The Saskatchewan government is expected to announce help for its livestock producers later this week.
Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud told reporters after the federal government’s Dec. 14 announcement of additional programs for livestock producers that the province would now be able to make its decision.
“We just got here and we’re trying to get our head around what we can do to help producers,” he said, referring to the short time the Saskatchewan Party has been in office. “Mr. Ritz has helped us with that this morning because now we know what the federal government is doing.”
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The province last week announced it would extend for one year the principal payments for producers who have loans within breeder associations. The producers will still have to make interest payments.
Bjornerud said this program will last for one year. Someone who just made a principal payment in November will have the option to take the extension on next November’s payment.
As well, producers who have yearly feeder cattle loans will be eligible for interest rebates when their loans are repaid. Someone who borrowed $100,000, for example, would receive about $5,750 through the rebate.
“Small steps, but I think in the right direction,” Bjornerud said.
These measures will not cost the province much because of the federal program and because the breeder assistance is simply a one-year extension.
The minister said he had met with cattle and hog producer organizations and would make a decision this week about whether to provide further help.
NDP agriculture critic Pat Atkinson said the Saskatchewan measures announced last week do provide a “small breather” but she said they were more symbolic than significant.
