Saskatchewan producers will have to wait a few more weeks for details of Growing Forward 2 programs available to them over the next five years.
The provincial budget announced today allocated about $71 million in spending for non-business risk management programs under GF2, an increase of $25 million over last year.
Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart said program details will be rolled out after April 1.
Programs such as the rural water infrastructure initiative will be continued, and other programs will boost agricultural awareness and enhance market development. The ministry will also move to deliver some of the programs in-house rather than through contracted delivery.
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The result is a shift in how some of the spending appears in the budget estimates.
The government has already announced record crop insurance spending and record research allocations.
The budget for AgriStability and AgriInvest has been cut significantly following the federal-provincial agreement, which Saskatchewan opposed, in Whitehorse last August. The agreement saw decreases in how much governments would contribute to the farm support programs.
However, Stewart noted the province is fully funding its reduced commitment.
New in the budget is a $1 million expenditure for irrigation bridge rehabilitation to support long-term growth of that sector.
Spending for pest control has also been increased about $1.1 million.
“This includes our gopher control rebate program, our wild boar program, contributions to control beavers and rats, as well as a black fly and an invasive weed control program,” said deputy minister Alanna Koch.
The ministry will place more emphasis on invasive weed control this year as a result of more weed pressure.
Overall, the ministry budget is the fourth largest ever at $406.9 million, down from $430.7 million last year. While BRM program spending is down an estimated $40 million, spending is projected to go up in other areas.
The province expects to spend $11.54 billion in the next fiscal year on revenue of $11.61 billion.
New revenue measures include an increase to the tobacco tax rate of four cents per cigarette, or $1 per package, effective midnight tonight. Liquor will go up about three percent across all categories April 1.
