Saskatchewan’s provincial budget calls for a new $6 million farm and ranch water infrastructure fund to deal with “long-standing water supply issues” in parts of the province.
The historically dry southwestern part of the province was mentioned in particular in the province’s press release, part of a series of releases during budget day on Wednesday.
“The fund will help lessen the impact of drought and provide a secure water source for Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers,” provincial Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said in the release.
“For too many years, rural Saskatchewan has suffered from a serious infrastructure deficit,” he noted.
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Among other farm-related allocations in Wednesday’s budget, “nearly three-quarters of the ministry of agriculture’s budget — $221.3 million — will go to Crop Insurance, AgriStability and AgriInvest.”
The latter two federal/provincial programs, which replace the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program, will be fully funded in 2008-09, the province said. There will also be increased coverage for the 2008 crop using an extra $25 million toward crop insurance.
Funding proposals wanted
On a related note, the province has also put out a call that it will now accept letters of intent for research funding under its Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).
The fund will consider proposals related to any aspect of agricultural production, but the province said specific emphasis is being placed on research leading to:
- improved food quality and safety;
- new, innovative food and other bioproducts and bioprocessing technologies;
- “optimized” livestock feeding systems;
- “increased competitiveness” in livestock production;
- lower ag production risks;
- new crop varieties to meet market demands and consumer preferences; and
- integrated production systems and practices that reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment.
Letters of intent will be accepted until April 15, the province said, after which successful applicants would be asked to submit a full proposal. Letter of intent forms are available online.
