There were no big gifts and no devastating hits for Manitoba farmers in the 2004 provincial budget.
There was no extra money for BSE aid, no money for ethanol production and no major new agricultural programs were announced.
There were also no major cuts to agricultural services, such as the Saskatchewan government’s recent closure of many local rural service centres.
Instead of bold changes, the Manitoba budget is giving farmers a small increase in highway spending, a small decrease in education taxes on farmland, a small increase in diesel fuel taxes and a small tax break for hog barn operators who install odour-controlling technology.
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It also provides more than half a million dollars for a squad of water quality police who will inspect farms and other landholdings and enforce the province’s beefed-up water management laws.
“I’m disappointed with the budget,” said Keystone Agricultural Producers president David Rolfe.
“I thought more could have been done for agriculture.”
Highway spending is going up to $130 million this year, from a previous promise of $120 million. In 2005, that will increase to $140 million.
The diesel fuel tax will be increased by 0.6 cents per litre on May 1, bringing it equal to the gasoline tax.
Farmers who install odour-fighting technology in livestock operations will be able to claim a 10 percent tax break on the cost of the equipment.
The education portion of farmland taxes will be reduced by five percent this year, the first step in meeting the New Democratic Party’s promise to cut it by 20 percent over four years.
Rolfe said this budget will not have a big impact on agriculture, but he said the diesel fuel increase will be noticed by farmers right away.
