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Alberta livestock producers will receive $165 million in funding following a devastating season-long drought, the federal and provincial governments announced Friday in Calgary.
It’s the second time in three years funding has been approved for farmers and ranchers to soften the impact of low rainfall. The aid is through the AgriRecovery initiative, which was developed as a “once-in-15-year relief program,” said Sheila Hillmer, vice chair of Alberta Beef Producers.
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AgriRecovery is a framework that allows multiple levels of government to assess natural disasters and the necessary actions that will help producers resume operations.
“This year has been a tough growing season for many Alberta livestock producers, and many are facing extra costs because of drought and excessive heat,” RJ Sigurdson, Alberta minister of agriculture and irrigation, said at a press conference at the McDougall Centre in Calgary on Friday.
“These funds will help them manage extraordinary costs and cover losses incurred for managing and maintaining breeding herds for grazing animals.”
AgriRecovery initiatives are shared on a 60-40 basis between the federal government and province. The federal government is providing $99 million to Alberta, part of $219 million for farmers across Canada. Alberta is contributing $66 million in aid. Agriculture Financial Services Corporation is administering the program.
Dry conditions this year contributed to high feed costs brought on by lost grazing days, particularly in southern Alberta, Steven Lunty, chair of Bison Producers of Alberta said in a statement.
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