Beginning in fiscal year 2011-12, Manitoba agricultural producers will be able to apply for increased compensation for loss due to wildlife damage, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Stan Struthers announced.
“In rural areas, predators are a fact of nature and producers who do everything they can to safeguard the products, crops and livestock that are their livelihood should be compensated for losses that are beyond their control,” said Struthers. “I’m pleased that compensation will move to 90 per cent of the determined loss next year and increase to 100 per cent in 2012-13 for financial losses due to wildlife damage.”
Compensation will include damage caused by livestock predators (for example, a cow being killed by a wolf), big game (for instance, a bear damaging honey bee colonies) and migratory waterfowl (damage such as geese eating a crop).
The minister noted producers now receive compensation for 80 per cent of their loss, which is cost shared through a sixty-forty agreement between the federal and provincial governments. The additional 20 per cent will be provided by the Manitoba government.
“Producers are expected to take reasonable precautions to prevent wildlife damage and predator attacks including proper surveillance, storage and product management,” said Struthers. “When proper precautions fail, this compensation will ensure producers are not burdened with a financial loss.”
Based on recommendations from Manitoba Conservation, the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, which manages the compensation program, may require that preventative measures be put in place after repeat losses and deny future payments if such preventative measures are not adopted by the producer.
