Pedersen, Beef Producers Disagree On Cattle Feed Assistance Program

Last week it was announced that the 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program will provide up to $2.5 million in direct support to Manitoba cattle producers impacted by the pandemic.

 

Funding for the program is being provided by the federal government. The province of Manitoba will administer the program.

 

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen was asked why the province didn't contribute its share to the AgriRecovery program.

 

"I gave a proposal to both Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) and Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) as to how Manitoba could contribute their 40 per cent in here and they both rejected it," he said. "We would have liked to have contributed to this program but as I said the farm groups said no to my proposal so we're doing the administration. We've made the administration as simple and clean as possible in order so there's quick turnaround so that the beef sector can get their money."

 

Manitoba Beef Producers General Manager Carson Callum welcomed the announcement but questioned the province's lack of funding.

 

"We are disappointed that the Manitoba government didn't contribute its 40 per cent for the program but recognize that they are going to administer the program," said Callum. "I will say though MBP was not fully consulted on the details and criteria of of the program. We didn't get consulted on that piece but we're open to discussions with both levels of government to ensure that this program will roll out properly."

 

The 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program will provide owners of finished cattle $1.20 per day per animal to help offset costs to feed animals beyond their expected marketing dates, due to slaughter plant closures and operational reductions resulting from COVID-19 outbreaks, or disease control measures.

 

Cattle producers can now apply for support, and the deadline for application is December 1, 2020.

 

The program will cover eligible extraordinary costs incurred between April 15, 2020 and August 31, 2020.

 

AgriRecovery is a disaster relief framework that is part of a suite of federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) Business Risk Management (BRM) programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.