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August 24, 2008 NEW ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP FLOODED FARMERS– – –Program Responds to Feed Shortages Across Province: Wowchuk ARBORG-After touring flood-affected areas of the Interlake today and seeing first-hand the significant challenges posed by overland flooding, deputy premier Rosann Wowchuk committed to help farmers cope with the loss of many hay crops due to excessive rains, overland flooding and drought.
“Many areas of the province, particularly the Interlake region, have had significant levels of rain this summer while others have been excessively dry, both of which have decimated many hay crops,” said Wowchuk. “Either the hay has been ruined or it’s so wet producers can't access the hay they've already baled. Today, we are committing to help these producers access feed and connect them with producers fortunate enough to get a hay crop off their fields.”
Wowchuk committed to establishing a Manitoba Forage Assistance Program (MFAP) which will provide financial assistance to help producers access feed supplies and will mirror the program provided in response to drought conditions in 2003 which assisted producers in meeting a feed shortage that year.
The program will apply across the province and is open to all Manitoba producers having to transport feed supplies unusually long distances or needing to move cattle unusually long distances in order to access feed. It will be available to producers experiencing feed shortages, whether from flooding or drought.
Application forms will soon be available at all agricultural offices and online. Full program terms, conditions and application forms will be available on the government website in early September.
Flood watches and warnings issued by Manitoba Water Stewardship for the Interlake and Westman regions have ended. However, overland flooding is expected to continue for approximately four more days. The effect of recent storms has been very pronounced in the Interlake region. Rainfall was above average in May and June and was twice the average in July, which has contributed greatly to run-off and flooding of low-lying areas.
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