Mad Cow Disease - Province kicks in $79 million for aid
Editor
In the wake of the mad cow disease disaster, Alberta cattle producers are receiving an additional $79 million in financial aid from the provincial government.
On Friday, Shirley McClellan, Alberta's deputy premier and Agriculture Minister, made the announcement of three new assistance programs.
'These supports are one more step in ensuring our industry's survival over the next few months,' said McClellan via conference call on Friday. 'We cannot stand idle with a cattle industry in dire straits.'
Bans on Canadian beef exports have been in place since Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a lone Alberta cow in May.
It is estimated the border closures are costing the Alberta cattle industry approximately $11 million per day.
The financial aid packages include: a $65 million fed cattle competitive bid program; $10 million in changes to the Alberta Disaster Assistance Loan Program and the Farm Development Loan Program; and a $4 million Stranded Beef Export Container initiative.
The Fed Cattle Competitive Bid Program will hopefully increase market participation and increase cattle prices.
Buyers will be able to purchase fed cattle for the purpose of retaining the cattle until prices begin to rise.
Feedlots operators will also be able to set aside a portion of their herd for a minimum eight-week period.
Jeff Ball, vice-president of the Alberta Cattle Feeder's Association and owner/operator of Ballco Feeders near Blackie, said the program should meet the impending needs of the cattle feeders.
'This program allows our industry to have some immediate cash flow while helping to free up space to move cattle later on.'
Through the program the market will be opened to all bidders and sellers will receive payments on the same basis as the Canada-Alberta Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Recovery Program.
The province provides payment on the difference between the average fed cattle price in the United States and the actual Canadian market price.
All buyers would be required to hold on to the cattle for a minimum of eight weeks and cattle must have a net weight of 1,250 pounds for steers and 1,200 pounds for heifers to be eligible for the program.
In addition, the program will be limited to 100,00 head of cattle which is the estimated volume of backlogged cattle in Alberta.
McClellan said the program is necessary to make room in the feedlots for calves to be fattened and put cash in the hands of the feedlot operators to purchase calves.
The Agriculture Minister said if there was no movement by fall there would be no Alberta beef on grocers' shelves.
'If you went to buy (beef) products you would not find Canadian beef if we do not get some cattle fattened,' said McClellan.
The second program is a loan guarantee and disaster assistance loans.
Loan limits through the Alberta Disaster Assistance Loan Program and the Farm Development Loan Program will be increased from $250,000 to $1 million.
McClellan admitted the loan programs were only an interim solution, but added that it will help to get the cattle system rolling again.
'Loans are not a long-term solution, but it will help until the borders reopen or cattle are sold.' said McClellan.
The final program is the Stranded Export Beef Container Initiative where foreign buyers of Alberta beef will be offered payments to offset storage costs during the border closure.
Global customers of Alberta beef have warehouses filled with product which can't be sold, returned or disposed of.
Also, an industry-led cattle marketing board has been struck to deal with marketing Alberta beef and maintaining amicable relationships with trade partner countries.
McClellan, who is becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of movement regarding the border closures, said she is working with the industry on other unresolved issues as well, such as culled cows and bulls.
Current Weather in Okotoks
Making 8
Alix Alberta's Aaron Loewen gets a wild ride at the first-ever Renegades Bust-Out bull riding competition in Turner Valley Saturday night.
- photo by Luc Hebert
West Nile virus - Mosquitoes likely infected, say officials
Staff reporter
Local residents should be assuming West Nile Virus has infected area mosquitoes and should be taking the appropriate precautions, says Calgary Health Region officials.
Two crows carrying West Nile Virus were found in the Calgary and High River areas.
An infected mosquito was identified July 15 in Brooks.
The Town of Okotoks is relying on direction from the region on how to handle the virus.
Currently, the town does not spray for mosquitoes.
Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine said he has sent an e-mail to surrounding municipalities participating in the Calgary Regional Partnership asking what position to take in the fight against the virus.
'(Calgary) mayor (Dave) Bronconnier has approached the province to kick in (for mosquito spraying programs),' McAlpine related. 'I have sent an e-mail to the partnership committee to see if we should be supporting Bronconnier's bid to the province.'
Calgary Health Region (CHR) officials announced July 24 that preliminary screening had shown the birds were positive. A second test performed Friday confirmed the diagnosis.
Judy MacDonald, deputy medical officer of health, said the discovery should serve as a 'wake up call' to those who are not taking precautions against mosquito bites.
'When you have one dead bird you have to assume all birds are infected,' MacDonald said. 'This is kind of a wake up call — West Nile is here.'
The Brooks mosquito was found as part of a mosquito surveillance program being operated in 13 towns and cities across Alberta.
The Town of Okotoks is not participating in the mosquito surveillance program.
The only way for West Nile to be detected in the town prior to it entering the animal or human population is through collection of dead birds.
Moyles said Okotokians and all Albertans should be presuming West Nile is present and taking appropriate actions to avoid mosquito bites and prevent mosquito breeding grounds.
However, MacDonald said spraying programs have not been effective against the mass breeding of mosquitoes in eastern Canada.
MacDonald said it will only be a matter of time before infected mosquitoes and subsequently the human population.
'It will inevitably happen, if not this year then next year,' she explained.
The virus was found in a mosquito of the culex tarsalis species, the type thought to be the primary carrier of West Nile.
The culex tarsalis species is known to prefer the warmer temperatures found in southern climates.
'This mosquito likes warmer weather so we always find more in southern Alberta,' Alberta Environment spokesmen, Robert Moyles explained.
However, climate change has seen temperatures rising in the central areas of the province, including Edmonton and surrounding towns.
'We are finding more in northerly climates as temperatures increase,' Moyles continued. 'There are very few in places like Fort McMurray or Grande Prairie.'
Precautions include wearing long sleeve shirts and pants during dusk and dawn, doing away with standing water, which serves as mosquito breeding grounds and wearing mosquito repellent that contains DEET.
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