By The Canadian Press and Federal government news release

Feds confirm help for herds quarantined over bovine TB

Nov 30, 2016 | 3:54 PM

OTTAWA – Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says the government will provide up to $16.7 million to help western ranchers caught in the bovine TB quarantine.

MacAulay told the House of Commons the money is meant to help cover the extra costs they are facing because of the quarantine, which prevents them from selling their stock.

He says the aid will help with feed for the animals, transportation, cleaning and disinfection as well as interest costs on loans.

Ranches in Alberta and Saskatchewan have been caught by the quarantine, which began after American agriculture officials notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that tuberculosis had been detected in a cow from Alberta when it was slaughtered in the U.S.

Ranchers have been pleading for government help ever since.

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MacAulay says governments will work with the industry and producers to ensure that the assistance meets the needs and that the money flows simply and quickly.

According to a news release:

“The 2016 Bovine Tuberculosis Assistance Initiative will provide assistance to producers to cover the extraordinary costs they are facing as a result of the quarantine measures. This includes feeding and water infrastructure, feed for the animals, transportation, cleaning and disinfection as well as interest costs on loans due to the circumstances. Governments will be working with the industry in the coming days on the program specifics to ensure the program meets producers’ needs while being delivered in a simple and timely manner.

In the meantime, producers can continue to access immediate help to address cash flow pressures through the Advance Payments Program.  Under APP, producers are eligible for an advance up to $400,000, with the first $100,000 being interest free.”

For more information, producers should contact AFSC toll free at 1-877-899-2372 or by email at info@AFSC.ca.