The 2024-25 Budget invests $570.6 million in agriculture, an increase of $22.4 million, or 4.1 per cent, from the previous year. This allows the Ministry of Agriculture to fund agricultural research and enhancements to crop insurance, while investing in programming for producers and agri-businesses.
Budget Highlights include:
- $431.7 million to fund federal-provincial risk management programs, including Crop Insurance and Agri Stability – an increase of $23.7 million.
- For 2024, multi-peril crop insurance average coverage is $389 per acre, a decrease from 2023, largely due to an average decrease in insured commodity prices. In turn, the average premium is decreasing to $12.71; and
- Addition of 38 weather stations to Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation’s network, bringing the total to 224 stations across the province.
- $89.4 million for strategic initiatives under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, including the Irrigation Development and Irrigation Efficiency programs, to help develop new irrigated acres and support improved energy and water efficiency of existing systems.
- Saskatchewan has developed more than 55,000 new irrigated acres in the last four years, well on the way to the Growth Plan target of 85,000 acres.
- $38 million for agricultural research and strategic initiatives, including support for institutions that conduct state-of-the-art research in Saskatchewan, project funding and programs that promote the implementation of new technologies.
- As producers continue to deal with the effects of consecutive years of dry conditions, this year's budget includes a freeze on the Crown land grazing rate at 2022 levels. Additionally, producers who must reduce their stocking rates on Crown grazing land due to drought will be eligible for a lease discount.