Saskatchewan livestock producers hit hard by droughts last year can tap a $114-million recovery fund to buy feed while damaged pastures recover.
“When disaster strikes, producers need to know there’s a helping hand,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, making the announcement in Lloydminster on Monday.
“These funds will help cattle producers as well as the full gamut of livestock producers . . . buy feed and keep their animals off damaged pastures as the grass recovers.”
Ottawa is funding 60 per cent of the $144 million, while the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments will provide the rest.
“This funding will help livestock producers deal with the feed shortages that resulted from the drought in the last couple years,” said Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud.
“I realize this support won’t solve all the problems facing the area and the producers, but we hope it will help them through the situation.”
Producers in 64 RMs in west-central and northwest Saskatchewan are eligible for the recovery funding. Droughts in 2008 and 2009 damaged pastures, and led some producers to sell off livestock to ensure the remaining herds were fed.
The cash payouts to producers are based on the amount of livestock on Jan. 1, 2010. Payment is calculated on a per-head basis. Horses are worth $60 per head, beef cattle and bison get $50, elk are worth $25, deer and llamas get $12.50 and sheep, goats, and alpacas are worth $10 per head.
Producers in 59 municipal districts and counties in Alberta can apply for the funding.
Ottawa estimates there are more than 2.2 million animals in the affected areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
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