Province and feds team up to help farmers survive dry, hot summer
The province and federal government announced adjustments to crop insurance Thursday that will allow farmers to put more poor quality crops towards livestock feed in a bid to ease feed shortages for livestock during the drought.
That's in response to a significant deterioration in crops since mid-June, when dry, extremely hot conditions settled over the prairies. Conditions are not improving, and crops are expected to deteriorate further.
The adjustment encourages farmers to salvage their crops to use for livestock feed, rather than watching their fields deteriorate further.
Low Yield Allowance is a standard part of the production insurance program, and is meant for situations of extreme heat and severe drought.
Alberta is doubling the low yield threshold to allow for more cereal or pulse crops to be saved for livestock feed. For example, the barley crop threshold will be increased from 150 to 300 kg per acre.
“Alberta’s hardworking farmers and ranchers have been hit with dry conditions that threaten their livelihoods," said Alberta agriculture and forestry minister Devin Dreeshen in a release. "We will do everything we can to help Alberta’s agriculture industry make the best of a terrible situation. We’ve heard industry’s call for help, and this change will help farmers and ensure some good can come out of these crops.”
Under the federal-provincial cost-shared Canadian Agricultural Partnership, there are a number of business risk management programs available through Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) to help Alberta producers manage risks that threaten their farms, including crop insurance.
“We recognize that this year’s conditions have had a significant impact on our producers, "said Darryl Kay, the CEO of the Agricultural Financial Services Corporation."And we’ve been here to listen, take feedback, and mobilize our teams as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.