Persistent drought has been hard on the Saskatchewan cow herd, but the lack of workable business risk management programs will be harder on it still.
Jeff Yorga, first vice president with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, says that ranchers in the province are still waiting for the the federal government to finalize details on the AgriRecovery disaster relief roll-out for this year.
“Some of the things that producers have had to do to get through this year aren’t going to be allowable expenses. And you know, we’re waiting to see what that is… my initial concern right now is given the delay in the program, and given some of the parameters around it that this isn’t going to get to the people that actually need it,” Yorga says.
AgriRecovery is a disaster relief program, however, not an over-arching business risk management program. Without robust, dependable BRM programs, Yorga worries for the future of the cattle industry in Saskatchewan.
“We need a serious business risk management program in Canada for the cattle industry. And two years later [since 2021], we still don’t have it. And so, you know, my hope is that, whatever happens with AgriRecovery isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of the discussion about how we can have a vibrant and growing beef industry in Canada, that that doesn’t get wiped out when we miss the rain,” Yorga says.
Related: Enduring multiple droughts — if AgriStability doesn’t work now, when will it?
AgriRecovery drought relief programs on the way for livestock producers in Saskatchewan and Alberta
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