Ottawa has announced financial help for livestock producers facing feed shortages because of flooding in Saskatchewan and drought in Alberta.
In Saskatchewan, where the province had already announced a feed and forage program in November, AgriRecovery will assist producers who have to buy feed or transport feed or livestock because of excess moisture.
Producers are eligible for up to $30 per ton of feed purchased, subject to a 10 percent deductible. Feed must be bought between June 1, 2010, and March 31, 2011. The deadline to apply is April 30.
Transportation assistance is available for feed or livestock moved between June 1, 2010, and Aug. 1, 2011. The payment rates were previously announced by the province:
- twenty-two cents per tonne or loaded mile for feed such as silage, hay, greenfeed, screenings and feed grain;
- ten cents per head per loaded mile for beef and dairy cattle, bison, elk and horses;
- four cents per head per loaded mile for sheep, goats, deer, reindeer, caribou, llamas and alpacas.
Payments are based on the number of animals.
The deadline to apply is Sept. 30.
Saskatchewan had also announced a reseeding program for perennial forage of $30 per acre.
In Alberta’s Peace region, producers who face extra costs to transport feed or breeding livestock are eligible to receive up to 22 cents per tonne or 10 cents per head per loaded mile.
To be eligible, producers must move feed or animals a minimum of 25 kilometres and up to 685 km.
Producers from the following counties and municipal districts are eligible: municipal districts of Big Lakes, Greenview, Smoky River, Spirit River, Peace and Fairview and counties of Grande Prairie, Birch Hills, Clear Hills, Northern Lights, Northern Sunrise and Saddle Hills.
The federal government has estimated there are more than 230,000 breeding animals in the affected areas.
The deadline to apply is April 29.
