SASKATCHEWAN ANNOUNCES ENHANCEMENTS TO BSE RECOVERY PROGRAM

The Province of Saskatchewan today announced a set aside option to the BSE Recovery Program.

The new set aside option under the BSE Recovery Program will allow Saskatchewan producers to enroll a portion of their fed cattle inventory as of July 25th, 2003, in the set aside option, and receive compensation at the same level as they could under the BSE Recovery Program. Producers must agree to hold back these cattle from slaughter for a period of at least 60 days in order to receive the compensation.

"The BSE Recovery set aside option is designed to help reduce the current backlog of producers trying to access limited slaughter capacity, allow additional marketing options for producers, and provide some much needed cash flow for producers unable to access slaughter capacity," Deputy Premier and Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Minister Clay Serby said.

On June 18th, 2003, the federal and provincial governments announced a joint BSE Recovery Program to compensate producers for some of the market losses resulting from the closure of the U.S. border after a single case of BSE was discovered in Canada. The BSE Recovery program was also designed to increase the slaughter of Canadian cattle so that domestic consumers could access Canadian beef.

The BSE Recovery Program required that animals be slaughtered within 14 days of being sold to be eligible for compensation. The new set aside option now allows producers to either retain ownership of the enrolled cattle or sell them to a third party, and access compensation now, providing they agree to the 60 day set aside requirement. Compensation will only be paid on cattle once.

Initially, producers will be able to enroll up to 10 per cent of their current inventory, with an option to extend the program to a further 10 per cent at a later date.

The province will ask the federal government to cost-share 60 per cent of the new option.

Additional information on BSE Recovery Program and the new set aside option can be obtained by contacting Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization toll free at 1-877-874-5365.

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For More Information, Contact:

Trish Alcorn Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306)787-5389