By Katie Ryan
While drought-stricken ranchers in areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan are receiving $114 million in aid, thanks to the Pasture Recovery Initiative, NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter said too many livestock producers are being left out.
“I think it should deal with all of the RMs that are affected by drought and it should be properly so that all of the areas that have been hard hit by expensive hay and because all of them have faced low prices for their animals, that they should be helped out,” said Lingenfelter in an interview with the Source.
“It’s not just for beef of course down in the south west, it’s cattle, bison and the other animals as well that should be eligible.”
Federal and provincial government officials gathered in Lloydminster earlier this month to announce the aid package. Under the 2010 PRI, livestock producers living in the eligible counties and municipal districts in central and northern Alberta and west central and northwest Saskatchewan will receive pasture assistance for breeding livestock.
In Alberta there are 59 counties and municipal districts and 64 in Saskatchewan that are eligible for assistance. Lingenfelter said Opposition offices have been fielding calls, particularly from southwest areas of the province and suspects there are more livestock producers working outside of the designated counties who are upset because they do not qualify for a share of the $114 million.
“The farmers don’t normally stop seeding or stop what they are doing to get a phone and call me, so I just find when I get a handful of calls from any one municipality it means that there are quite a few people upset,” he said.
Unlike the wet weather farmers and ranchers are facing this year, extreme drought hit areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan hard throughout 2008 and 2009, delaying pasture development. The PRI is designed to offset feed costs while damaged pastures recover.
According to government estimates, there are more than 2.2 million breeding animals in the affected areas.