“These changes to the Cull Animal Program will help producers deal with cash flow issues and allow them to access funds sooner, “ said Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Forestry Minister Kevin MacAdam. “With contributions to this program and previous programs, the total assistance to producers for the BSE crisis will be approximately $5.2 million. The Province of Prince Edward Island’s share is approximately $2.5 million.” The Government of Canada has offered to cost share the program with the provincial governments.

With the Government of Prince Edward Island’s participation, the original program included a flat rate payment of $159, and a dollar a day for feed, per eligible animal, until they were sold for slaughter, up to a maximum total of $320. With the new program change, producers will no longer be required to provide slaughter receipts to receive payments, and will simply receive a flat rate payment of up to $320 per eligible animal. Final payment amounts may be adjusted to reflect program participation rates.

Producers are eligible to receive a payment for a fixed percentage of the animals in their herd over 30 months of age as of September 1, 2003, (eight per cent of beef cows and 16 per cent of dairy cows). Producers are required to register their herds with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Forestry.

The registration deadline for the Cull Animal Program has been extended to March 12, 2004. The deadline extension ensures that producers who have not yet registered their herds have the opportunity to participate in the program. Producers who have already registered their herds do not need to re-register.

A comparable program is being offered to producers of other ruminants affected by border closures.

For more information on the Cull Animal Program, producers should contact:

PEI Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Forestry, Fred VanderKloet, Program Coordinator, at tel: 902-368-5609 or toll free at 1-866-734-3276 (ext. 5609) or visit the Web site at www.gov.pe.ca/af/agweb.