The time is now for the federal government to take action and help livestock producers affected by dry conditions with a tax deferral program, according to Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS).
Lewis notes feed shortages are top of mind for most producers and there’s plenty of uncertainty right now if producers will have enough for their herd come the fall and winter months. That being said, APAS is taking their lobbying efforts straight to federal agricultural minister, Lawrence MacAulay in hopes for the feds to implement a provincial wide tax deferral for cattle producers.
“It’s been done before — we just ask for it this time that it’s for the entire province cause it’s so variable across the province, and also good and early now, as there’s pretty volatile markets right now, so, if the producers see an opportunity to sell their cattle, they can go ahead and do so knowing that they’ll be able to spread that income out over a couple of years,” Lewis says.
SCA stands with APAS
The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA) stands behind APAS 110 per cent according to chair, Rick Toney.
He says the SCA has had a tax deferral on their agenda for some time now, and hopes the government will listen to their concerns.
Listen to the full interview with APAS president Todd Lewis, along with SCA chair Rick Toney, below:.
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