The president of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association is sick of the doubletalk and excuses and wants the provincial government to compensate cattle producers for flooded acres.
Jay Fox, who runs a cow-calf operation near Eddystone, Man., said he’s going to keep asking until the minister of agriculture says yes.
“We owe it to our producers to keep fighting for them and get the aid they so desperately need,” he said.
“We intend to resolutely work on this issue with the province until we get the right answer from our minister.”
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On Aug. 6, Fox and the MCPA asked in a news release why the federal and provincial governments compensated grain farmers for flooded cropland, but have ignored cattle producers with flooded pastures and hay-land.
MCPA representatives have spoken with provincial officials and proposed various schemes to compensate cattle farmers, but so far the government has offered only a loan program.
“They dole out $30 an acre over and above crop insurance to the grain guys,” said Fox, referring to the $450 million Excess Moisture Insurance announced in early July.
“But (the province) suggests to our cattle guys that they get another loan. That isn’t acceptable.”
Fox has personally been affected by heavy rains this spring and summer. From May 1 to Aug 1, Environment Canada recorded nearly 300 millimetres of rainfall at its weather station at Dauphin, which is west of Fox’s farm in Eddystone.
“My place is completely under water. I won’t be able to dream about getting hay until October,” he said.
“If you can prove that you’ve had losses on your land, be it pasture or hay, you should be eligible,” Fox said.
Manitoba cattle producers have been frustrated with the province for several weeks, as they lobbied for an aid package.
A government news release in early August, announcing the province would provide $100,000 for flood relief in Pakistan, added fuel to the fire.
“We commend the province in providing aid for the flood relief efforts in Pakistan.
“We simply don’t understand why flooded producers in our own backyard are left stranded,” said Kim Crandall, a district director for the MCPA.
Manitoba agriculture minister Stan Struthers did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
For more information on flooding in Manitoba, visit www.gov.mb.ca/flooding/index.html.
