EDMONTON – The Alberta government will allocate $136 million under the AgriRecovery program to help support farmers and producers struggling with a significant drought.
Premier Jason Kenney, along with the ministers of agriculture and environment made the announcement on Friday afternoon.
WATCH: Premier Jason Kenney announces support for struggling farmers and producers
“Alberta’s government will always stand behind our farmers and ranchers. They have endured an exceptionally difficult year because of drought conditions and I am pleased that we are able to provide this relief and support to help them get through this time,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “These hard-working Albertans are always there for us. We owe it to them to be there when they need us.”
Kenney says he has also asked the federal government to provide an additional $204 million for a total relief package of $340 million.
Earlier this week, Rocky View County made the decision to declare an agricultural disaster.
RELATED: Rocky View County declares agricultural disaster
Most farmers in the county bordering the City of Calgary are expecting a 50 per cent reduction in yield for canola, wheat, and barley, which is well below five to 10-year averages.
Moisture levels in most of the county are at levels seen once in a quarter to half-century.
There are 21 counties and municipal districts in Alberta that have declared agricultural disasters.
The lack of precipitation has forced some farmers to turn cash crops into feed, most will see reduced yield and quality come harvest time and some farmers will have complete crop failure.
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Lack of rain forcing farmers to turn small crop yields into feed, some will see complete crop failure
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In late July, Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the Alberta government is expected to announce support for farmers and producers as the province struggles with weeks without any significant rain.d a number of actions to help Canadian farmers, including the early designation of a Livestock Tax Deferral provision for affected regions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
That will allow beef producers who are forced to sell a significant amount of their breeding herd to offset the resulting revenues with the cost to replace the herd.
Bibeau also announced federal support to all Prairie provinces for adjustments to a cost-shared AgriInsurance program to make drought-damaged crops available for feed.
