There are different funds the farmers can apply for to help cover their losses. Though asking CFIA might be awkward at the moment.
AI Overview
Yes, Canadian farmers can receive
funding and compensation for livestock lost to certain diseases or viruses through several federal and provincial programs. The primary mechanism for this is through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the federal-provincial-territorial Business Risk Management (BRM) programs.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Compensation
The CFIA is authorized under the
Health of Animals Act to order the destruction of animals infected with or exposed to certain contagious, reportable diseases to prevent the spread of the virus. In such cases, the farmer is eligible for compensation, which includes:
- The market value of the animals ordered destroyed, up to a maximum amount stipulated in the Compensation for Destroyed Animals and Things Regulations (CDATR). For example, recent amendments increased the maximums for registered cattle to $16,500 and non-registered cattle to $10,000 to reflect current market value.
- Costs related to the disposal of the animals.
- Compensation for personal labour or third-party services used in carrying out the destruction orders.
- Compensation for other things ordered destroyed, such as contaminated feed or equipment, when cleaning and disinfection is not possible.
Business Risk Management (BRM) Programs
Beyond the CFIA compensation, a suite of federal-provincial-territorial BRM programs helps producers manage significant risks, including disease outbreaks:
- AgriStability: This whole-farm, margin-based program helps producers when they face large declines in farming income caused by various factors, including production losses.
- AgriInsurance: This program is designed to help producers manage production and quality losses due to eligible perils, including severe losses from diseases.
- AgriRecovery: This is a disaster relief framework that provides targeted financial assistance for extraordinary costs not covered by the core BRM programs when a natural disaster (which can include a disease outbreak in certain cases) strikes. When an AgriRecovery initiative is triggered, the federal and provincial governments jointly design specific initiatives (e.g., the PEI program for PED virus).
Other Provincial Initiatives
Some provinces have also developed their own specific programs or enhanced existing ones to address the unique needs of their farmers in response to disease outbreaks (e.g., the B.C. Farmed Animal Disease Program).
Producers are encouraged to participate in these programs and contact their local Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada office or provincial/territorial agriculture ministry office for specific details and application processes.
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