Anybody get any money?

[cowman]

I'm still waiting for my big check from the Alberta government for the cull cow program. Faxed it in way before Christmas and got a phone call the same day saying they got it and the check would be out right away! Still no money!
So did anyone else get theirs? I believe Sask. and Man. had a similar program.

[bombay_43]

Same story here! Faxed it away, got a phone call saying it was being processed. No money!

The other day a creditor phoned wanting money that was over due. I innformed him that every month we throw ALL our due bills into a hat. Then we draw out three bills and pay them. I told him if he kept phoning and harrassing me, we wouldn't even put his bill into the hat!

[StrawBoss]

According to the experts 15 percent of a beef producer’s income was from selling cull cows—is that a reasonable estimate?
I learnt a hard lesson about ranching and beef production in 1974—1976. I bought land and helped a gentleman get started--- the cattle prices went from good to rock bottom in very short order and as a result he went broke and I lost a pile of money. I don’t believe anybody was making any real money on the shit makers before the free trade started. Now the BSE scare has turned many dreams into nightmares.

[kato]

We just got our applications this week here in Manitoba. I calculate our payout will be about $1000.00, if we are lucky. We have 180 cows, but 50 of them are just going to have their first calves starting next week. Those 50 don't qualify because they are not 30 months old yet. Wow.

The $1000.00 is just about exactly how much subsidy money we lost selling four animals during that golden week between programs back in September.

A thousand dollars isn't going to go far anyway, so we're not going to lose any sleep over it. When it comes, it comes.

When we add it to the $250 dollars we got selling a 2300 lb bull for $300.00, and the $475.00 in feed subsidy, I guess we'll be laughing all the way to the bank! Grand total of $1725.00. For 180 cows who eat about $300 dollars in feed a day, that's going to save the farm.

Do I sound a bit jaded? MMMM....I wonder why?

[Junebug]

Haven't seen a dime of all that 400 hundred million the government was handing out to help their farmers. I really think this was just a big political game to deceive the public.
I no longer have confidence in any of the govern. programs.

[cowman]

Well the feds sent me a couple of checks for the transition program so that was nice! Still waiting for them to deposit their share in my NISA account so I can begin to cash that in. CAIS might be good if anyone can understand it and if the feds finally can figure out how it works!
Apparently CAIS is an accountants nightmare and their fees will be "healthy"!
Haven't gotten anything from the province. I sure am glad old Ralph and Shirley are "standing right there with our producers"!

[bombay_43]

Cowman: What is the transition program? Is there another name for it? I have no idea of which program this is.

[cowman]

It is the transtion disaster relief program before CAIS comes into effect? Sort of a go between, between NISA and CAIS? It came into effect in 2002 for the drought. 600 million dollars. You had to have a NISA account to get it last year and it was deposited into the B account but this year you can apply for it without a NISA account. If you have a NISA account you will automatically get it sent to you.(both are fully taxable)
This second payout(2003) is the same amount as what you would have gotten in 2002 and it was supposed to be paid out in 2003. I got one check on Dec. 30,2003 and the other on Jan.9,2004. Don't let that confuse you as I have two seperate NISA accounts so I got two payments...it has to do with a joint venture deal.

[cowman]

Bombay: They call it Year 2 Risk Management Funding on the check.

[bombay_43]

Thanks for the info Cowman. I am guessing that this only affected certain areas of our province then. As our area was not a drought in 2003, we probably don't qualify.

[countryguy]

Bombay if you are in Nisa then you will or should be getting a check.Most have gotten theirs already.If you haven't,check into it.

[cowman]

Bombay: It was the governments way of responding to the drought but it was a universal program that every farmer in Canada was eligible for(you know keep the east happy).
If you were strictly in cattle you wouldn't have probably had a NISA account in 2002. Van Clief basically forced you to open a NISA account to access your share of the 2002 "Risk Management Program". A lot of cattle farmers never bothered as it was announced fairly late and that was the first year that NISA was available for cattle. It was a fairly decent payout...I think something like 3.5% of net sales. I think you only had to claim basic expenses to arrive at this figure.
This year the same amount of money was allocated for the second part of the program. With the end of NISA on Dec 31/03 it made no sense to pay the money into the NISA accounts so the money was sent to all participants of the 2002 program. So if you didn't recieve money in the 2002 program you need to apply to recieve money from the 2003 program. If you haven't recieved a check or applied you should call Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at 1-866-367-8506.

[bombay_43]

Cowman: All of what you wrote is right bang on! I did call several numbers yesterday both to the Business Risk Management Program and Nisa. Apparently my confirmation has been sent on January 10! I had no idea these government offices did business on a SATURDAY. I almost have to take back all the little "nasties" that I have been saying.

This is the first year we got into NISA, and we are learning the hard way. A payout last year would have hit a dry spot.

Thanks

[cowman]

Always glad to help out. Sorry I was sick last year or I would have gotten you on the government tit much earlier!
Unfotunately this is the reality of agriculture in Canada at this time. The government just hopes people don't take advantage of these programs, that in reality a piddling amount of what we deserve!
But hey every little bit helps, right? And you have to be vigilant or they will screw you out of even this pittance!

[pandiana]

News today reported that only 16% of elibile producers have applied for this money! Wild Rose Forum on CBC had a farmer with 150 cows call in saying that the $1500.00 check he would receive would probably pay his utilities for the month. The host wanted to talk to him off the air.

Andrew Nikiforik is doing a 5 part series on BSE on CBC Wild Rose at 1:00 pm Tuesdays.

Today on CBC 1:00 there will be a US:Canada open line talk show on BSE. This will provide some perspective on American understanding of this problem. According to the American host, government has a very tight hold on all of the BSE information that is fed to the public. Very little info is getting to the public. He said it hit the news for about 2 days and then disappeared for the most part.
What has got out, based on a recent poll, 26% will no longer buy beef or some other meat products.