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Legislative News and Views - Rep. John Poston (R)

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Extension provided for grants designed to curb wolf attacks on livestock

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

 

ST. PAUL – Rep. John Poston, R-Lake Shore, encourages area livestock producers to take advantage of an extended deadline for applying to receive grant money to prevent wolf attacks on their herds.

The new deadline is Dec. 15, three weeks later than originally set, in order to accommodate livestock producers who were busy working in the fields during what was a relatively late harvest season this year.

The Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grant program is the product of legislation Poston and Sen. Carrie Ruud, R-Breezy Point, successfully led to enactment earlier this year. A total of $240,000 is available to producers over the next two years.

“This is a very valuable grant program that will help producers throughout the state – but it only if they are able to apply,” Poston said. “It is easy to understand how farmers have been tied up with the late harvest, so pushing the date back will give them a little more time to sit down and take a look at what’s available. I hope people in our area take advantage of this tool.”

Eligible expenses for the grant program will include any or all of the following items:

  • Purchase of guard animals
  • Veterinary costs for guard animals
  • Installation of wolf barriers, which may include pens, fladry and fencing
  • Installation of wolf-deterring lights and alarms
  • Calving or lambing shelters
  • Other measures demonstrated to effectively reduce wolf-livestock conflicts

Program stipulations indicate producers must live within Minnesota’s wolf range, as designated by the Minnesota DNR, or on property determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture to be affected by wolf-livestock conflicts. Complete details are available at www.mda.state.mn.us or by calling (651) 201-6505.

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