The Government of Alberta has reopened its AgriStability program for late participation to support farmers affected by wildfires and drought.
Alberta producers can now sign up for AgriStability until Sept. 29. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the provincial government have reopened the program as wildfires and extremely dry conditions have affected many farmers and ranchers since the April 30 enrolment deadline.
This gives affected producers more time to review and manage the business risks associated with these challenging situations, the government said in a media release on Friday.
“Our government has listened to farmers and ranchers who have been impacted by wildfires and drought,” said RJ Sigurdson, minister of agriculture and irrigation.
“We know they need support options to make it through this growing season. Allowing late participation in AgriStability will enable them to reassess their business risks and make an informed decision about signing up to protect their operations and livelihoods.”
AgriStability aims to protect Canadian producers against large declines in farming income due to production loss, increased costs and market conditions. The program is offered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which is a shared commitment between federal, provincial and territorial governments.
Enrolling in AgriStability can provide producers with access to other credit options like the federal advanced payments program, which offers low-cost cash advances.
In Alberta, producers sign up for AgriStability and access benefits through Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
The provincial government is encouraging Alberta farmers and ranchers to sign up for late participation if they believe they have experienced “a significant loss.” Factors such as reduced income, increased expenses or reduced inventory are used to determine a potential benefit.
“This has been a challenging year for many Alberta producers as they deal with the impacts of wildfires and now dry conditions,” said Darryl Kay, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation CEO.
“AFSC is proud of its role in Alberta’s agriculture industry and we are working to ensure our producers receive the help they need.”
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