Agricultural spending in Saskatchewan will go up this year, largely due to previously announced crop insurance funding and money allocated to business risk management programs.
Finance minister Ken Krawetz delivered the 2012-13 budget this afternoon, allocating $430.8 million for agriculture. That is the second largest amount ever budgeted for the ministry and $13 million more than last year.
“Overall, this budget provides $321.4 million to fully fund crop insurance, along with AgriStability and AgriInvest,” Krawetz said.
The budget has set aside nearly $148 million for crop insurance premiums plus $29.5 million for program delivery.
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AgriStability is expected to cost $81.2 million, down from $112 million last year, while AgriInvest will go up from $31 million to $42.6 million.
Those estimates are based on numbers provided by the federal government, which cost shares the programs, and reflect the generally good economic conditions within the industry.
The budget includes $1.3 million to pay the federal government for meat inspection services it provides to provincial facilities. Previously, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provided that service at no charge.
Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud has already announced record research funding and continued pest control programs for gophers, wild boar, rats and beavers.
The budget also includes a $150,000 increase in funding to the Saskatchewan SPCA to a total of $530,000.
The province will spend more on international trade and marketing. Within the agriculture budget, an additional $1 million has been committed to trade advocacy. As well, the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership is getting $500,000 more.
