2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative Second Payment Application Now Available

Released on November 8, 2021

On Monday, November 1, 2021, the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative launched the application for its second payment. Producers can now complete an application form, detailing eligible livestock inventory as of December 31, 2021, and the Extraordinary Costs Self-Assessment. Payment Two requires a Premises Identification Number.

"Farmers and ranchers across Canada are vital to our nation's food security and the heartbeat of so many rural communities," said Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. "Through AgriRecovery, our government is assisting producers during these challenging times brought about by the devastating effects climate change is having on our sector. We will continue to work together with Saskatchewan, and all provinces affected by this drought, to make sure farmers have ongoing support that meets their needs."

"I am proud of the timely support this Initiative provides livestock producers through immediate funding relief," Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "Agriculture is still the number one driver in this province, with the livestock sector a vital part of our industry. We know producers continue to struggle with the impact of drought. The launch of this second payment application follows through on our commitment under the AgriRecovery Program."

With the launch of the Payment Two application, producers yet to apply to this Initiative can still apply for Payment One. Producers must apply for Payment One before applying for Payment Two. Producers are not obligated to apply for the second payment. Payment One is to address the negative impact, due to drought, on grazing livestock this past summer and is based on August 1, 2021, eligible inventory. Payment Two is based on your intended inventory, as of December 31, 2021. This payment is intended to address the negative impact, due to drought, of extraordinary expenses regarding winter feed. The deadline to apply for all payments is January 31, 2022.

To date, the Initiative received approximately 8,670 total applications, accounting for approximately 1.24 million eligible animals. Roughly 7,737 Payment One applications are paid to date, totalling an approximate amount of $109.6 million. Final date to receive payment is March 31, 2022.

The launch of this second payment application follows through on Minister Marit's August 10, 2021, announcement of $119 million in direct cost-shared support for drought-affected livestock producers under the AgriRecovery program. AgriRecovery funding is cost-shared on a 60-40 federal-provincial basis. AgriRecovery is a federal-provincial-territorial disaster relief framework intended to work together with the core business risk management programs, as part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to help agricultural producers recover from natural disasters.

The 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative provides immediate relief to livestock producers. The Initiative consists of two payments totalling up to $200 per head for eligible female breeding cattle and bison, with adjustments made on animal unit equivalents for other livestock. The minimum payment will be $500 for each payment. The maximum total payments will be $3,000,000 per operation. Producers do not need to be enrolled in any SCIC programs to qualify for funding. 

Producers with questions can call the dedicated toll-free phone number at 1-844-723-1211 or directly email skdri@scic.ca. Further details, including application forms, are available on the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation's (SCIC) website at https://www.scic.ca/2021-canada-saskatchewan-drought-response-initiative.

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