PM to Announce Huge Mad Cow Aid Package

[rsomer]

CBC:
Last Updated Sat, 20 Mar 2004 20:38:40
OTTAWA - Battered Canadian cattle farmers will get close to $1 billion in aid from the federal government, senior government sources said Saturday.

More than $500 million to go directly to farmers
The sources said Prime Minister Paul Martin will announce the package Monday at a farm outside of Lethbridge, Alberta.


INDEPTH: Mad Cow Disease

It will include more than $500 million in direct aid to farmers hurt by the mad cow crisis.

The rest of the money will not be directly linked to losses suffered after a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered on a farm in northern Alberta last May.

[rusty1]

That's suposed to be announced on Monday in Picture Butte with the Ag Minister on hand. Vote buying again. They need it.

[cakadu]

What about those not in the cattle business that have been directly affected by this whole mess? I am talking about sheep producers and to a lesser extent bison, goats, elk and any other ruminant that has not been allowed to cross the border since May 20th.

Yes, boned lamb under a year can go to the U.S. - but who actually buys boned lamb?

Hurting is hurting, doesn't matter what livestock you raise - we've all been hurt by this.

[les]

What about the guy growing feed grains-that no one is buying now?

[WoolyBear]

Boxed boneless beef has been going south for a long time too.......... Not sure how this is going to get distributed, but both Cakadu and les are right, theres more to look after than just beef.

[pandiana]

I can hardly wait to hear how this will be distributed. Maybe the grocery stores will get it this time so that it will filter down to the producer.

I agree that other livestock have been hit hard. I also have some sheep. Smaller groups seem to have slipped off the radar.

[frustrated1]

Feed brly here is now $2.60 on farm. We'd sold off combine at $2.50 before BSE #2, hasn't affected our feed sales, but that isn't a large portion for us.

As far as $, we'll wait and see not only where it's mailed to but who ends up with it. We're still feeding calves. Of the $400mil Alberta $'s we do not have a single penny. 1 billion is 2.5 times. Times what? 0? 0 times 2.5. Think I'll rush out and replace that tractor. And do calf prices drop an equivalent amount of payment within 12 hours? Years ago they had a fertilizer rebate from the govt. Guess what? Fertilizer prices went up that exact amount before the next bill came out. Just mail the cheque straight to Agrium why not? Will that happen again with our sterling clad packers? What? Me, cynical? Hope I'm wrong. All's well.

[grassfarmer]

As for alternative livestock /grain producers etc that is hinted at in rsomers news report. 5 or 6 million will go to cattle producers and the rest to "other sectors of agriculture". I hope we do all get a slice of the pie however small but keeping it in our pockets will be difficult.
In the UK when ever the Government announced a new subsidy or rate increase in an existing one the next link in the chain always dropped the farm gate price of products to pocket the proceeds. It seems to be the way ahead for agriculture everywhere. Consumers pay well for their food, multi-nationals become the wealthiest people on the planet and farmers live on Government handouts. We must address this issue as a priority.

[rsomer]

Maybe the issue is not who will get the money but if anyone will get the money. The CBC story went on to say:

"Monday's announcement will come just a day before the Liberal government presents its first budget since Martin became prime minister."

It has been pointed out to me that this money will be contigent on the Liberals forming the next government. It would be reasonable to expect that the government will call an election soon after it presents its budget. It is very unlikely that any of this money will be distributed before the election call. We will have to see.

[magpie]

Just my luck !! Buyers will likely be ho hum interested until details are worked out, as the ducks are in order to move cattle

[nerves]

Agriculture is a tough business period. The people that produce meat products are on the verge of collapse. In our area we have had four years of drought. Last year we paid extemly high prices for feed, staw, and grain. Take 2.50 a bushel for barley and cut it to .50 a bushel that is the price eqivulant to what we get for our cows during the BSE thing. Try to survive on that Impossible. The meat producer has to paid or you will see a lot more part time grain farmers. We broke up about 300 acres of pasture last year and going to do 200 more. If this drought does not end and if we don"t get the return we out of our meat products we will break up another 1000 think of what this will do for grain markets. I can get in a complete line of machinery for under 25,000.$ (already Have) I am ready to bail if BSE keeps up and don"t think I am the only one. That is why the meat producer needs to paid on this more than the other commodities Agriculture is a tough business but it could get alot tougher for all involved.

[cakadu]

Grassfarmer is right - I read in the paper (if you can believe all you read) that the other groups i.e. not cattle, will receive some $315 million in aid. Who knows if this money will get to where it is going to go.

The only thing I wonder about with these "smaller" groups, is why haven't they hit the radar. I pay checkoff money - mandatory now that the eartags came into effect on Jan 1, and I have no idea what that checkoff money is buying me because I have heard very little in terms of any kind of lobbying on behalf of the sheep industry.

There have been a couple of snippets in my sheep publications - but where in the news do you ever hear about any of the alternative groups raising holy hannah down in Ottawa, across the border or even in my own province?

Unless something major happens, I think it is fairly safet to say that the Liberals are in after the next election. I still hold out some hope that someone is going to come from behind to give them a run for their money - just like Kerry is hot on Bush's heels - but so far nothing like that is coming to the fore.

One can only hope that this money makes it to where it truly needs to go. There are many producers that are hard pressed to find the $$$$$ to feed their animals right now. Truthfully, I am surprised that we don't hear more about animals being neglected - I am grateful that we aren't - most of us want to look after our animals properly and we do owe it to them. It does speak well of how hard we try to do the right thing.

[bshaw2]

There are lots of reasons why these smaller groups haven't hit the radar......

Sheep and lambs, while numerous in our own rights, don't attract the headlines that "beef" numbers do. Llamas, alpacas, bison, elk and deer are the same. Our numbers are apparently insignificant enough that the newsmedia just says SO? We have to remember that these industries were poised for a significant increase in production when BSE hit. Our market potential is so hugh and ALL Domestic, we just have to get our ducks in a row as far as establising a steady year round supply of a quality product. Canadian lamb production accounts for only 30 % of our country's consumption. Like the beef industry in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we have virtually a complete lack of slaughter capacity.

We have been very fortunate in the sheep sector to have some very hardworking spokespeople working in the trenches trying to get the politicians to remember these other ruminants. We just have to hope that when this crisis is over, that these people are still able to be involved in an industry that hopefully respects the commitments that they have made for us.

[rusty1]

Now that the Conservatives have some momentum and the Liberals have egg all over their faces , I don't think those sly ..... will call an election till at least fall. I which they would call a spring one, I think (although I'm not happy with my membership in the old Reform party getting into bed with Red Tories), they at least can't screw the country up any worse than it is.

[dalek]

This is mostly re-announced money that hasn't been spent yet because of red tape and arguing with the provinces, not new money.

Just arranging now to buy standing hay from various beef neighbours who have de-populated for the next couple of summers, we're tearing everything up for corn and soybeans at these prices.