October 1, 2004
Manitoba Participates Fully in Federal BSE Programming
Manitoba Participates Fully in Federal BSE Programming- - -
$24 Million in New Provincial Programming to Help Stabilize Manitoba's Industry: Wowchuk
Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced today that Manitoba will fully participate in federal government BSE programs with $24 million in new provincial funding and will make $26 million available to beef and ruminant producers through the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) special cash advance program.
“Manitoba has stood by its producers since day one of the BSE crisis,” said Wowchuk. “These programs will help stabilize the industry, strengthen markets and give producers marketing flexibility. This will enable producers to get value from the marketplace and begin to return to profitability despite the U.S. reluctance to open the border to live cattle exports.”
Manitoba will participate in:
· a CAIS special cash advance program that will assist producers with cash flow challenges;
· the fed cattle set-aside program that will assist in balancing the supply of feeder animals and available slaughter capacity;
· the feeder calf set-aside program that will balance the flow of calves into feedlots to coincide with the continued expansion of slaughter facilities in Canada;
· the dead stock pickup program that will assist producers in removing dead livestock and help Manitoba meet its BSE surveillance targets;
· the management of older animals program that will give producers an option to deal with valueless animals which have become a cost to producers; and
· a program to assist producers of ruminants other than cattle.
In addition to participating in these programs, Manitoba will reintroduce the Feeder Financing Initiative and continue the Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation's (MACC) Refinancing Program. The Feeder Financing Initiative provides assistance to producers interested in restocking feedlots by helping them manage the costs of purchasing and then feeding cattle. MACC will continue to assist producers in restructuring their finances through the refinancing initiative.
Manitoba will also work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to ensure the province continues to meet its BSE surveillance targets through the continuation of the dead stock pickup program. This year, Manitoba was the first province to not only meet its surveillance target, but also exceed it.
Wowchuk had recommended to the federal government that CAIS funding, approved as part of standard business risk programming under the Agriculture Policy Framework, be advanced to producers in order to assist them with cash flow challenges. This recommendation was adopted by the federal and provincial governments. and producers in Manitoba will have access to $26 million in provincial funding through cash advances under CAIS.
Manitoba will also work with the federal government to provide assistance to other ruminant producers who have been negatively affected by the border closure. While there is no scientific evidence to support trade action against other ruminants, the border remains closed to ruminants such as bison, sheep and goats.
The provincial government has made over $180 million available through direct payments and low interest loans since BSE was discovered in Canada on May 20, 2003.
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