By Charles Lefebvre

$1.1 billion set aside for Agriculture and Forestry in provincial budget

Mar 22, 2018 | 3:39 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The province has set aside $1.1 billion once again for agriculture in the budget this year.

The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry has money set aside for several projects aimed at helping farmers and rural Albertans.

The budget includes $64 million in funding to ensure delivery of rural development program, such as Agricultural Societies and Service Boards, local food initiatives, education and rural electric and gas infrastructure.

The budget also includes funding for the Agricultural Financial Services Corporation. $528 million has been set aside for crop, hail and livestock insurance and lending services, while another $120 million is earmarked for agriculture income support.

In forestry, $200 million has been set aside for wildfire prevention, wildfire suppression initiatives and forest management initiatives, including a program to mitigate the impact of the mountain pine beetle on the province’s forests.

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The ministry is also investing $25 million in the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program, to allow small brewers to invest in their businesses, launch new products and develop new markets.