PRODUCERS CAN CHOOSE DATE FOR CALF SET-ASIDE PROGRAM

Saskatchewan cattle producers will be able to choose the release date for the Feeder Cattle Set-Aside Program, designed to ease the pressure on markets and slaughter capacity due to BSE.

As part of the discussion surrounding the program, the BSE Industry Advisory Committee urged the province to work with the federal government to provide producers with an October 1st, 2005 set-aside option in addition to the January 1st, 2006 set-aside option that was announced by the province on October 19th, 2004.

"Saskatchewan cattle producers will have the choice of holding beef calves back from release until October 1st, 2005 with payments of $160 per calf, or January 1st, 2006 with payments of $200 per calf," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "This approach will help balance the supply of cattle with available slaughter capacity and bolster calf prices this fall."

The federal government has agreed to provide a payment of $96 per head to producers that opt for the October set-aside. Saskatchewan will cost share the October option based on the 60:40 cost share arrangement for a total per head payment of $160 for the October set-aside option.

In the next week, applications, instructions and frequently asked questions are being mailed to producers who participated in previous BSE programs. This information will also be available at rural municipal offices and on-line at www.agr.gov.sk.ca.

Payments, with 60 per cent coming from the federal government and 40 per cent from the province, will allow eligible producers to set aside a portion of the 2004 beef steer and heifer calf production, allowing time for slaughter capacity to expand to match fed cattle production.

The Saskatchewan program, part of the national repositioning strategy for the cattle industry, allocated $31 million of its $40 million industry commitment to support the calf set-aside program. In addition to the Feeder Calf Set-Aside Program, the province will spend $6.5 million on a Fed Cattle Set-Aside Program for market ready cattle, $1 million to support national BSE testing targets in Saskatchewan, and $1 million on programs that provide support to ruminant livestock other than cattle.

BSE information is also available by calling 1-877-874-5365, or visit www.agr.gov.sk.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

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