On April 10, 2018, the Government of Saskatchewan announced its budget for 2018-19, projecting expenditures at $14.61 billion and revenues at $14.24 billion.
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) is pleased that the level of agriculture funding in the 2018-19 Provincial Budget remains comparable to last year. Funding for the Ministry of Agriculture is estimated to be at $378.6 million.
“It’s a positive sign that agriculture is receiving in the budget largely the same amount of funding as last year,” stated Shane Jahnke, President of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.
Of the allocated funding, $258.2 million will go to fund the business risk management programs of Crop Insurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest and Western Livestock Price Insurance. Earlier this spring, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation announced enhancements to its programs. It added fire insurance as a coverage feature for pasture land, which is a welcome measure in light of the wildfires in the province’s south last fall.
“We appreciate the continued funding for these risk management programs that help Saskatchewan producers to better manage their risk so that they can invest in their operations over the long-term,” Jahnke added.
The agriculture sector budget also includes approximately $32 million for research programs, including support for the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
“This budget demonstrates that the Government recognizes agriculture and the livestock industry as a strength in the province,” the SSGA president said.
For more information contact:
Chad MacPherson, General Manager, SSGA
(306) 541-5023 | ssga@sasktel.net
