Quebec City, Quebec, December 6, 2012 – Livestock producers in Quebec will receive transportation assistance from federal and provincial governments to relieve financial pressures caused by this summer's dry growing conditions. The announcement was made today by Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, and by François Gendron, Quebec Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Assembly Member for Abitibi- Ouest.
"Quebec livestock producers have worked hard to produce quality forage to sustain their herds until they can be returned to pastures next spring; however, Mother Nature has not cooperated," said Minister Ritz. "Our government is delivering the necessary support to help livestock producers keep their breeding herds fed over the winter months."
"The assistance given to businesses severely affected by the drought builds on the actions undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the summer to inform and assist producers. I am very confident these programs will help support businesses get through these difficult times" said Minister Gendron.
Drought conditions during the summer significantly reduced forage yields and damaged pastures for livestock and dairy producers in the Gatineau, Pontiac and Témiscamingue regions of Quebec.
The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec are offering complementary measures to forage and livestock transportation assistance totalling $2.15 million for Quebec agriculture businesses affected by the drought. This assistance will help cover a portion of the extraordinary costs of transporting either forage and feed to their breeding herds or breeding herds to areas with surplus feed.
The two components of the initiative are:
- Up to $0.14 per tonne, per kilometer, to assist with the transportation of forage and feed, or
- Up to $0.075 per kilometer to move animals to available feed.
This initiative is being delivered under the AgriRecovery framework, which allows governments to respond to unforeseen disasters that result in extraordinary recovery costs for producers. Producers are first encouraged to make full use of other government programs—AgriInsurance, AgriStability and AgriInvest—designed to help them mitigate income and production losses.
In addition to these programs, the federal government is providing tax deferrals to eligible producers in designated areas on the sale of breeding livestock.
Further information regarding the details of this initiative and how to apply will be available in the coming days. Producers may contact their regional Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food services centre for more information, or visit the Ministry's website at www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.
