Quebec City, Quebec, April 16, 2013 - The Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) would like to inform Quebec farmers adversely affected by the summer 2012 drought that the deadline for completing and submitting an application for the complementary measures to forage and livestock transportation assistance has been extended to May 1, 2013.
Drought conditions during the growing season last summer significantly reduced forage yields and damaged the pastures of livestock and dairy producers in the Gatineau, Pontiac and Témiscamingue regions of Quebec. To support those businesses, the federal and provincial governments have agreed to grant an extension to farm operators so that they can access the measures totalling $2.15 million announced on December 6. This assistance will help cover a portion of the extraordinary costs of transporting forage and feed to their breeding herds or breeding herds to areas with surplus feed.
These measures are being delivered under the AgriRecovery program, 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—specifically designed to help them mitigate income and production losses.
Livestock and dairy producers interested in applying can obtain further details by contacting their regional MAPAQ service centre or by visiting the Quebec department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (in French only) website at www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.
