The City of Saskatoon is the first municipality to issue tax deductible
receipts this year for donations to drought-ravaged producers.
Evans Thordarson, vice-president of the Agricultural Producers
Association of Saskatchewan, said his group approached the city because
it is close to some of the driest regions.
He said having a large, well-known organization such as the city
involved also gives contributors confidence in the program.
Saskatoon city council endorsed the plan at its meeting Aug. 12.
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Established in mid-August by APAS, the Feed Connection trust fund has
already received numerous pledges of support from organizations and
corporations.
Donation cheques are made out to the City of Saskatoon, but sent to the
APAS office in Regina for processing. APAS staff records the cheques
and then forwards them to the city for deposit.
All donations are returned to APAS, which will use the money to offset
the high cost of moving hay hundreds of miles.
“Freight costs are horrendous for moving feed across the province from
surplus areas to drought areas,” Thordarson said.
Alberta interested
APAS doesn’t plan to seek similar support programs from other
municipalities in Saskatchewan, but there has been much interest
expressed in the concept in Alberta, equally hard hit by drought.
APAS established the Feed Connection to enable producers with feed
shortages to connect with those with available hay and pastures.
Thordarson said APAS is also working with Revenue Canada on issuing tax
receipts for donations of hay.
He expected the program to continue through the winter.
