Alberta ranchers can now apply for AgriRecovery payments totaling $200 per head through a $340-million support program.
Through the 2021 Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance Initiative, cattle and bison will be eligible for an initial payment of $94 per head, and a secondary payment of $106 per head, for a total of $200 per animal. According to the Alberta government, other livestock will be eligible for a different per head payment.
Taking a feed-need approach, the second payment of $106 per head coverage will be available to producers who have experienced extraordinary costs as a result of the drought, in addition to the initial payment. This second payment will need to be supported by receipts.
The program will be administered through Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), and an AFSC Connect account will be required to receive payments. As of September 7, directions on how to sign up can be found here.
The province says payments will flow soon after applications are received. Once applications are approved and processed, those who sign up for the direct deposit option will see payments toward the end of the month.
“We’re here to support producers in times like these,” says Darryl Kay, CEO of AFSC, in a statement on Tuesday. “This funding helps Alberta’s livestock producers and beekeepers sustain their operations during challenging times.”
AgriRecovery is funded on a 60-40 basis between the federal and provincial governments. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and B.C. have also announced details and launched sign-up for provincial AgriRecovery programs over the last few weeks.
