GOVERNMENT CONTINUES COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURE IN 2012-13 BUDGET

Record Crop Insurance funding and a record investment in agriculture research highlight the Saskatchewan Agriculture budget in 2012-13.

The Government of Saskatchewan has increased its Agriculture budget by $13 million to $430.8 million in 2012-13, the second largest Agriculture budget ever announced. Almost three quarters of this year's budget will go toward fully funding business risk management programs, including AgriStability, AgriInvest and Crop Insurance, which has a record budget of $177 million. Since 2008, Crop Insurance has introduced the five largest budgets and highest coverage levels in the program's history.

"Saskatchewan farm and ranch families are the backbone of our province and a priority for our government," Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said. "We will continue working to improve programs, such as Crop Insurance, which now includes record coverage and more options than ever before."

Crop Insurance coverage levels will increase to a record high $174 per acre, on average, in 2012, almost double the coverage levels offered in 2007. As well, producers now have the option of purchasing coverage of up to $100 dollars per eligible acre for land they are unable to seed due to excess moisture.

Bjornerud said the government is demonstrating its continued commitment to agriculture research through a record-high research budget of $20.4 million, an increase of 50 per cent since 2007. This includes a $2 million investment in wheat genomic research. The Agriculture budget also includes $250,000 for the Global Institute for Food Security, which was a 2011 campaign commitment.

The Ministry of Agriculture will also provide an additional $1 million for international market development and trade advocacy. This funding will provide industry support to maintain existing markets, develop new markets and attract new buyers to the province.

The 2012-13 Agriculture budget also includes an additional $1.9 million in irrigation funding to rehabilitate the M1 Canal, which supplies water to 55,000 acres of irrigated land, along with a number of reservoirs, urban centres, wildlife projects and potash mines. The additional investment brings total rehabilitation funding for the M1 Canal to a record $5 million for 2012-13.

In addition, the provincial government is continuing to provide funding to the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) to deliver beaver and wild boar control programs. Funding to SARM for rat control is also increasing by $250,000 to $1 million, an 85 per cent increase since 2007. In addition, producers will benefit from the Gopher Control Rebate Program, which is continuing in 2012-13.

The province has also increased its funding support to the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to $530,000, an increase of $150,000 over last year, and a 194 per cent increase since 2007.

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For more information, contact:

Donna Rehirchuk
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5389
Email: donna.rehirchuk@gov.sk.ca