December 21, 2010

Canada's Manitoba livestock producers receive feed assistance

Canada's Manitoba livestock producers are facing feed shortages this winter following an extremely wet 2010 growing season, and will receive feed and transportation assistance from the Governments of Canada and Manitoba.

The investment was announced by federal Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz, and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister, Stan Struthers.

"Livestock producers expect to deal with difficult weather from time to time, but this year's extremely wet conditions will greatly impact available feed in Manitoba this winter," Ritz said.

"Although the late harvest delayed the assessment of damage, our Governments have worked together to respond as quickly as possible so producers can manage their cash flow and begin to buy and truck-in additional feed to carry them through the winter," he said.

"Conditions this year have made access to feed supplies extremely challenging for the livestock producers who grow and depend on them, particularly those in the Interlake region who have been dealing with multiple years of excess moisture," Struthers said.

"The province has a history of supporting livestock producers and this assistance program, developed in consultation with the industry, will help buy and transport feed to the livestock that need it."