PROVINCE PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL BSE RELIEF PROGRAM

The Government of Saskatchewan has ensured that livestock producers will have access to $190 million to help them deal with the BSE crisis.

The Government of Saskatchewan has committed $40 million to support Saskatchewan's livestock industry as part of the national strategy for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) announced on September 10th, 2004.

The province will also participate in the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) special cash advance program, which will make up to $150 million available to producers of cattle and other ruminants this fall.

"Saskatchewan has been there for its producers since the BSE crisis began, and we will continue to support our livestock industry," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "This strategy will help our producers and livestock industry to make changes to return to profitability regardless of when the U.S. border reopens."

The national BSE strategy addresses the key issues of continuing efforts to open the border, increasing slaughter capacity, sustaining the industry until that capacity is in place, and developing alternative market opportunities.

Saskatchewan will fully fund its share of the program costs for the fed cattle set-aside program and the calf set-aside program. The province will also provide funding to help meet BSE surveillance targets and assist producers of other ruminants to address the problems caused by BSE.

Saskatchewan's commitment to specific programs within the national BSE strategy is the result of consultations with industry leaders from across the province, including the Saskatchewan BSE Advisory Committee.

"I would like to thank livestock industry leaders for their valuable input throughout this process," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "By working together, our efforts to reposition this important industry will make it stronger in the long term."

Additional program details as well as application forms will be available in mid-October.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031