There’s more pressure on Saskatchewan’s minister of Agriculture to support proposed changes to the Agristability program.

Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has offered to remove the reference margin limit and increase the compensation rate from 70 to 80 percent, with a 60-40 federal-provincial split.

The changes would result in a 50 percent increase, around 170 million dollars a year in farmer support.

Bibeau issued a statement Tuesday with her counterpart from Ontario who are co-chairs of the federal-provincial agriculture minister meetings.

Bibeau says a timely decision is needed to ensure the enhanced supports can be applied to 2020.

Several Saskatchewan farm groups have supported the proposals.

In Saskatchewan, the issue is cost.

Agriculture minister David Marit says Saskatchewan has a small population with a large amount of farmland and ranches and the cost is a major concern.

He wants Ottawa to provide more than the usual 60-40 split, but has not made a final decision on the issue.
—-