indemnities paid to clients from now until Sept. 30.  Normally, premiums would be deducted prior to claim payments being made. Other changes include:
•    making advance payments on forage claims, with plans to finalize forage claims as quickly as possible, and
•    allowing livestock grazing on low yield forage fields or after a first cut of forage without counting that grazed production against their forage claim.

Producers may also explore options to put their crops to alternate use. Alternate use means a change to the use of a crop from what was originally intended when planting in the spring. Currently, oats, barley, triticale, fall rye, and all wheat types can be put to alternate use and used for greenfeed, silage, or grazing, however producers must contact MASC before doing so.

MASC is applying a quality adjustment factor to appraisals on crops that are being put to alternate use under the AgriInsurance program. Adjustors will use normal appraisal procedures, however appraisals will be reduced by 40 per cent to account for the expected lower quality of grain based on a five-year average. For more information visit: https://www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf/alternateUseFAQs.pdf or https://www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf/masc_news.html.

Producers can visit the Managing Dry Conditions section of the ARD website for information on managing dugouts and water quality at www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/dry.html. They will also find timely information about grazing practices and alternative strategies for sourcing feed during dry conditions. More information on water availability, drought conditions and drought impacts is available at www.manitoba.ca/drought.  

Producers can contact an ARD and MASC service centre (https://www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf/contact.html) call the department toll-free at 1-84-GROW-MB-AG (1-844-769-6224), or go to www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture  (Quick Links) for more information on any of these programs and services.

Drought extending over a broad area can have significant effects on a wide range of water sensitive sectors. Those whose livelihood is directly tied to the water supply, including agriculture, irrigation, power generation, fisheries, forestry, drinking water supplies, manufacturing and recreation may be at greater risk of experiencing adverse mental health effects during a drought.  

Managing stress, worry and depression is important and there are resources available to help, including:

Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services
https://supportline.ca
1-866-367-3276 (toll-free)