AFA Calls on Alberta Government for Detailed Drought Relief Plan

The Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA) is calling on the provincial government to ensure that concrete actions are taken towards drought relief for Alberta producers burdened by severe drought conditions throughout the province.

 

“We were pleased to see Minister Dreeshen recognize the impacts that this extreme dry weather has had on Alberta producers,” said Lynn Jacobson, President of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture. “It’s critical that producers are supported through these extreme conditions and that includes a concrete plan by our Government.”

 

AFA would like to see the Alberta Government take the following measures:

 

• To continue to work swiftly and diligently with their provincial and federal counterparts on the details of AgriRecovery assistance.

• To invoke the late participation provision of AgriStability to allow more producers to access the support the program provides while agreeing to match the federal offer to raise the program’s compensation rate to 80 per cent.

• To ensure that AFSC assigns adequate resources to assess producer claims to remove crops from production in a swift and timely manner, allowing for the conversion of crops to valuable feed for the livestock industry where possible.

• To ensure that 2021 crop yields are not included in the average yield calculation for crop insurance.

• To make further investments in rural water infrastructure and waive equipment rental fees for initiatives like the Water Pumping Program, allowing for the emergency filling of dugouts for livestock.

 

For further resources for Alberta producers affected by dry conditions, please click here. 

 

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Lynn Jacobson

President

Alberta Federation of Agriculture

Ph: 403-894-5208

 

Shannon Scofield

Executive Director

Ph: 403-789-9151

Email: Shannon.scofield@afaonline.ca