MLA Report

 16 July 2010

The recent unpredictable weather has created significant problems for many provincial agricultural producers. Too much rain has prevented seeding in large areas or wiped out previously seeded crops. While this problem is most evident in the east central region of the province, I have witnessed the effect of flooded land right here in the Cypress Hills Constituency.

As already announced, the provincial and federal governments have responded with the largest one-time agricultural disaster program in the history of Saskatchewan, totaling $360 million. In addition to this support, Crop Insurance customers are eligible for an unseeded acreage benefit of up to $50 per eligible acre, and also have coverage for seeded land that has been flooded out. Producers can also apply for an Interim Advance Payment through AgriStability.

Most farmers seem pleased with our government’s genuine concern and swift action. Agriculture Consultant, Kevin Hursch said, “rarely do governments act so quickly and decisively.”

In contrast, the NDP Opposition has been playing a lot of politics with the misfortune facing Saskatchewan producers. Pulling a $100 per acre/per head payment number out of the air does a disservice to every producer and taxpayer in the province, especially since the NDP track record for agricultural assistance is so abysmal. When that party was the government, the best it could muster for flood relief was $10 per acre for a total of $15 million, and that came grudgingly and late into the summer. As for drought relief in 2006-07, Southwest producers couldn’t even get a meeting with the Agriculture Minister, let alone have him tour the worst affected areas.

Following the Sask Party’s 2007 election, one of the very first things we established was the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program to help producers and RMs establish long-term water sources. This $29 million program was designed specifically for producers in the southwest, specifically the constituencies of Cypress Hills and Wood River, where the need was greatest and the response proved significant. For two years that funding was allocated solely to applicants in this region, and only later was it expanded to other parts of the province based on its success in these parts.

Among many other new initiatives for farmers and ranchers, our government introduced the largest education tax reduction in the history of this province, improved and broadened Crop Insurance and implemented the gopher Control Rebate program. In addition, we are working hard to provide better roads for producers who depend on them to get their product to market, and supporting a growing shortline rail industry to help keep grain transportation costs to a realistic level.

Our government’s early response to agricultural issues is pretty strong compared to the NDP track record. Among the NDP’s earliest decisions on agriculture and rural issues were the cancellation of GRIP and putting a stop to the Battle Creek dam project, designed to provide irrigation and flood control in the Consul area. They closed rural extension offices, which we have re-established, and left rural roads and highways to crumble. And, they lost millions of taxpayers’ dollars on ag mis-adventures such as SPUDCO.

Given the NDP track record of failure on behalf of producers in rural Saskatchewan, that party’s recent comments on rural issues are completely suspect, even disingenuous.

Farm and ranch families are a top priority for our government. Agriculture is the backbone of our province and continues to be a main economic driver in rural regions. We will continue to work to help farm families get through this extremely wet and challenging summer.

 If you have a question about this report, or any other matter, just Contact Wayne.

Past MLA Reports