Regina got the cattle, but about 250 people attending a rally at the Saskatchewan legislative building Sept. 15 were hoping Ottawa got the message.
About 200 cattle were trucked from Moose Jaw to Regina, where they spent a few hours penned in the MLAs’ parking lot, while farm leaders and politicians talked of the need for more support from the federal government.
Organizer Ron Gleim of Chaplin, Sask., said cattle producers haven’t had a paycheque since borders were closed to Canadian beef on May 20 because of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
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He said about 22,000 Saskatchewan operations rely on cattle sales for income and they need government help.
The Saskatchewan government announced a program Sept. 12, which most farm leaders called “a good start.” But they agreed that Ottawa should consider adding funds to make it a 60-40 cost-shared program.
“Can the money be found in Ottawa?” Gleim said. “Is the will there to do it?”
The Saskatchewan program provides almost $21 million to extend the BSE recovery program that was in place until the border opened to some beef cuts on Sept. 1.
It will pay a maximum of $250 per slaughter animal.
The government also offered a package of cash advances and loans worth $140 million for backgrounders, cows and calves. Cash advances for backgrounders were set at $200 per head, repayable when animals are sold.
Cow-calf producers may obtain four-year loans worth $80 per cow, and calf cash advances are worth $60 per head to be repaid when the calves are sold.
“It’s not quite what we asked for, but I’ll guess it’ll have to do,” said Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president Marilyn Jahnke.
The SSGA wanted more money made available for cows and calves.
“We were kind of hoping the feds would kick in, too,” she added.
Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association president Bob Ivey also said there should be more money for cows and calves. The money for backgrounders would have been more helpful three months ago.
But he said those with slaughter cattle on feed will benefit.
Terry Hildebrandt, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said he appreciated the Saskatchewan effort but the federal government needed to add its funds to make the program meaningful.
Premier Lorne Calvert said Sept. 12 he was sending prime minister Jean Chrétien an invoice for $12 million, which would be Ottawa’s share of the $20 million program if it was cost shared.
Federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief told reporters in a conference call from Cancun, Mexico, that if Saskatchewan signs the agricultural policy framework, there is “a pile” of money available to help cattle producers.
He said he couldn’t go to cabinet and ask for more when Saskatchewan isn’t using what’s already available.
Calvert said that is blackmail.
“Someone, somewhere needs to say that this country needs to function in co-operation and not in extortion.”
Agriculture minister Clay Serby said he would make the case for a national contribution to the program at a federal-provincial meeting in Ottawa Sept. 22.
