Eligible livestock producers already enrolled in the 2023 Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program will see a top-up payment of up to $50 per head, the provincial and federal governments said Monday.
The program – introduced in October to maintain the breeding herd in drought-impacted regions of the province – initially offered payments of $150 per head.
The $50 top up will be provided to the worst-hit producers located within those designated regions as originally guided by the Canadian Drought Monitor map. Program applicants that were in the provincial-only area will receive a top up of $20 per head to supplement their original $60 payment.
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. will automatically reprocess all applications for producers who previously submitted applications before the deadline for funding through the program. Producers should expect to receive funds in the coming weeks, said a provincial news release.
The deadline to submit applications to the program ended March 15, 2024.
“These additional payments will assist livestock producers who have felt the impact of drought throughout the province,” said Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit.
The Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program received 3,486 applications.
Eligible animal species included beef cattle and other grazing animals, limited to bison, elk, deer, sheep, goats and horses. Applicants were required to submit receipts or appropriate documents for extraordinary expenses incurred after May 1 to the program deadline of March 15, 2024.
