There aren’t enough verbs to describe the devastation spawned by drought and wildfires from British Columbia through the Prairies to northern Ontario. Far too many anguished farmers have been left with little or no pasture, feed, crops, or water sources for their livestock.

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and its affiliates are working to coordinate and provide assistance. The federal and provincial governments have pitched in to help. AgriRecovery funding has been increased to as much as $500 million. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario have agreed to increase the 2021 AgriStability interim benefit payment percentage from 50 percent to 75 percent, so producers can access a greater portion of their benefit early to meet their urgent needs.

Drought relief checks (for beef and sheep) should arrive early in September, but some calves have been marketed early, and herds are being culled heavily or sold off.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) initiated “Hay West” in mid-August, a program to move the surplus of hay and feed from the Maritimes and Quebec across the country where it was desperately needed.

As the month ended, the CFA still had logistics, transportation, and a host of other questions to iron out. But truckloads of Maritime hay had already hit the roads headed west.

And the New Brunswick Cattle Producers had introduced another option. It invited western farmers to ship their herds east where New Brunswick cattlemen would purchase or provide room and board for the animals.

The Prince Edward Island Cattle Producers (PEICP) have been polled about purchasing western breeding stock if transportation costs were covered. And about buying western feeders to finish and process at Atlantic Beef Products.

Please help if you can

Maritimers are known for their big hearts. Farmers with a surplus of quality feed they’re willing to sell to their western counterparts should contact their federation of agriculture.

Hay West’s initial priority is being given to large square bales of dry hay, followed by large round bales.

“Haylage will be considered in the cooler months, as we need to ensure the quality of the feed when it arrives at its destination,” the federations said.

They noted that farmers will be asked to load the truck that arrives to pick up the hay. “If you still have feed to be made, the ideal shape and size for trucking is large square bales that are 7.5 feet long.”

Contact info:

Agriculture Alliance of New Brunswick:
506-452-8101 Email: alliance@fermeNBfarm.ca

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture:
902-893-2293 Email: info@nsfa-fane.ca

P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture:
902-368-7289 Email: visit www.peifa.ca/contact-us

New Brunswick Cattle Producers:
506-458-8534 Email: info@bovinsnbcattle.ca

Prince Edward Island Cattle Producers:
902-368-2229 Email: Cattlemen@eastlink.ca

Nova Scotia Cattle Producers:
902-893-7455 Email: office@nscattle.ca