The federal budget leaves farmers with some unanswered questions, according to the President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS)
Ian Boxall says there was no indication of a commitment to increase funding for the next five year federal/provincial agricultural policy framework. The current framework ends in less than a year—with more negotiations required.
The federal government is planning to rebate $100 million from the carbon tax directly to farmers in provinces where the federal system applies—including Saskatchewan—but APAS feels that funding does not reflect the actual costs of carbon pricing.
Boxall also wants to see more federal action on access to reasonable farm inputs.
On the positive side, APAS supports infrastructure funding for road and rail to the Port of Vancouver.