2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative to help cattle producers

The 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative provides financial relief to help offset the extraordinary costs livestock producers face related to the current drought, with a per head payment on female breeding animals.

Registration

As of September 1, 2021, producers can apply for the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative’s first payment.

2021 Canada Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative Details

Eligible Producers

Must claim farm income and expenses in the province of Saskatchewan and be over the age of 18.

No minimum farm sales are required to apply for the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative.

Eligible Livestock

• Canadian-owned female beef and dairy cattle, bison, elk, sheep or goats bred or intended to be bred.

• The number of open replacement females considered eligible livestock is 15 per cent of the number of bred females.

Payments

The 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative will consist of two payments totalling $200/head for cattle and bison, with adjustments based on animal unit equivalents for other species.

• Payment One - $100 per breeding female equivalent in inventory as of August 1

• Payment Two - up to $100 per breeding female equivalent in inventory as of December 31.

• The minimum payment made under the Initiative will be $500 for each payment.

• The maximum total payments made under the Initiative will be $3,000,000 per operation.

Application Deadlines

• Applications for payment one for eligible animal inventory as of August 1, 2021, will be accepted beginning September 1, 2021, and ending January 31, 2022.

• Applications for payment two for eligible animal inventory as of December 31, 2021, will be accepted, starting November 1, 2021, and end on January 31, 2022.

• The Initiative will end on March 31, 2022. Producer Requirements

Producers registered in the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response

Initiative are required to:

• Declare their eligibility, as outlined in the Terms and Conditions

• Accurately report female breeding stock inventories

• Declare extraordinary cost associated with the drought conditions

• Further details regarding payment two requirements will be provided soon. Questions?

Producers are encouraged to direct inquiries to SCIC’s team of experts. Please call the toll-free number, 1-844-723-1211 or email skdri@scic.ca

About the Initiative

AgriRecovery is part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement, with funding shared on a 60-40 federal-provincial basis. On August 10, 2021, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit announced $119 million in provincial support for drought-affected livestock producers under the AgriRecovery Program. The program will provide a per head payment to help maintain breeding stock.