OTTAWA, Ontario – Livestock producers in Quebec will receive funds to defray some of the costs of transporting feed and forage or breeding herds.

The Canadian government and provincial government of Quebec are offering producers transportation assistance totaling $2.15 million to Quebec agribusinesses impacted by drought. The funds will help cover a portion of the costs associated with transporting either forage and feed to breeding herds, or breeding herds to areas with surplus feed.

Summer drought conditions significantly reduced forage yields and damaged pastures for livestock and dairy producers in the Gatineau, Pontiac and Témiscamingue regions of Quebec.

“Quebec livestock producers have worked hard to produce quality forage to sustain their herds until they can be returned to pastures next spring; however, Mother Nature has not cooperated,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “Our government is delivering the necessary support to help livestock producers keep their breeding herds fed over the winter months.”

The components of the initiative are:

• Up to $0.14 per tonne, per kilometer, to assist with the transportation of forage and feed, or
• Up to $0.075 per kilometer to move animals to available feed.

“The assistance given to businesses severely affected by the drought builds on the actions undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the summer to inform and assist producers. I am very confident these programs will help support businesses get through these difficult times,” said François Gendron, Quebec Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture.