UNSEEDED ACREAGE PAYMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED

Released on October 16, 2006

The Government of Saskatchewan announced today they have extended the application deadline for the Saskatchewan Unseeded Acreage Payment from October 4th to October 31st. The deadline extension brings the application date into alignment with the federal assistance program deadline.

The Saskatchewan Unseeded Acreage Payment was developed in recognition of the extraordinary challenges producers faced this spring in the northeast and other areas of the province as a result of excess moisture.

"We have had some calls that indicate people missed the chance to apply for this program due to confusion over the federal and provincial deadline dates," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "Extending our deadline to match the federal deadline will ensure that affected producers still have the opportunity to submit an application."

The Unseeded Acreage Payment provides $10 per acre to producers who were unable to seed at least 95 per cent of their normal seeded acreage. Producers could potentially be eligible to receive up to $75 per unseeded acre: $50 from Crop Insurance, $15 from the federal government's Cover Crop Protection Program, and $10 from Saskatchewan. Based on an estimated 1.8 million eligible unseeded acres, the Government of Saskatchewan is expected to provide producers with approximately $18 million in support.

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance customers who have received an authorization form can still sign and return it to Crop Insurance to qualify for the payment. In order to be eligible, the form must be received by Crop Insurance on or before October 31st, 2006. Application forms for all other affected producers are available on the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca or by calling the Unseeded Acreage Payment toll-free line at
1-877-874-5365.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031