The Saskatchewan government is seeking further help for its drought-hit livestock producers.
A release from the province Tuesday said Agriculture Minister David Marit has formally requested the federal government conduct an AgriRecovery assessment to determine what assistance could be provided to livestock producers faced with prolonged dry conditions. AgriRecovery forms the basis by which federal and provincial governments work together to assess the impacts of disasters on agricultural producers and respond with joint initiatives where there is need for assistance beyond what is available through existing risk management programs.
"Many producers across Saskatchewan are facing extraordinary costs to ensure their animals are taken care of. We need to move quickly to consider all relief options, including an AgriRecovery assessment to help producers deal with the challenges brought about by drought," Marit said.
The call for an AgriRecovery assessment follows a previous Saskatchewan request for an early designation of the federal Livestock Tax Deferral Program, to provide producers facing potential feed shortages with more options as they consider if they need to liquidate part of their breeding herd due to drought.
Saskatchewan has also frozen the 2023 rate charged to producers who lease Crown grazing land. Additionally, through the 2023 Crown Grazing Lease Rental Reduction Program, lessees may be eligible for a rent reduction in situations where they reduce stocking rates on leases by 20% or more below the rated carrying capacity.
Last week, the federal and provincial governments further announced that Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC) will allow additional acres of low yielding cereal, pulse crops, canola and flax to be diverted to feed.
Western and southeastern regions of Saskatchewan have received well below-normal precipitation this growing season, while temperatures have also been significantly warmer than normal. In the hardest hit regions of Saskatchewan, heatwaves, limited rain, minimal spring runoff and successive years of dry conditions “are all contributing to significant challenges,” the province said. Concerns include water quantity, access to feed and large grasshopper infestations.
