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Two new AgriRecovery programs available for Manitoba livestock producers

The Manitoba and federal governments have launched two programs under the AgriRecovery framework for livestock producers to help with the extraordinary costs incurred for feed and transportation.

“Manitoba producers care deeply about their livestock and these programs will help producers buy feed or help get the feed they’ve purchased delivered to their animals, or get the animals to another location where feed is available,” said Ralph Eichler, Manitoba’s agriculture and resource development minister, during the Aug. 31 announcement. “This has been a tough year and we continue to take strides to support our producers in any way we can.”

Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), livestock producers can now apply to two programs. The Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance program will help producers purchase and test feed for livestock to maintain their breeding herds, including transporting purchased feed from distant locations. The Livestock Transportation Drought Assistance program will offer assistance to help offset freight expenses associated with moving livestock to alternative feed supply areas.

Eligible animals under the Livestock Feed and Transportation Drought Assistance program are breeding animals of beef and dairy cattle, horses raised for pregnant mare urine (PMU), sheep, goats and bison. Producers must be supporting a minimum of 10 animals to qualify for assistance and the program covers feed and feed transportation expenses between June 1, 2021, and March 15, 2022. Feed must have been delivered from a supplier at least 40 kilometres (km) away and assistance is available for hauling feed up to a maximum one-way distance of 600 km. Eligible feed purchases must be made between June 1 and March 15, 2022.

The Livestock Transportation program offers help for producers with extraordinary costs to transport breeding animals of beef cattle, sheep and goats to alternate locations to feed (up to 1,000 km). This program does not cover moving animals to market or sale.

Manitoba is also in the process of designing a cowherd-rebuilding program under the Canada-Manitoba AgriRecovery Drought Assistance framework to help livestock producers who’ve been forced to sell breeding stock due to limited feedstock in 2021, with the goal to rebuild their herds starting in 2022. The details of this program are currently under development.

Earlier in August, the Manitoba government announced a $62-million investment under the AgriRecovery framework, designed to support livestock producers affected by this year’s drought conditions. AgriRecovery is part of the CAP agreement, with funding shared on a 60-40 federal-provincial basis.

For more detailed program information, producers can contact their Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Service Centre, call the department toll-free at 1-84-GROW-MB-AG (1-844-769-6224) or go to www.manitoba.ca/agriculture.

Applications are available at www.manitoba.ca/agriculture and must include receipts for feed purchases and transportation. Specific tools and resources for managing in dry conditions are available at www.manitoba.ca/agriculture/dry.html.