Winnipeg, MB -- The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) says that today's announcement by the federal and provincial Agriculture Ministers to provide $448 million in federal-provincial AgriRecovery funding to help farmers affected by excess moisture and flooding is welcomed news.
“Extreme moisture has left many acres unseeded or subsequently flooded after planting,” says Ed Schafer, President of the CCGA. In some areas of the Prairies farmers have been severely impacted by rain, planting one-quarter or less of their intended acres. “These AgriRecovery funds will be important for financial stability and will help farmers get their crop land back into condition for the next planting season,” says Schafer.
The Agri-Recovery initiative will provide up to $30 per eligible acre for crop land that could not be seeded because of excess moisture by June 20, 2011, or was seeded and subsequently flooded out on or before July 31, 2011.
The CCGA acknowledges the Governments of Canada, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba for responding to the 2011 planting disaster, and sending a clear message to Canadian farmers that agriculture is an essential contributor to Canada's economy.
The AgriRecovery announcement will complement existing programs, such as AgriStability, Crop Insurance and AgriInvest. "We urge the federal and provincial governments to get the details of this program finalized quickly, while maintaining their commitments to fully fund all existing business risk management programs, as these programs are cornerstones of managing business risk on the farm," says Schafer.
The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents 43,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability.
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Contact:
Kelly Green, Director of Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Phone: 204.789.8821
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca