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APAS gives 2009 Federal Budget an ‘E’… and it’s not for ‘Effort’

February 2, 2009

(Regina) Greg Marshall, President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) today revised the D grade that Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall gave the 2009 Federal Budget to an ‘E’.

“The D grade by our Premier was for ‘deficit’, ‘delay’ and ‘disappointing’,” said Marshall. “When we examine the budget’s impact on farm families and their communities, we would give the budget an ‘E’ for ‘Empty’ promises, failed ‘Expectations’ and most of all ‘E’ for ‘Exit’  - because that is how livestock producer’s are being forced to deal with this continuing crisis.” Marshall was expressing concerns with the growing number of reports of ranchers and farmers selling off their herds due to rising costs and poor sale prices for their cattle.

The APAS President wondered why agriculture as a whole, and particularly the livestock sector, didn’t receive more effective support in the economic stimulus initiatives contained in the 2009 Federal Budget. “Saskatchewan elected thirteen Conservative MPs - including the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Gerry Ritz - during the last Federal Election in the belief that they would guarantee our province a strong voice in Ottawa, especially in agricultural and rural issues,” Marshall continued.  “It is unfortunate that the recent focus on the economic downturn in the East has so overshadowed the continuing plight of Western Canada’s livestock producers.” 

APAS continues to voice its concerns with the 2009 Federal Budget while applauding Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall’s call for a meeting with the thirteen Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan to see if there is an opportunity to make revision to the document and specific programs. APAS Executive and members are eager to participate in any meeting between the provincial and federal governments to forge a solution to the current crisis.          

“The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada,  recently stated that he had received no requests from any farm groups for a per head payment,” continued Marshall. “He might want to check his ‘In-Box’ again as we provided both Prime Minister Harper’s and Minister Ritz’ offices with four very specific recommendations that would help our livestock producers.”

APAS commissioned a comprehensive study into the Cow-Calf Crisis in 2008 which included policy options that would clearly benefit ranchers and farmers across the province. A number of these policy options were adopted by the membership at the annual general meeting of the

Association in December. The association had forwarded copies of these policy recommendations to both the Provincial and Federal governments during the budget consultation process.

APAS was pleased to see the Advance Payment Programs (APP) Repayment Flexibility pre-budget announcement which allows for the critical extension of the repayment deadline for livestock advances to September 30, 2010. Further positive announcements included the recommitment to the Government's election promise of $50 million over the next three years to expand slaughterhouse capacity within Canada for beef, pork and other livestock producers. The program, which will make federal contributions available to match private sector investments, should support additional livestock slaughter capacity and may one day help ensure Canada has a competitive livestock sector.

APAS was also pleased to see that the Farm Improvement and Marketing Cooperatives Loans Act (FIMCLA) will be amended to make credit available to new farmers and established cooperatives while also supporting inter-generational farm transfers. In addition, the Association appreciated the inclusion of a $225 million allocation to expand rural broadband expansion over the next three years in addition to tariff reductions on equipment and machinery.

APAS and its members remain committed to working with both levels of government on the budget details in the coming months in order to rectify the livestock crisis and any other outstanding issues not addressed in the 2009 Budget.

“There needs to be a clear vision and action for the future of the livestock industry,” said Marshall as he returned from a meeting in Winnipeg with the Keystone Agricultural Producers. “And that vision must be developed with the input of all levels of government and the agricultural community that is affected.” 

APAS is Saskatchewan’s general farm organization formed to provide farmers and ranchers with a democratically elected, grassroots, non-partisan, producer organization based on rural municipal boundaries.   As the voice of agriculture in Saskatchewan, APAS strives to represent the views of all agricultural stakeholders in order to form comprehensive policies that benefit all sectors of agriculture.

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For more information, please contact:

Greg Marshall, President – Tel: 306-789-7774 (ext 222) or 306-746-7747 (cell) or email president@apas.ca

Nial Kuyek, General Manager – Tel: 306-789-7774 (ext 229) or email nkuyek@apas.ca