(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Ottawa adds $500M to AgriRecovery to aid farmers dealing with extreme weather

Aug 16, 2021 | 10:13 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The federal government is taking steps to assist farmers who are facing a difficult growing season.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced that up to $500-million is being added to the Agri-Recovery program.

It covers eligible extraordinary costs for agricultural producers to recover from natural disasters.

“Our Government is doing everything it can to support farm families so they can get through these challenges today, and be better positioned for a sustainable future. Today’s commitment of up to half a billion dollars shows we stand ready to contribute our share toward AgriRecovery programs with the provinces. We are united in our goal of ensuring that farmers are fully supported through this crisis,” says Bibeau.

The Government of Canada is working closely with its provincial counterparts in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario on several agricultural support programs.

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The Alberta Government is contributing $136 million of its own to AgriRecovery.

Producers can also apply for interim payments under AgriStability to help them cope with immediate financial challenges.

Funding under AgriStability has been raised from 50 per cent to 75 per cent for this year.

Designations for the Livestock Tax Deferral have been made in prescribed drought regions in Western Canada, which allows beef producers who are forced to sell a significant amount of their breeding herd due to drought conditions to offset the resulting revenues with the costs to replace the herd.

According to the Alberta Crop Report for August 10, surface soil moisture is rated poor on 50 per cent of Southern Alberta farm lands. Only 10 per cent is good and one per cent is excellent.