RED DEER, Alta. – Saskatchewan farmers may be receiving the largest share of the Crow Benefit payout, but the range stretches from $7 to $42 an acre.
An official from the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration told Alberta Agriculture economists here that 98 percent of Saskatchewanians receiving money from the Western Grain Transportation Act subsidy will get between $11 and $33 an acre. He didn’t have Manitoba or Alberta payout calculations.
Behind the calculations
Calculations are based on land productivity, cultivated acres and distance to the closest port. Saskatchewan will receive 56.42 percent of the money, Alberta gets 27.48 percent and Manitoba 16.10 percent of the $1.6 billion payout.
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George Brown, of PFRA, said meetings are going on in Ottawa to settle the final deal despite concerns from producers who want to include additional crops, like forage.
“Any of the changes that are being made impact significantly on the payment deadline,” said Brown. Payments are scheduled to start next January.
Forage is a big issue for Alberta and it won’t be included in the payment, said Brown. Many continue to argue that rotational forage on better land should be considered. But green feed and silage will be counted, he said.
Another issue is that of renters. Some predict land values will not drop despite assurances from Ottawa that they will.
“The landowners’ hurt is not that visible” said Brown.
With many farmers renting, they argue that money will not go back into the farms. And in the case of absentee landlords, it may not even find its way to the Prairies.
Farmers renting from banks or government agencies object to lenders receiving any share of the payout.
“It’s general consensus that banks and government should not be paid and some people are saying foreigners should not be paid.”
Brown said these comments were gathered from letters, phone calls and meetings with farmers to discuss the plan to terminate the Crow transportation study.
