The federal and Manitoba governments have committed $194 million to help farmers in the province who can’t grow crops or feed livestock because of pervasive wet conditions this year.
The provincial government released details of the 2011 Manitoba AgriRecovery Program June 30:
• $30 per acre for unseeded and flooded cropland
• $50 per acre for forage restoration assistance
• $15 per acre to plant greenfeed by July 22
• financial support to move feed to cattle or move cattle to feed
The financial aid will help cover losses in agricultural revenue because flooding drowned out cropland, hay land and pasture across Manitoba this spring.
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An estimated three million acres of cropland was not seeded, smashing Manitoba’s old record of 1.5 million acres.
Keystone Agricultural Producers were quick to praise the program, which the federal and Manitoba governments will cost share 60-40.
“This announcement will help farmers restore their operations and move into 2012,” said KAP president Doug Chorney, who noted the $194 million represents four times the funding that Manitoba grain and livestock producers received in 2010.
“Another major improvement over last year’s flood assistance is that there is no deductible on the per acre payment for unseeded acres,” Chorney added.
The Manitoba Beef Producers also lauded the aid program and provided specific figures in a news release.
The program includes $37.5 million for forage shortfalls, $23.5 million for forage land restoration, $5.2 million in feed transportation assistance and $2.5 million ($15 per acre) for the green feed incentive program.
“We wish to thank (agriculture) minister (Stan) Struthers for his lead-e rship and commitment to our industry and our producers,” said Manitoba Beef Producers president Jay Fox.
