Flooded farmers in the Red River Valley may get more compensation than what has already been announced.
Manitoba’s deputy minister of agriculture said federal and provincial officials along with Keystone Agricultural Producers are looking at what damage has been done to farms.
“Now we’re taking a look at, is there a bigger package that’s needed?”said Don Zasada.
So far, governments have said flood victims can apply for up to $100,000 for non-insurable damage to buildings and land, and for the costs of preparing for and cleaning up after the flood.
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They can also get a payment of about $40 an acre for land they are not able to seed. This is equal to coverage offered under crop insurance.
About 90,000 of the approximately 500,000 acres hit by flooding were covered by unseeded acreage insurance. Zasada said the group will look at how to fairly treat farmers who paid the extra money last fall.
“This offer was put forward by the federal government, and so we’re working along with them.”
Zasada said the government is aware of the concerns of farmers flooded in past years in other parts of the province.
“Obviously they were affected and they have put forward their arguments to be looked at now and that’s going to have to be answered,” he said.
When asked why Red River Valley farmers were treated differently, Zasada said, “It’s the flood of the century, it’s certainly the biggest catastrophe of this type that we’ve faced, and the federal government put this (extra compensation) on the table.
“I really can’t say much more than that.”
