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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Livestock Feed Assistance

Next phase of support rolls out for Alberta livestock producers

Jan 6, 2022 | 12:38 PM

Livestock producers and beekeepers can now apply for phase two of the 2021 Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance AgriRecovery initiative.

In response to severe drought conditions, the governments of Canada and Alberta have worked together to rapidly deploy the Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance AgriRecovery initiative, which government officials say has already helped thousands of livestock producers cover their extraordinary costs.

The second phase of the initiative, which opened Jan. 5, provides continued assistance to eligible Alberta producers who were hit hard by the 2021 drought. Together, the initial and secondary payments are expected to put up to $340 million into the hands of producers to help them address the extraordinary costs incurred feeding their livestock during the 2021 drought.

“Our government has been quick to get producers the support they’ve needed during this last year of climate-change related challenges,” says Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Those in Alberta faced serious drought, so we worked collaboratively with our provincial counterparts on programs like AgriRecovery to help producers recover and focus on herd health.”

In phase two of the Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance initiative, producers can apply for additional compensation (a secondary payment) to help cover costs over and above the phase one initial payment. Due to prolonged dry weather and extreme high temperatures, officials acknowledge that many producers experienced reduced grazing capacity, causing a severe economic hit.

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“Alberta experienced exceedingly dry conditions this growing season, putting undue stress on the farmers, ranchers and producers who keep us all fed,” adds Nate Horner, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development.

“Without this significant AgriRecovery response, Alberta producers risked losing their competitive advantage by having to sell off their livestock herds, and making difficult decisions surrounding the health of their animals. This program is providing much-needed relief to producers.”

Quick facts

• Phase one of the Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance initiative was open from Sept. 7 to Nov. 1, 2021 and provided an initial payment to producers.
• The initiative received 14,740 applications paying out more than $180 million so far under phase one.
• The secondary payment will be calculated using a feed-need calculation, supplemented by proof of eligible expenses, for all livestock with the exception of bees. Eligible beekeepers can be compensated for up to 70 per cent of the extraordinary costs associated with feed (pollen patties or syrup) required to prepare eligible hives for winter to a maximum of $7.50 per hive/colony.
• AgriRecovery is a federal-provincial-territorial disaster relief framework to help agricultural producers with the extraordinary costs associated with recovering from natural disasters. Eligible costs will be supported on the 60-40 cost-shared federal-provincial basis outlined under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.