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Bibeau announces tweaks to AgriStability

Bibeau announces tweaks to AgriStability

Producers can use private insurance to top up coverage

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced small changes to its business risk management programs.

Amendments to AgriStability must reflect the changing needs of producers, Marie-Claude Bibeau, the federal ag minister, told reporters from Ottawa on Tuesday following a meeting with her provincial counterparts.

“The risks producers face today have changed particularly with respect to climate and international trade,” she said. “Current programs need to evolve to meet producers’ needs.”

One update to AgriStability changes the treatment of private insurance.

Previously, payments farmers received from private insurance policies would reduce producers’ assistance from the federal program.

This new measure would “encourage producers to apply to AgriStability to protect themselves from major losses, and, if they wish, access complementary insurance which would not interfere with the federal-provincial program,“ Bibeau said.

Another tweak to the program could come in the application process.

AAFC is launching a pilot project in select provinces that will let farmers use tax return information to apply for AgriStability, hopefully making the application process smoother.

Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will be the test provinces as the federal government handles AgriStability in those jurisdictions.

For provinces like Ontario, where the provincial government administers AgriStability, a similar project is in the works.

“It will take us a little bit longer to get in place,” Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, said during the press conference. “We’ll be starting it one year later.”

The ag ministers also discussed increasing reference margin limits from 70 per cent to 85 per cent.

Doing so “is always an option, but we were not ready at this stage to go forward with such a significant increase,” Bibeau said.

The 15 per cent jump would cost the government around $300 million annually, she added.

Canada’s ag ministers will spend the next few months assessing the business risk management programs. In April, the provincial and territorial ministers will provide Minister Bibeau with recommendations to make the programs better for producers.

The next meeting of the federal-provincial-territorial ag ministers will take place in Guelph, Ont. in July 2020.


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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