LAKELAND — Last Friday, Premier Jason Kenney announced $136 million in financial relief will be made available for Alberta’s livestock producers and beekeepers.
This will likely come as welcome news for Lakeland ranchers and producers, who have similarly experienced negative effects from the prolonged high temperatures. Both the County of St. Paul and Lac La Biche County recently declared states of agricultural disaster.
Last week, while discussing whether to declare an agricultural state of disaster, Lac La Biche Coun. Colette Borgun and Coun. Sterling Johnson described hearing growing concerns from local ranchers related to increasing cost of animal feed, which has dramatically impacted the cost of maintaining and housing livestock.
They say, although some crops have managed to bounce back, low yields of hay crops have led to several Lakeland producers selling off portions of their herds in a depressed market.
This is taking a tremendous toll on ranchers, said Borgun, adding it is the reason she voted to declare a state of agricultural disaster.
Alberta's most recent crop report, released at the end of July, states over 50 per cent of the province’s pasture acres have been rated as poor.
Record-breaking extreme high temperatures and dry conditions have contributed to severe drought conditions across the province and Prairies. In response, both the federal and provincial governments are contributing financial aid to producers through the AgriRecovery disaster relief program.
“(Our producers) give us the food security that we have come to take for granted,” said Kenney. "This new money and these changes won't solve all the problems created by drought conditions in parts of the province, but they will give farmers and ranchers some room to breathe and hopefully a bit of peace of mind."
The money made available by the province will provide an initial $94 per head payment that will be dispersed immediately, which can be used to help cover feed and water for breeding females.
Although the federal government agreed to $100 million for immediate relief for Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta, earlier on Friday morning, the Premier is hopeful that Ottawa will provide and additional $204 million for a combined relief package of $340 million for local producers.
This number is based on a 60-40 cost-shared framework outlined under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, but is subject to approval. Pending federal funding, the remaining funds will be dispersed by the end of 2021.
Free the Feed
When Kenney made the funding announcement, Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon also announced several policy changes to allow livestock producers to access alternative sources of feed for their animals.
By opening public land across the province, Nixon says Alberta Environment and Parks will allow access in areas where there is grass available for feed to the industry. This includes temporary grazing or haying on vacant land or forest reserves. Ranchers are required to submit applications beforehand.
