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By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Support Program

‘It’s a drop in the bucket’: Farm groups respond to federal aid package

May 5, 2020 | 3:23 PM

Farms groups have been quick to respond to the $252 million federal funding announcement for agriculture and the agri-food industry. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used this morning’s media briefing to announce the package.

In the business risk management program (BRM), AgriRecovery will receive $125 million for cattle and hog producers who have been hit hard by reduced processing. A new $77 million fund has been established for food processors including meat packers, to help these businesses retrofit their factories in order to follow health protocols. The government also announced $50 million for a purchase program for surplus food with the goal to redistribute the surplus to food banks.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said producers can access the funds through BRM programs.

“This is another step but it’s not the end. I really have to send the message to farmers that we have money on the table through the BRM and I expect they will come and get this money,” Bibeau said.

Glaslyn area farmer Daryl Fransoo said the announcement didn’t go far enough.

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“First and foremost, we’re not happy with it. It’s obviously, wholly inadequate,” Fransoo told farmnewsNOW. “It’s a drop in the bucket.”

Fransoo said he was not reassured when the prime minister said there would be more help if needed.

“We’ve heard that ‘more to come’ for four and a half years when we talk about BRM programs. To say we’re disappointed would be an understatement,” Fransoo said.

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association President Bill Huber said it’s not even close to what the agriculture sector groups have been asking for.

“There needs to be some compensation there for the producers and when the feedlots aren’t moving cattle out the one end they’re not bringing in from the other end,” Huber said.

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) said funds announced today will not address the problems hog producers are facing.

CPC chair Rick Bergmann said they asked for $20 per hog to feed the animals, keep the lights on and ensure consumers have access to pork.

“For the past five years we have heard from our government that they want to help us to grow our sector, yet when our house is burning, they are offering us a glass of water to save it,” Bergmann said.

Industry experts have estimated pork producers will lose $675 million this year.

Just last week the Canadian Federation of Agriculture asked the federal government for $2.6 billion. CFA said while the money is welcome, it’s inadequate.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF