The Manitoba and federal governments have hammered out the details of the province’s cattle set-aside program funding delivered through AgriRecovery.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic economic shutdown and temporary processing plant closures, the federal government announced in early May that it would providing up to $50 million for livestock set-aside programs.
Normally, a province has to initiate a disaster relief program under AgriRecovery and put up its funds first, before the federal government adds funding; however, that requirement was dropped for the livestock set-aside initiative.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario chose to add funding to their programs, which were launched in May and June. Manitoba, however, will administer the fund, but is not supplying additional money for the program.
The 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program announced on Thursday will offer up to $2.5 million for cattle producers impacted this spring and summer by closed processors and back-logged feedlots.
Cattle producers have until December 1, 2020 to apply. The program will cover eligible extraordinary costs incurred between April 15, 2020 and August 31, 2020, at a rate of $1.20 per day per animal.
Related: Manitoba still working on details for cattle set-aside program