SUPPORT OFFERED FOR OTHER FARMERS IMPACTED BY BSE

VICTORIA – The government of British Columbia will provide $650,000 in provincial support for producers of other ruminants, including sheep, goats, deer and bison, who have been impacted by BSE, Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister John van Dongen announced today.

“This program is another indication of the Province’s ongoing commitment to British Columbia producers,” van Dongen said. “We will continue to work with the industry to ensure not just the survival, but the growth and success, of our livestock sector.

“We are announcing the program for producers of ruminants other than cattle because we recognize that the whole of British Columbia’s ruminant livestock industry has been affected by the ongoing border closure. We are doing it before the national program is announced. We have heard from the various producer associations concerned, and we’ve been told that they need this support now.”

The federal and provincial governments have made almost $80 million in short‑term financial assistance available to B.C. producers affected by BSE, including producers of ruminant livestock other than cattle.

“This funding is needed by the other ruminant producers to preserve a core inventory of animals and ensure supply for marketing,” said van Dongen. “This program will help address that need.

“While details of the B.C. program are similar to the proposed national plan, we’re not waiting for the federal government to announce their participation. Once the federal government confirms its participation, their share of the program payments will follow.”

The program will apply to 80 per cent of eligible animals on-farm as of Sept. 1, 2004, as follows:

· Sheep and goats: breeding females 12 months old or which have had offspring.

· Deer species: breeding females 24 months old or which have had offspring, and males 24 months old.

· Bison: breeding females 30 months old or which have had offspring, and males 30 months old.

The deadline for applications is March 7, 2005. Payments per eligible animal will be: $8 for sheep and goats; $10 for deer species and $40 for bison. These amounts represent the provincial 40 per cent share of the program payments for other ruminants.

Additional program details, as well as application forms, are available at http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/ online. Click on the Risk Management link. Applications will be mailed to B.C.’s approximately 1,500 producers of other ruminants. For more information, producers can call 1-888 221-7141.

According to the latest census of agriculture figures available, British Columbia had 83,307 sheep in 2001, with a value of over $7.3 million; 6,845 bison valued at just over $4.1 million; 9,324 goats valued at almost $2.5 million and 4,407 deer valued at $707,000. In the same census the number of cattle in B.C. was 814,949, with at total value of almost $347.7 million. Cross-border trade in all ruminants, including sheep, bison, goats and deer has been suspended since a cow with BSE was detected in Alberta in May 2003.

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Media contact:	Shawn Robins Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries 250 356-2862

Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.