Farmers in parts of Alberta hit by extreme heat and drought will now find it easier to turn failing crops into livestock feed after the governments of Canada and Alberta agreed to raise the province’s low yield allowance.The change, made through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, allows producers insured with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) to have their crop yield appraisals reduced to zero if they fall below the new threshold. That lets them salvage crops for feed without losing potential insurance indemnities, cutting feed costs for livestock operations.“This adjustment lets producers act swiftly to salvage crops for livestock feed, rather than watch their fields deteriorate further and risk harvesting nothing,” said RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation..Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said he has heard concerns directly from farmers about the toll dry weather is taking on their operations. “Changing the yield threshold will give them some breathing room, so they can make the best decisions for their operations,” he said.Farmers must still contact AFSC at least five days before harvesting to arrange an inspection. AFSC will then determine if the crop meets the criteria for the low yield allowance change..AFSC CEO Darryl Kay said the program exists to help farmers through difficult years. “Changes to the low yield allowance can help them through times like this,” he said.Several rural municipalities have already declared agricultural disasters due to ongoing dry conditions. AgriInsurance, the program behind the change, is cost-shared by Ottawa, Alberta and producers. It has been part of AFSC’s suite of financial and risk-management tools for more than 80 years.
