The Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance program, launched in 2023, is a collaboration between the governments of Canada and Alberta and will be helping local livestock producers very soon.

This program is to support local livestock producers facing extraordinary costs due to this year’s dry conditions including the Airdrie, Carstairs, Didsbury and Olds regions. Up to $165 million will be available to maintain breeding herds.

"Alberta’s farmers and ranchers feed the province, country and world. The past year has been a very difficult one for many livestock producers and that’s why we’re stepping up with these supports. Agriculture is vital to our economy and this AgriRecovery program will ensure our producers continue to thrive and help drive economic prosperity,” stated Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta.

Livestock producers may apply for financial assistance to cover losses incurred in managing and maintaining female breeding animals such as cattle, bison, horses, elk, sheep, goats, alpacas, yak, musk ox, deer, water buffalo, and llamas if they had to change their regular grazing practices for longer than 21 days this season due to drought conditions.

To be eligible, each variety of livestock must have at least 15 animals.

“It has been a tough growing season with challenges due to dry conditions causing many of our farmers and ranchers to face extraordinary costs. I’m relieved that the federal government is partnering with Alberta on this drought relief response to support producers and help protect their livelihoods while they continue to put food on tables,” mentioned RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

Livestock farmers can apply online and obtain additional information about the program on the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) website, which will oversee its administration. Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2024, and extraordinary expenses must be paid by March 31, 2024.

 This announcement is a part of a bigger disaster response under the AgriRecovery Framework, which aims to help farmers and ranchers in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan with extraordinary expenditures resulting from this year's harsh weather conditions. The entire amount of cash, including federal-provincial cost-shared funding, is $365 million.

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