Anybody get any money?

[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.