WESTERN PRODUCER — Recently the province announced it would spend $70 million to help cattle producers coping with drought and feed shortages. However, the federal government, while acknowledging receipt of the province’s request to enact AgriRecovery, has not yet announced what it will do.
SCA chair Keith Day wrote to federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay Sept. 5, saying money is imperative.
“As you are aware, many cattle producers in Saskatchewan have been hit by drought conditions, some for the fourth and fifth year, resulting in feed shortages going into the fall and winter,” said the letter.
The SCA said some producers are selling cattle and those who are keeping them need to buy feed.
“Continued depletion of our cattle herd can have significant negative consequences, including detrimental impacts on our grasslands and the environment,” Day wrote. “In addition, as we are an export dependent industry, continued reduction of our herd inhibits our abilities to take advantage of the many trade deals that have been signed. Finally, the fabric of rural Saskatchewan is our producers. As several consider exiting the industry due to these ongoing challenges we lose that piece that binds us all.”
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