Investing $485m in Saskatchewan under 5-year Agricultural Partnership

Regina – Gudie Hutchings, federal Minister of Rural Economic Development, on behalf of Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and David Marit, Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, announced $485 million for strategic agricultural initiatives in Saskatchewan under the new five-year Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

The Sustainable CAP is a five-year $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities by federal, provincial and territorial governments.

Through the five-year Sustainable CAP, $89.4 million will be invested annually in strategic programming for Saskatchewan farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses, a 25-per-cent increase from the $71.2 million in the previous federal-provincial partnership. Under the new agreement, there is a continued focus on agricultural research and increased support for water development, with an increased funding cap in the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program and a larger per acre payment under the Irrigation Development Program.

The federal government contributes 60 per cent and the province funds 40 per cent of each dollar spent. The suite of programs will drive outcomes in five priority areas over the next five years:

1. Building Sector Capacity, Growth and Competitiveness: $176.6 million investment to build the agriculture sector capacity, ensuring growth and competitive advantages.
2. Climate Change and Environment: $53.4 million to support the long-term resiliency and sustainability of the sector.
3. Resiliency and Public Trust: $40.2 million to support the sustainability of the sector by anticipating, mitigating and responding to risks while building public trust.
4. Market Development and Trade: $2 million to assist industry in expanding domestic and international trade opportunities.
5. Science, Research and Innovation: $175 million invested in research and development activities, enhancing the diversification and profitability of agriculture.

An additional $37.8 million will be allocated over the course of the agreement to support national activities delivered by the federal government including the AgriMarketing and AgriAssurance programs.