NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. – Canada’s agriculture ministers insisted last week that existing farm programs will be adequate to help prairie farmers through the effects of this year’s drought.
In fact, with some late rains coming and crop insurance changes that allow farmers to write off a crop and then plant a second crop, prairie ministers from affected provinces said they may not need to declare disaster that would trigger the federal-provincial AgriRecovery program.
“We do feel that the programs out there probably are going to suffice where we’re at right now,” Alberta minister George Groeneveld said July 10 at the end of a federal-provincial ministers’ meeting.
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“I think our farmers, as all farmers, they’re a pretty patient bunch and I think the issue is getting cattle feed. So we’ve got enough rain now. There is going to be feed in the province. I think we’ve passed beyond the disaster portion of where this could have gone.”
In next door Saskatchewan, minister Bob Bjornerud said there will be a feed shortage “in a large part of our province” and he hopes farmers who have had their first crop written off for lack of moisture now will get a second crop of greenfeed that can help the livestock situation.
“We’re very fortunate in the last few days to actually start to get some rain out there and that’s the best answer there is, to get some moisture and that pastures start growing again,” he said.
Federal minister Gerry Ritz noted that because the drought is regional, the two provinces have the ability to declare a disaster and trigger AgriRecovery, a largely untested part of the new safety net system.
“Together they put together a package that says this is regional in scope,” he said. “This is a disaster, whether it’s weather or market related.”
Groeneveld said Alberta farmers have not demanded a declaration of disaster to trigger more funds. As many as 18 counties or municipalities have declared local disasters, creating a tax break on proceeds from the forced sale.
“So other than that, we haven’t heard an awful lot,” he said. “As I say, they’re pretty patient people out there.”
Saskatchewan’s Bjornerud said that has not been a request as he meets farmers across the province, although it is still a possibility if needed.
“With the disaster part of this, we may follow up and that may be something that we go to in future, but that certainly has not been one of the main requests that we’ve got at this point,” he said.
In Regina, NDP leader and agriculture critic Dwain Lingenfelter issued a statement July 10 criticizing the minister for failing to use the meeting to get more help for Saskatchewan producers hurt by drought.
The minister’s drought response has been “underwhelming to say the least,” said the NDP leader.
“He opened up wildlife lands for emergency grazing pastures but producers can’t afford to get their cattle there or pay for the required maintenance of the land. How does that help them at all?”
