Provincial prairie governments are accepting applications from cattle feeders wanting assistance under the $460 million federal-provincial emergency BSE program announced in June.
Under the program, producers will be paid for fat cattle they have owned and sold since May 20, the day a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was confirmed in a northern Alberta cow. Producers will be compensated on a sliding scale, based on American cattle market values.
Alberta: Producers seeking compensation are encouraged to visit Alberta Agriculture’s website for program information and application forms at www.agric.gov.ab.ca.
They can also phone Alberta Agriculture’s rural services division at 780-422-9167.
Saskatchewan: Applications will be available at Saskatchewan Agriculture’s website, www.agr.gov.sk.ca, and at rural service centres.
The toll-free number for the Canada Saskatchewan Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Recovery Program is 1-877-874-5365.
Manitoba: Application forms and program details are available at regional agriculture offices, on-line at www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture, or by calling Manitoba Agriculture food beef specialists Michael Buchen at 204-945-7691 or Melinda German at 204-945-5402.
