[UPDATED] August, 10, 2021 – A federal pledge of $100 million in AgriRecovery funds for drought-stricken farmers is a good start – but far more is needed to save farms and herds say producer groups.
“MBP strongly believes additional support will be required and asks for swift action on this,” Manitoba Beef Producers said in an Aug. 6 statement.
MBP is continuing advocacy efforts, particularly related to AgriRecovery, and other short and long-term relief measures it added.
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Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) agreed.
“We are experiencing the worst drought our country has seen in decades, leaving our cattle herd at great risk right from British Columbia across to Ontario,” said CCA President Bob Lowe in an Aug. 6 statement.
“We are urgently requesting that the Government of Canada secure additional funding under AgriRecovery to ensure drought and wildfire relief measure are sufficiently funded and designed to address the needs of beef producers,” Lowe said.
While the federal government announced its AgriRecovery contribution on Friday, August 6, Manitoba has yet to declare how it will use and add to its share of funds. Speaking to the Co-operator August 5, ag minister Ralph Eichler indicated that announcement could come early this week.
The Alberta government committed to an immediate $136 million for Alberta livestock producers and asked for another $203 million from the federal government CCA said. The CCA said it is calling for the federal government to secure more cash under AgriRecovery to ensure provincial requests can be met.
*In a statement sent to the Co-operator, Bibeau indicated she’s willing to seek more funding “as needed.”
Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is asking for a per-head payment program “that would allow individual producers to make management decisions in the weeks and months ahead which are best suited to their particular operation’s situation,” it said in the statement.
It’s also asking for a herd recovery plan, either by expanding the eligibility of the per-head payment to help producers who’ve sold off cattle, or by using “existing mechanisms.”
MBP has asked for consideration under AgriRecovery to include assistance for unanticipated infrastructure costs like fencing, or watering equipment, and to help cover the cost of hauling water.
MBP has requested several other measures including a forage-restoration program, which it said have been initiated after past events like flood events; a freeze on rental rate increases for crown lands; extended eligibility under the Livestock Tax Deferral Program to include all classes of cattle; and increased support from Manitoba Agriculture extension staff on issues like alternative feed use, water source testing and feed testing.
Manitoba Beef Producers is also asking that the “principle of retroactivity be taken into account when designing and delivering AgriRecovery initiatives” as some producers have had to start feeding cattle well ahead of usual or send cattle to market or slaughter far earlier than ideal.
*Update: A statement by Marie-Claude Bibeau was added.
For more content related to drought management visit The Dry Times, where you can find a collection of stories from our family of publications as well as links to external resources to support your decisions through these difficult times.
