WESTERN PRODUCER — Saskatchewan officials are looking at what they can do to iron out a wrinkle in a program they hoped would compensate livestock producers for snow storm losses.
The province announced after April snow storms that cattle producers who lost calves could receive money through the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program if their rural municipalities declared disasters.
However, that program restricts eligibility to small businesses that make less than $2 million in gross annual income. That eliminates some larger operations that experienced losses.
“The definition of small business in the PDAP regulations is based on requirements set out by the federal government,” said an emailed statement from the provincial government.
“Farmers, managed woodlot and aquaculture operators are a specific category of small business owners, as set out in the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement (DFAA) regulations. As such, assistance to farmers is eligible under the same definition as small business.”
PDAP is a federal-provincial program that pays out at different cost-share arrangements depending on losses. It was designed to assist with uninsurable losses mainly due to flooding.
Municipalities that declare a disaster are required to pay a deductible based on their taxable assessments.
There is no clear number yet on how many calves were killed in the storms, but estimates are between 400 and 500. Compensation would be $1,200 per calf, as per the amount paid through Saskatchewan Crop Insurance’s wildlife predation program. It’s also not clear if the value of the claims would trigger federal funding. Ottawa is reviewing the DFAA regulations.
Maple Creek is the only town to have declared so far, after heavy snow April 5-8.
RMs that have declared for April 13-15 and April 22-24 snow storms are Antler, Argyle, Browning, Cambria, Chester, Coalfields, Enniskillen, Estevan, Golden West, Happy Valley, Kingsley, Martin, Maryfield, Moose Creek, Moose Mountain, Moosomin, Mount Pleasant, Rocanville, Silverwood, Storthoaks, Walpole, Wawken and Willowdale.
Benson declared for April 22-24 only, while Lake Alma, Lomond and Poplar Valley declared for April 13-15 only.
St. Louis has declared for April 11.
