(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Ag minister pushing for emergency funding as farmers deal with extreme heat & droughts

Jul 15, 2021 | 2:39 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture is pushing Ottawa for help.

Devin Dreeshen spoke with officials at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada this week, asking them to activate the AgriRecovery program.

It helps producers to recover extraordinary costs after a natural disaster beyond what is available through other financial assistance programs.

He believes the extreme heat and drought conditions plaguing farms across the province would qualify as a natural disaster.

According to the latest Alberta Crop Report, crop conditions in the south region at the end of June were well below norms.

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Just 49 per cent of crops were rated “good” or “excellent”, compared to the five-year average of 72 per cent and the 10-year average of 75 per cent.

“The extremely warm temperatures and lack of moisture are taking a toll on all dryland crops,” reads a portion of the Crop Report.

READ MORE: Farmers and ranchers facing dry agricultural conditions

Drought conditions can qualify under AgriRecovery as a disaster. It must be proven to be a collective experience across a defined area as well as have the potential for significant impacts on the sector.

During the severe drought in Alberta back in 2002, the program paid out over $800-million.

A group of major crop commissions in the province say they fully support Dreeshen’s push for emergency funding.

They also want the minister to try and have adjusters at the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) activated, which would support the evaluation of heat and drought conditions.