May: A Busy Month on the Farm and
for Government Action on Agriculture
May 16, 2007
Since May 1st, the crop of good news for Canadian farmers
has been plentiful.
It began with the welcome announcement by federal Agriculture
Minister Chuck Strahl that farmers will be paid $400-million
in Cost of Production Payments starting in June 2007.
The payment will help producers deal with the rising costs
they’ve faced over the past few years.
In order to continue to address increasing production
costs, our Conservative Government will further pay up
to $100-million in coming years into producer savings
accounts. Most producers will automatically receive a
payment. For those who did not participate in the Canadian
Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program for 2004
or who began farming after 2004, they must complete an
application, which is available by calling 1-888-367-8506
or at www.agr.gc.ca/cop.
This year’s Cost of Production payments are part
of a $1-billion commitment in Budget 2007 to improve national
farm income programs. A kick-start payment of $600-million
will also be paid out to farmers savings accounts once
an agreement is reached with the provinces and territories.
Next up was news the federal government is delivering
on its commitment to provide a new and improved loan program
for farmers. Changes to the Advance Payments Program (APP)
mean that cash advances are available for spring and fall
under a single program.
Livestock and additional crops, including berries, are
now eligible; the limit on cash advances has increased
from $250,000 to $400,000; the amount of money available
interest free has doubled from $50,000 to $100,000; and
the maximum time for producers to repay cash advances
has been extended from 12 to 18 months.
And last week, Minister Strahl came to Prince George to
announce that ranchers in British Columbia affected by
the 2006 drought will receive $7.5-million in assistance
from the federal and provincial governments. The assistance
program extends to livestock producers in the Regional
Districts of Stikine, Kitimat-Stikine, Peace River (where
the worst of the drought was experienced), Bulkley-Nechako,
Fraser-Fort George, and Cariboo.
A total of $4.5-million will be paid directly to livestock
producers while $3-million will support individual or
community-based water development initiatives, along with
measures to help producers deal with the effects of drought
and to assess and mitigate crop damage and feed losses
due to wildlife.
The deadline to apply is June 29th. If you are registered
with CAIS you will automatically be mailed an application.
If you do not receive an application form by the end of
May, you should call 1-800-667-8567.
Minister Strahl has been working closely with producer
groups and the provincial governments since we took office
to address the inadequacies in Canada’s agricultural
programs. The input of these groups, such as the BC Cattlemen’s
Association and the BC Grain Producers Association, has
been instrumental in enabling our government to establish
new programs and to improve old ones in order to better
respond to the needs of farmers.
Overall, the Conservative Government has now provided
a total of $4.5-BILLION to farmers through Budget 2006
and Budget 2007 measures.
Spring is a time of renewed hope for a better year ahead
and May has already proven to be an excellent month for
our family farms.
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